BJ70 to BJ75 Ute conversion

[Nas90tdi]

It definitely looks a little odd. But, dammit if it doesn't work over and over. Of course there are an equal number of them that just breeze right through without paying the Chicken Tax.
I have had really good luck with most of my trucks just blowing through custom in just a couple of days. I think they mostly just run there checklist and let them go. Engine, transmission and general body configuration matches the VIN and done.
And, yes, that is exactly how the awesomeness that is the Subaru Brat came to be.

 

[goodtwin]

So, is that the reason why toyota trucks from the 80s were light duty, with cheaper transmissions, smaller diffs, etc. ? To keep the price down because of the chicken tax? Just curious

 

[Mookies]

The Hilux was always seen as a 'light duty' chassis but had a great reputation in the rest of the world. They were absolutely cheaper to build than a Cruiser but IMHO the 8" diffs and R series trannies are totally adequate for a truck that size and were cross platform for Toyota whereas most of the HD stuff was specific to Cruisers. I have to think they were planning to scale accordingly for the SUV explosion that started with the 4Runner. They brought them in bed-less and had various contractors build beds here and installed them here to get around the tax. Problem is the US beds all rust. Eventually those loopholes were closed and they just decided to build trucks here.

 

[goodtwin]

Hmm, so I wonder if I was to import a 75 Ute without the bed, if I'd be able to get around that tax? Although, a new ute bed here in Seattle is probably around $2,500. Heh.
I guess it's all the same: build my own out of my BJ70, Import a 75 with a Ute bed or without...in the end I am sure it will all be the same price...