Hi, here is a story about BJ43L- KCJW restoration.
From very beginning I started the search of the rare examples such as medium wheelbase cars (FJ43/BJ43/BJ46). In addition to the rarity such cars are the best compromise between comfort and manoeuvrability.
FJ43 are not common in Europe, so my plan was to search for the car 1979+ within BJ43/BJ46 league. Production numbers for Europe for this period (1979+) BJ43 ~ 510 cars, BJ46 ~ 1618 cars. Not much... Majority cars were heavily used...To find the car from the first owner is almost impossible.
6 months searching, every day, all sites. I nearly gave up.
But once I've found the beauty! BJ43, build in November 1979, one owner, first registration in Germany in 1980. She appeared on few sites (such as mobile.de), the same day I've asked the owner of the restoration company to call and reserve the car. When he called he was number 20 in the list. End of the day the car was deleted from all sites. I will leave the battle phase away - as a result we've got our Queen.
BJ43 - wheelbase 2430mm, length 4275mm.
"B" 4 cylinder diesel (2977cc, 80hp)
4 speed gear box, 4 drum brakes, no Power steering and no Air Conditioner (in Europe it was available much later).
BJ43L-KCJW (Soft top, Roll bar, Production for Europe)
~170 000 km
Frame BJ43-0900267
Engine 0320729
Color 653 Olive
Trim LP11
As I realised further the first owner is the Ih8mud club member 45 & 43 diary Nov,2006-Feb,2019/July 28,2019
When emotions cooled down we've realised several cons. The life of the beauty was not very cloudless. The car was used as a daily car for many years and stored outside in the city. Several small accidents around, body “renovation” by unprofessional welding, oily underbody coating above rust, non original plastic fender flares with a radical body surgery, very tired engine, "saving mode" service support, few non oem "upgrades": additional insulator activity killed the original rare hood insulator, Webasto stand heater, catalytic converter, wide tyres, lifted suspension, welded box inside of the car, heavily repaired soft top. Having said this all these might be expected from old car even from Germany ("Ordnung" unfortunately became the legend). Besides this the frame was good, the seats were original, main parts were stock.
So I was happy at the moment of purchase .
My idea was to bring the beauty into the factory condition. Full nut & bolt restoration. As to the upgrades I would like to add the mechanical winch (it was the option in 1979), OEM fog lights, "darth vader" light, two tire sets ("vintage original up to 1978" non split 7.00R16 + hub caps; correct for 1979 split rims 7.50R16), two type of the rear seats (original and Japanese BJ44 bench type version for my family members).
Few photos before & after as a teaser of the restoration
From very beginning I started the search of the rare examples such as medium wheelbase cars (FJ43/BJ43/BJ46). In addition to the rarity such cars are the best compromise between comfort and manoeuvrability.
FJ43 are not common in Europe, so my plan was to search for the car 1979+ within BJ43/BJ46 league. Production numbers for Europe for this period (1979+) BJ43 ~ 510 cars, BJ46 ~ 1618 cars. Not much... Majority cars were heavily used...To find the car from the first owner is almost impossible.
6 months searching, every day, all sites. I nearly gave up.
But once I've found the beauty! BJ43, build in November 1979, one owner, first registration in Germany in 1980. She appeared on few sites (such as mobile.de), the same day I've asked the owner of the restoration company to call and reserve the car. When he called he was number 20 in the list. End of the day the car was deleted from all sites. I will leave the battle phase away - as a result we've got our Queen.
BJ43 - wheelbase 2430mm, length 4275mm.
"B" 4 cylinder diesel (2977cc, 80hp)
4 speed gear box, 4 drum brakes, no Power steering and no Air Conditioner (in Europe it was available much later).
BJ43L-KCJW (Soft top, Roll bar, Production for Europe)
~170 000 km
Frame BJ43-0900267
Engine 0320729
Color 653 Olive
Trim LP11
As I realised further the first owner is the Ih8mud club member 45 & 43 diary Nov,2006-Feb,2019/July 28,2019
When emotions cooled down we've realised several cons. The life of the beauty was not very cloudless. The car was used as a daily car for many years and stored outside in the city. Several small accidents around, body “renovation” by unprofessional welding, oily underbody coating above rust, non original plastic fender flares with a radical body surgery, very tired engine, "saving mode" service support, few non oem "upgrades": additional insulator activity killed the original rare hood insulator, Webasto stand heater, catalytic converter, wide tyres, lifted suspension, welded box inside of the car, heavily repaired soft top. Having said this all these might be expected from old car even from Germany ("Ordnung" unfortunately became the legend). Besides this the frame was good, the seats were original, main parts were stock.
So I was happy at the moment of purchase .
My idea was to bring the beauty into the factory condition. Full nut & bolt restoration. As to the upgrades I would like to add the mechanical winch (it was the option in 1979), OEM fog lights, "darth vader" light, two tire sets ("vintage original up to 1978" non split 7.00R16 + hub caps; correct for 1979 split rims 7.50R16), two type of the rear seats (original and Japanese BJ44 bench type version for my family members).
Few photos before & after as a teaser of the restoration
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