79 Series in the U.S. (1 Viewer)

[GreenPump]

So, this past year I've noticed something. Toyota Gibraltar Stockholding white 79 series are popping up in Utah and Montana. I've tried to get information out of the few individuals who seem to know what's going on - and they have all refused.

I sent an email to TGS earlier this year, and this is what I got back:

So whatever loophole guys are using to get them in, they're turning up here.

Dave up in Montana got ahold of one too.

What the hell is going on?????

 

[rick_d]

Money. Do you have it?

I built a proffitts body up over 9 years. An endeavor i would not do again. Searching little pieces (thank you all) was a major pita. I was on a tight budget and still spent north of $30,000. I have a little talent after messing with 1960’s alfas 40 years ago and doing majority of my own work.

The only way to entertain this again would be a complete truck disassembled and shipped in.
That will cost money.

 

[GreenPump]

I am not entirely sure what you are getting at here.

The only way to entertain this again would be a complete truck disassembled and shipped in.

I have trouble believing each of these trucks was shipped in pieces...

This really doesn't have anything to do with my post at all.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Are you trying to source one yourself or simply inquiring as to how others are obtaining theirs?

 

[rick_d]

The 2009 body is a proffuts import circa 2010

Some trucks come in for mods by government agencies and the beds came from that.

Others are body kits like proffits but far newer. There are a number of better shops that can source these for you.

Complete cars are a closely guarded secret and what I know I won’t share on a public forum but obviosly you don’t have enough money for a total import.

What i will say is make a mexican corporation SA de CV through a notario publico and buy a cab chassis from Ens industrial.

 

[GreenPump]

Are you trying to source one yourself or simply inquiring as to how others are obtaining theirs?

Both.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Both.

I wish you luck.

 

[GreenPump]

obviosly you don’t have enough money for a total import.

Dave has one listed for $62k on his website.

I'm curious how much the mark up is. Let's say he bought it for around 50k. Why are we importing 25 year old trucks for 30k if that is the case.

I have four hiluxes and recently an 80 series that are all legally registered under the 25 year rule. The same does not apply to a 2023 79 series.

 

[ikarus]

The body is a local guy who bought it from the Land Cruiser museum a few years ago and decided not to build it. I’ve thought about buying it and putting it on an 80 Series chassis but I don’t need a project like that right now.

The takeoff beds are a company in Richfield I believe that modify 70 Series for mining. I can’t find it but a buddy was passing through and sent me a pic of a bunch of 70s sitting in a field next to the building.

There are also quite a few modern uparmored military hiluxes and 70s running around Camp Williams for the 19th group to train with. And occasionally we’ll get a modern dual cab 70 series pop up on KSL (Craigslist) for $150k but it’s always obvious that they drove it up from Central America and it’s sketchy.

Also I talked to a guy from S Africa who has a ranch in Utah and he’s bringing in a brand new dual cab for off highway use on his land, which is legal.

Every now and then you’ll see someone cruising around in a brand new 70 Series. I saw a pic of one in GA and one in CO recently. End of the day it’s illegal but the owners are probably just risking it. Aside from the Land Rover Defender crushing incident I don’t know how many prosecutions there are. And getting one in is as easy as driving across the border. And a lot of states will register anything that identifies as a vehicle. Haha

 

[GreenPump]

I kinda figured they were getting used as ranch vehicles. This makes sense.

And yeah, you can register almost anything here in east Idaho. The folks doing VIN inspections on vehicles have no idea what they're looking at.

It just seemed like a rash of them recently. Made me wonder if I was missing something or it was the same old sketchy stuff as always.

 

[Elbee]

I kinda figured they were getting used as ranch vehicles. This makes sense.

And yeah, you can register almost anything here in east Idaho. The folks doing VIN inspections on vehicles have no idea what they're looking at.

It just seemed like a rash of them recently. Made me wonder if I was missing something or it was the same old sketchy stuff as always.

Same old sketchy stuff. if the rules changed, we would ALL know
It seems there is bigger rash of sketchy trucks recently and people (minly on uninformed facebook groups) suggesting or pushing illegal imports

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Dave has one listed for $62k on his website.

I'm curious how much the mark up is. Let's say he bought it for around 50k. Why are we importing 25 year old trucks for 30k if that is the case.

I have four hiluxes and recently an 80 series that are all legally registered under the 25 year rule. The same does not apply to a 2023 79 series.

If you ever visit the “70 Series Tech” section, you’ll see build threads on 79 Series that make $60K look like chump change.

 

[mudgudgeon]

There's a very informative thread in the import section that comprehensively discusses the legality of importing various vehicles.

From reading that thread, I would say, all the scenarios above are not legal. People are pushing the boundaries.

The farm truck example only applies to vehicles manufactured for the sole purpose of being used off highway. A 79 series is clearly manufactured and designed to comply with design standards for public road use in many parts of the world ( just not usa) so, not a valid way of importing.

Registering a Mexican LLC skirts around import laws and does not adhere to them.

Thread 'Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To' Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/information-re-importing-to-the-usa-and-complete-diy-how-to.1242055/

 

[lowenbrau]

I'm confused. What does Gibraltar have to do with the Utah trucks?

 

[lowenbrau]

For anyone still brave enough to start with an ex mine truck. Richie Bros is selling a bunch.

https://www.rbauction.com/?keywords=land%20cruiser

 

[SNLC]

I kinda figured they were getting used as ranch vehicles. This makes sense.

And yeah, you can register almost anything here in east Idaho. The folks doing VIN inspections on vehicles have no idea what they're looking at.

It just seemed like a rash of them recently. Made me wonder if I was missing something or it was the same old sketchy stuff as always.

You should have just started with google.

Cheers

 

[GreenPump]

What does Gibraltar have to do with the Utah trucks?

Aside from the 2009 body, all these trucks came in from TGS and have through various other means ended up in Utah.

 

[lowenbrau]

That surprises me. How would you determine that? There are many legitimate other paths for 79s to wind up in North America

 

[Elbee]

That surprises me. How would you determine that? There are many legitimate other paths for 79s to wind up in North America

TGS is the biggest supplier of Toyotas on the planet. Only serving governments, NGOs, and large corporations. Easiest and best people to go to, where you can pick up a fleet for 30k-ish usd a truck

 

[Gun Runner 5]

These folks are importing and modifying trucks for the mining industry.