It all began in the Summer of 1995.
My then girlfriend, now wife, and I took the opportunity to spend a few days at my Uncle and Aunt's ranch some 50 miles East of Ely, NV. It was a bit of a drive from Northern California, but I loved the area, having spent days in the region in attendance of my mom’s side of the family’ annual reunions. My mom, her 7 siblings, grew up in McGill, about 10 miles North of Ely. Most of the time my Uncle (and all of the time my Aunt) lived in Ely, some 60 miles away. So as it was, we had the place to ourselves. If you love high desert, you understand when I say how beautiful this part of the country is. His ranch is perched at the foot of Mt. Wheeler. A spectacular place. Heaven with unobstructed views to the horizon East where you can be afforded the gift of absence of all human sound.
While there, I noticed this blue rig in front of his cabin. I looked it over a bit when I noticed the Toyo Land Cruiser Emblem. “Huh,” I thought. “Didn’t know Toyota had a truck Land Cruiser?” With the key in the ignition, I fired up the engine. Then as quickly shut it off. That was that.
But I never forgot.
Fast forward to early 2000. My uncle dies (his wife preceded him in death). In between 1995 and his passing, I moved to CO, got into off-roading and owned a 95 and 97 LC, both of which I sold a few years ago. It was during this time that I greatly increased my knowledge of early LCs, in particular, the FJ45s, and … how unique/rare they are. But that wasn’t what drove my interest. It was the rig, the way it looked, its place in history, my love of Toyotas, and that I had a personal connection to THIS FJ45.
All of his belongings passed to his 4 grandchildren, including the ranch and the FJ45. Shortly after his passing, I called his granddaughter, my second cousin, to ask what were the plans for the rig? I stated my interest, its value/rarity and willingness to not only pay cash but provide a newer, running rig, like a Tacoma. Understandably, she appreciated my interest but that the rig was part of the ranch, a reminder of her grandfather, “Buddy,” and would remain there. I was bummed and at the same time, loved and appreciated how she and the other grandchildren adored the vehicle so obviously tied to their grandfather.
Fast forward to 2016, some 8-12 years later since we first talked about the FJ. She sent our family a Xmas card in which she noted the very reluctant decision to sell the ranch this past Summer (2016). I guess it was about 10 nanoseconds later I sent her a text expressing my sincere sympathies for the loss, how difficult it must have been to sell the ranch and, of course, asking the status of the truck.
In between sending the text and receiving a response, I whispered to myself, “please God … please still have possession of the FJ45? I will never sin again. Please God!” Response: “the rig in in the possession of my cousin (and one of the 4 grandchildren). Call him, he may want to sell it?” For the next few weeks I pondered how best to approach discussing the rig with her cousin due to issues between the grandchildren that, to my mind, might cause a reaction of negativity. Nuff said. I did not know this 2nd cousin whatsoever. He is some 14 years younger than me and for whatever reason, we didn’t establish a relationship during one of the many family reunions, the last of which was more than a decade in the past.
It’s eating at me. I need to initiate contact. One week, two weeks, work, family, three weeks, more work ... four weeks … five weeks. How does it go? “I’d like to procrastinate, but I keep putting it off.” That was me. While sitting on my ass in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport 2 Feb, returning from a business trip and awaiting my flight yet 3 hours in the future, I get a text from my cousin who told me to contact her cousin who was in possession of the rig, as he wants to sell it. “Wait? Did I read that right?" Yes, I did. “Thank you, God!”
Say no more, I got hold of him the next day. We talked, discussed the rig, with plans to come out to Ely 18 Feb. The deal was done the next day; got the rig home yesterday, 20 Feb 17.
I never forgot and got oh so lucky. All is right with the World. Of course, I have probably sinned about a 100 times since. First of many pics. More to come, covering the trip and, eventually, getting the rig running, which will be months in the future.
Rig is loaded and ready to go with faded but straight fenders in the bed.
