BJ75 Sighting

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canucksafari

canucksafari

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Saw a BJ75 (like the work truck Deny is building up) that was heading East between Grandforks and Greenwood. First one I have seen on the road. Very nice looking rig. Had just set put away the camera so didn't get a chance to take a pic. Looks like we may be seeing more of these fine trucks around in the future. Are they available to import from Japan or are all these BJ75s ex mine trucks?
 
I vote ex mine. I have seen one that was from central america, but most are from the mines (but ask mike how he got his, lucky bugger). Was it RHD? I don't think any BJ75 pickups were available for the Japanese market, so I don't think there will be too many for sale there.
 
Only North Americans buy pickup trucks to drive to the mall and keep clean and fancy. Landcruiser pickups are work trucks, anyone who buys one uses it for that purpose, so finding mint ones is pretty much impossible, unless you buy new, which is a little tough to do. I looked everywhere for a clean one, but couldn't find one, that is why I went the ex mine route.
 
Deny said:
Only North Americans buy pickup trucks to drive to the mall and keep clean and fancy.
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And that is why we probably will never see a BJ75 sold new here. Most of the urban truck market want IFS and bling cause they are never going to use thier truck as anything more than something to build their tough guy image.
 
canucksafari said:
And that is why we probably will never see a BJ75 sold new here. Most of the urban truck market want IFS and bling cause they are never going to use thier truck as anything more than something to build their tough guy image.
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Actually, I saw a lot FULL of shiny new 75 series cab & chassis in a fenced lot at the end of No.6 road a few years back. All destined for mine use I would imagine. :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang: :bang:
 
canucksafari said:
And that is why we probably will never see a BJ75 sold new here.
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Apparently there were 3 sold new here by mistake in the mid '90's. Mike knows of one :)
 
canucksafari said:
I believe it was a LHD. Too bad there isn't a JDM source. I bet the 15 year old rigs in Central America are beaten as bad as the ones in the mines here.
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The ex mine trucks are beyond beaten. Broken frames etc. The only good part is the engine. Every fender wrinkled.
 
Al's truck is the nicest looking ex mine trucks I have ever seen, except for maybe crushers old 75, but I never saw that one before it got cleaned up. There is always some that are an exception, but brownbear is right, most are mashed beyond repair.
 
One question, if these mine trucks were never imported for road use, how do they get registered to road use? Denny, I think you said in your build thread that a few years ago there was a 93 running around your area. So, it wouldn't even make the 15 year rule. Another question, do they have the 1PZ or the 1HZ engines?
 
Some interesting J75s I found while surfing:

tlc756x602.jpg

6 x 6 Australia

One for hunting Moose:
tlc75gunship.jpg


Expedition Campers: Willkommen bei Innovation Campers!



With so many around the world there must be a better source of them than from Canadian mines.
 
Deny said:
Al's truck is the nicest looking ex mine trucks I have ever seen, except for maybe crushers old 75, but I never saw that one before it got cleaned up. There is always some that are an exception, but brownbear is right, most are mashed beyond repair.
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everything is fix able:lol:
 
canucksafari said:
One question, if these mine trucks were never imported for road use, how do they get registered to road use?
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There are some loop holes, some minor research and it really doesn't take much, there are a few ways. (I haven't tried yet, but I will find out)

canucksafari said:
Denny, I think you said in your build thread that a few years ago there was a 93 running around your area. So, it wouldn't even make the 15 year rule.
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That reminds me, That makes four that were bought new from a dealership. I haven't talked to the guy, but I talked to a guy who did and he said he orginally bought it off the lot in PG. I think it was in the late 80s though, cuase I think it still has the 3B. He is still around, seen him this fall on the highway around moberly lake with two quads on his flat deck.

canucksafari said:
Another question, do they have the 1PZ or the 1HZ engines?
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I am no expert on this, but I am guessing they ran the 3B till the late 80's, a mix of 1PZ and 1HZ in the early 90's, and only HZ in the late 90's to now (I think some markets got the 1HD-T in the early 00's and now offer the twin turbo V8 diesel) again, not sure exactly, maybe someone who knows better can correct me.

jfc said:
everything is fix able:lol:
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Yeah fixable, but I have heard some (if they even come out of the mine) have every single body panel smashed/rusted, all interior smashed/ripped, every mechnical component leaking/squeeking/grinding or siezed. Now go ahead and pretty much start by building a frame, buy all new or build all new custom panels, all new drivetrain..........it adds up to a lot of time and money, but you are right, everything is fixable:hillbilly:
 
canucksafari said:
With so many around the world there must be a better source of them than from Canadian mines.
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I know of one restored ex-mine truck for sale in Ontario! The middle east might be a good area, or buying one new in say central america, the problem is you would have to smuggle it accross the border, whereas ex-mine is already in the country. Anyway you look at it, it will take a lot of money and or (money and time). I am looking at probably spending as much as my Dodge cost me, but with my time, it will probably cost a lot more, it all depends on how badly you want one.
 
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I was at the auction where Crusher's truck came from. I got there late and didn't get to bid on it. It was nice but the interior was trashed and it needed fenders. It went for 10k and change. There were three more in worse shape.

There are lots of mine truck around but people hoard them. There were as many as 38 in one spot in the Kootenays and a dozen in MB that I knew of.

I think there was actually just two that escaped the dealer as new trucks. I joined the Coast Cruisers just after they showed up and they were creating quite a buzz. These are them.
hzj75s.webp
 
lowenbrau said:
I think there was actually just two that escaped the dealer as new trucks. I joined the Coast Cruisers just after they showed up and they were creating quite a buzz. These are them.
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Bruce I think the third is Mikes buddy from Surrey, who worked up at SFU, but last I heard he was selling it.
 
Deny said:
I know of one restored ex-mine truck for sale in Ontario! The middle east might be a good area, or buying one new in say central america, the problem is you would have to smuggle it accross the border, whereas ex-mine is already in the country.
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If it is 15 years old, it wouldn't be a problem other than doing an OOP. I did a few quick searches in Spanish but didn't find much. Maybe Tapage or Cruiser Guy would know where to look. Tapage posted up a pic last fall of some new ones on a dealership lot in Honduras. I did see a UN 75 Troopie when I was in Bolivia a few years ago but no trucks or tray backs. Would be nice to get ahold of those UN vehicles. They rarely seem to get bashed about. More often they are going from a home to an office.
 
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