Aussie Troopies

[HJ-45CrewCab]

Okay, I know there are a lot of these in the US now, so please help me understand the manufacturer's codes. Yesterday, I looked at a 1979 mustard yellow HJ-45 and it had the following on its id plate: HJ-45 RVKQ (RHD, van, 4sp, AU) whereas my 1980 has HJ-45 RPKQ (RHD, pickup, 4sp, AU). I am trying to understand the history of my truck and this would be a good start. I believe the conversion work was done in 1995, so why would it have been designated a p/u in 1980 when it was built. Here is a picture and Cruiser Solutions in NH just put it on his website as video of the week.
http://www.cruisersolutions.com/

 

[JohnnyC]

it may have been a pick-up at one time...then a troopie body went on it? or at least a troopie looking body or...the tags were changed over...because they didnt have pthe papers on the troopie....or...tags were changed over because the troopie is stolen?

 

[D'Animal]

When was it imported?

In California, if it has a bed it is considered a Pickup Truck. If the bed has a semi perminate cover on it such as a contractors box or a camper shell it is calisfied as a Pick Up Truck. If the bed is open or not covered it is considered a commercial truck adn the tag fees go up.

I brought a few truck with me from Iowa when I moved to California and they were reclasified as commercial vehicles by the CA DMV when I registered them here.

I don't know about New Hampshire.

 

[D'Animal]

Did you get the numbers from the frame or the VIN tags?

 

[HJ-45CrewCab]

Truck was imported in June by myself. The numbers I have provided are on the original id plate when the truck was built in Japan. I have an engine number HJ-45048999, but not sure about a frame number. I am looking for the other troopies on the forum to see what numbers they have on their firewall. The truck has two additional plates , one from Toyota of Australia, and the other from Queensland, documenting the modifications to the truck. I assumed that this was originally a troop carrier, with the orignal top removed and a short top installed; however, the "P" in the model designator is confusing. Maybe it was originally a short cab and tray back?

 

[HJ-45CrewCab]

Now this makes a little more sense. The plate put on by Toyota of Australia reconfigured the truck as a three passenger Crew Cab. What does Crew Cab mean in Australia? So I think it was a regular cab truck with a bench seat. The plate put on by Queensland in 1995 redisignated the truck a 6 passenger (its current configuration with two bench seats). That is consistent with what the PO told me. He said he removed the front bench seat and installed two buckets. The truck is built so correctly, with Toyota seatbelts, and bolts etc. that I did not even consider that it may not have ever been a troop carrier. Thanks for jostling my brain cells.

 

[dustin]

to me it looks like a troopie, and they cut the top down to allow room for a bed, or possibly put an FJ 40 top on there?

cheers-
Dustin

 

[F-junker]

to me it looks like a troopie, and they cut the top down to allow room for a bed, or possibly put an FJ 40 top on there?

cheers-
Dustin

Agreed, that definitely looks like a troopie body with a 40 top.

 

[metalonmetal]

i love the look of a donaldson on a fender.

 

[pbgbottle]

the V = hard top body ,i guess same as van
the P = pickup body

 

[HJ-45CrewCab]

i love the look of a donaldson on a fender.

I just checked. The filter assembly is a Donaldson. I never heard of them before and when I saw the name on the filter I thought I would have to source new filters from AU. After going to their website, I know I can order here in US. Thanks.

 

[Dudleyfj40]

Awsome rig! I want that front bumper settup.

Can't help with the letter codes, but wanted to chime in on something as cool as that.

 

[pantheas18_hj47]

I have a hj47.
I know of no 40's that came out as pick ups. We only had troopies or traybacks.

All pickups i have seen are modified troopies. It is prety easy to take off the troopy back section and put a hardtop 40 section in. A crew cab is generally a dual cab ute/pickup. Troopies came as either 3 seats in the front, 3 + 3 seating or 3 in front with 8 jump seats on the sides of the rear.

cant help with the vin at the mo but you may wish to try http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/

btw all my knowledge is from aus research