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Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
90% sure I am buying this truck tomorrow. If for some reason I pass on this truck I will find another one. I started the business of importing restored FJ40s around July 2013 and launched in early 2014 and have imported 7 trucks. All trucks get between a 1 to 6 month restoration. This costs time and alot of money. This is one item that sets Volcan 4x4 apart from most importers and the reason why my pricing is higher and my volume lower.
Anyhow when I started I really personally wanted to do a 70 series because I just personally like them a lot. The issue is that there is no real established market for them in the US and they have not reached the "classic" status of say an FJ40. When doing an overhaul on a 30 year old 4x4 it is certainly better to do it on an FJ40 that can be worth $50,000 to $100,000. 70 series just don't have those values. They also have high resale values in Colombia because they are still used every day and there is a 40 to 100% car sales tax on new cars like you have in Europe. Thus people keep there cars much longer and used cars hold their values higher.
There are some 70 series being brought in primarily in diesel and many RHD drive selling in the $20,000 range. I am going to try this one to offer 70 series enthusiasts a LHD alternative with gasoline motors (Colombia does not have many classic diesel trucks). I will also use my specialists in Colombia to do a light 15 to 30 day overhaul on the truck to see if we can bring the quality and condition of the truck up and hopefully minimize the future maintenance costs for client buyers. Same as I have done for all my FJ40 buyers.
This white FJ73 will be the first try. It is a high miles gasoline 1985 FJ73. has the fiberglass hard top. Must have been a loaded truck because it has heat and AC and power windows.
It is a solid truck with recent paint although I would give it about a 5 to 6 out of 10 in terms of paint quality. Mostly rust free with 2 small repairs at the rear of the truck.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Here is a truck that I saw some time last year that I was in love with. The 70 series look great with bigger tires and a custom soft top. Likely a 1990s model with the injected 4.5 liter. We will have to wait to import those. For now we have the 1980s 3F with 5 speed. No emissions.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
One of the shops I use has this 1997 I think FJ73 in the shop getting the floors repaired. This is why you do NOT buy a truck from the coast of Colombia. The salt air eats Toyotas. I was really surprised how bad this truck was eaten up and unfortunately I gather that Toyota in the 1980s and 1990s still never addressed the rusting body panel issues they had with the 40 series.
I source all my trucks from the mountain areas where they have little to zero rust. This adds to shipping costs as we are 18 to 24 hours from the coast by truck.
I can't get over how rusted out this truck was.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
This white one is pretty solid. It is not a super "pretty" truck but I am confident we can make it a nice 4x4.
Photos are not great and the floors look nasty but it is mostly the hair Toyota sound deadening, dirt and surface rust. I did not see any holes under the truck.
The only bad areas were the driver's door has some rust on the inside bottom. Behind the rear wheel wells there are 2 small repairs that were not done perfectly.
I think it is best though to pull the interior, sand and repaint the top floors. Will decide on whether to address the rear wheel spots.
Frame is shiny and has no undercoating on it which I like.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
More not perfect photos of the truck.. Comments... frame numbers intact important for export/import.
engine bay super dirty. under the hood you can look over at the driver's side fender it looks like it had a fender bender. interior looks good in photos but is pretty nasty. plan to put our high quality interior in it.
Truck started and drove and shifted well. only drove it to 40 mph. Truck rides and runs much smoother and quieter than a FJ43.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Snorkel is functional. Issues include AC does not blow cold. Power windows are iffy. some of the gauges not working. Cracked stereo surround. These are popular trucks so I can find all the parts either new or used.
They tell me some of these 70 series came with Toyota factory snorkels.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Back seat actually looks OK. Here is the heavy duty gray vinyl we did on 70 series buckets we put into my red 82 FJ43. I think much better to spend a week and give this white truck a new interior. One of the benefits is it won't smell like a funky old 4x4. Unless we steam clean this interior and go with it....
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Red FJ43 and white FJ73. I am buying the red 82 FJ43 soft top likely too. I have done 5 FJ43s so far. They are really cool trucks. Having driven a lot of classic FJ40s/43s with 4.10 gearing and 4 speeds at cruising speeds under 60 mph I am very excited to drive a 70 series back in the US. I have a 79 FJ43 coming with a 5 speed we will see how it cruises.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
All the doors were good except for the driver's door which has some rust along the bottom.
We will address that.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
super nice looking FJ73 I took pictures of back in 2013 I think. I have been crazy for them for a while. This one looks great in dark blue. Someone chime in when the 4.5 liter became available. I want to say in 1992 or so. We have to wait for another few years before we can import them. I think they came in a 190hp carb version then later with EFI and bit more power. I rode in an FJ43 that had a tuned EFI 4.5 liter put into it with header and exhaust and it felt FAST.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Few more 70 series I remember seeing. Love the pickup!
One with big tires FJ70 had a slight shackle lift and I think 315mm or 33 inch tires on it.
Thanks for starting this thread. I look forward to more. Good luck with your business.
Will you be importing the vinyl tops and framework?
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Issue with framework is the same as with the FJ40s. For now I can not bring them in bec they custom fit each truck down there and the process takes a couple weeks. The cost is high even using Colombian labor. The 40 series tops cost me about $2000 installed. The 70 series MAY be easier though bec we dont have to fabricate the half doors.
Check out the 77 Nissan Patrol we just did. We had to custom make the bars and half doors and soft top. Took forever. The truck actually has the original green top from 1977. amazing. we are doing a tan vinyl soft top for it.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Update on this white truck. I could not get a deal with the seller due to Colombian holiday and I had to travel. I may have to find another one but I am certainly hoping to do a 70 series ASAP.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
Honestly I was surprised with the rust on this 1997 one. I am going to be EXTRA careful reviewing these 70 series before I purchase one.
Interestingly the resale value on these 70 series (especially this 4.5 EFI one) is so high that it is worth it to the owner to completely repair the body and keep the truck going another 20 years.
Remember this truck is not mine and I am not doing the work on it. We will see how it turns out. I might end up being a lower quality repair as these trucks are many times used for work or for offroad use. the fiberglass top is super cool.
Volcan 4x4, LLC
SILVER Star
70 series next to my 1960 Land Rover Series II a while back. I went to look at the 75 series (ambulance style model? I think it is a 75 yes?). Unfortunately very expensive and 1990s model. The ambulance ones are hard to find/rare. I really want to do one but would mean buying an older ex-ambulance which would require a complete overhaul. They still use them for rural ambulances.
Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
In follow-up to my earlier post regarding parts import (LHD conversion kits) do you see any aftermarket replacement windshield frames in South America? There are fiberglass units in Europe. Might be some appeal on this side. thx
Thanks for comments. I agree with you guys. I got a little too excited about Colombian 70 series coming to the USA regardless of who brings them in! I started another thread.
Thanks.
Now we can ramble on without fear of reprisal.
it is worth it to the owner to completely repair the body and keep the truck going another 20 years.
Uhh....have you ventured into the other forums much?
There a completely insane group of guys that are doing the same on 35-45 year old FJ55s.
(ambulance style model? I think it is a 75 yes?).
75 Troopy.
Very cool, very rare here, at least LHDs that aren't molecularly bonded by FeO2.
Going back to rust repair on 7Xs.
According to the internet, there was a Colombian company that broke replacement quarters to full tubs.
You know anything about?