View attachment 1407196
My then girlfriend, now wife, and I took the opportunity to spend a few days at my Uncle and Aunt's ranch some 50 miles East of Ely, NV. It was a bit of a drive from Northern California, but I loved the area, having spent days in the region in attendance of my mom’s side of the family’ annual reunions. My mom, her 7 siblings, grew up in McGill, about 10 miles North of Ely. Most of the time my Uncle (and all of the time my Aunt) lived in Ely, some 60 miles away. So as it was, we had the place to ourselves. If you love high desert, you understand when I say how beautiful this part of the country is. His ranch is perched at the foot of Mt. Wheeler. A spectacular place. Heaven with unobstructed views to the horizon East where you can be afforded the gift of absence of all human sound.
While there, I noticed this blue rig in front of his cabin. I looked it over a bit when I noticed the Toyo Land Cruiser Emblem. “Huh,” I thought. “Didn’t know Toyota had a truck Land Cruiser?” With the key in the ignition, I fired up the engine. Then as quickly shut it off. That was that.
But I never forgot.
Fast forward to early 2000. My uncle dies (his wife preceded him in death). In between 1995 and his passing, I moved to CO, got into off-roading and owned a 95 and 97 LC, both of which I sold a few years ago. It was during this time that I greatly increased my knowledge of early LCs, in particular, the FJ45s, and … how unique/rare they are. But that wasn’t what drove my interest. It was the rig, the way it looked, its place in history, my love of Toyotas, and that I had a personal connection to THIS FJ45.
All of his belongings passed to his 4 grandchildren, including the ranch and the FJ45. Shortly after his passing, I called his granddaughter, my second cousin, to ask what were the plans for the rig? I stated my interest, its value/rarity and willingness to not only pay cash but provide a newer, running rig, like a Tacoma. Understandably, she appreciated my interest but that the rig was part of the ranch, a reminder of her grandfather, “Buddy,” and would remain there. I was bummed and at the same time, loved and appreciated how she and the other grandchildren adored the vehicle so obviously tied to their grandfather.
Fast forward to 2016, some 8-12 years later since we first talked about the FJ. She sent our family a Xmas card in which she noted the very reluctant decision to sell the ranch this past Summer (2016). I guess it was about 10 nanoseconds later I sent her a text expressing my sincere sympathies for the loss, how difficult it must have been to sell the ranch and, of course, asking the status of the truck.
In between sending the text and receiving a response, I whispered to myself, “please God … please still have possession of the FJ45? I will never sin again. Please God!” Response: “the rig in in the possession of my cousin (and one of the 4 grandchildren). Call him, he may want to sell it?” For the next few weeks I pondered how best to approach discussing the rig with her cousin due to issues between the grandchildren that, to my mind, might cause a reaction of negativity. Nuff said. I did not know this 2nd cousin whatsoever. He is some 14 years younger than me and for whatever reason, we didn’t establish a relationship during one of the many family reunions, the last of which was more than a decade in the past.
It’s eating at me. I need to initiate contact. One week, two weeks, work, family, three weeks, more work ... four weeks … five weeks. How does it go? “I’d like to procrastinate, but I keep putting it off.” That was me. While sitting on my ass in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport 2 Feb, returning from a business trip and awaiting my flight yet 3 hours in the future, I get a text from my cousin who told me to contact her cousin who was in possession of the rig, as he wants to sell it. “Wait? Did I read that right?" Yes, I did. “Thank you, God!”
Say no more, I got hold of him the next day. We talked, discussed the rig, with plans to come out to Ely 18 Feb. The deal was done the next day; got the rig home yesterday, 20 Feb 17.
I never forgot and got oh so lucky. All is right with the World. Of course, I have probably sinned about a 100 times since. First of many pics. More to come, covering the trip and, eventually, getting the rig running, which will be months in the future.
Rig is loaded and ready to go with faded but straight fenders in the bed.
View attachment 1407196
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