After a few years away and desperately missing my FZJ80, today I got back into the iH8Mud world with a new-to-me JDM import 100 series. It's a 1998, brought over earlier this year from a guy who imports vehicles from Japan as a side hustle. I had just started looking for a gen-1 Tundra access cab but stumbled across this vehicle on our local Craigslist. I have always wanted an RHD vehicle and of all the 30+ vehicles I've owned in my life, the "one that got away" was my 'Cruiser.
After a chat with the missus, I called the seller. Super good guy, and this was the 14th JDM vehicle he's brought into the states and sold. Looked at the vehicle and drove it yesterday, and did the deed this morning.
It's remarkably clean for a 25-year-old vehicle. I built my 80 up as a serious trail rig. The 80 was extremely competent but it didn't take long before the bumps and bruises of Colorado and Utah trails took their toll on the cosmetics. It was a load of fun, and an expensive journey. My plan with the hundo is keep it in excellent mechanical condition, enjoy its competency the way Mr. Toyota intended, and use it when my other car is hiding from the nastiest winter days. The LC looks/feels like it needs a brake flush/bleed and the AHC suspension fluid refreshed. I got the Toyota AHC suspension at the local stealership today and plan to get the LC up on the rack this weekend, time permitting before the Xmas festivities.
Here are a few photos of the new rig:
After a chat with the missus, I called the seller. Super good guy, and this was the 14th JDM vehicle he's brought into the states and sold. Looked at the vehicle and drove it yesterday, and did the deed this morning.
It's remarkably clean for a 25-year-old vehicle. I built my 80 up as a serious trail rig. The 80 was extremely competent but it didn't take long before the bumps and bruises of Colorado and Utah trails took their toll on the cosmetics. It was a load of fun, and an expensive journey. My plan with the hundo is keep it in excellent mechanical condition, enjoy its competency the way Mr. Toyota intended, and use it when my other car is hiding from the nastiest winter days. The LC looks/feels like it needs a brake flush/bleed and the AHC suspension fluid refreshed. I got the Toyota AHC suspension at the local stealership today and plan to get the LC up on the rack this weekend, time permitting before the Xmas festivities.
Here are a few photos of the new rig:
