Calling All FJ25 Experts. Need help.

[JohnnyC]

The first sold would have been the cruiser they drove from city to city trying to get dealers to distribute the Toyota

That cruiser would have been build pre 58' as it came into USA in 57' ... so either a very late 56' or early 57' that one would have been

Unsubstantiated claim is that ... the dealer cruiser is what was the only one sold in 58'

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

The first sold would have been the cruiser they drove from city to city trying to get dealers to distribute the Toyota

That cruiser would have been build pre 58' as it came into USA in 57' ... so either a very late 56' or early 57' that one would have been

Unsubstantiated claim is that ... the dealer cruiser is what was the only one sold in 58'

While there is lot of confusion on which one being the first, I am very happy to claim so far mine is most likely the last known registered & sold FJ25 in the world. (Not necessarily last one made) LOL. For sitting on dealership for 4 years makes it somewhat historical.

 

[Indygbd]

Keeping in mind chances of finding a later FJ25 tailgate itself is very remote yours is almost unobtainable. Your best bet will be to restore what you got. And yes I would put all my energy in restoring the 58 first out of the 3 FJ25 you got.

If it was sold new in USA then chances are it may be the oldest in America. Compare your VIN with the one in Heritage museum and was originally belong to TLC 4X4.

Does anyone know what the serial number is on the one in the museum? I asked and got a response that theirs is the first one sold and it is 8-fj25. That's it.

 

[JohnnyC]

I take it you got no history on this truck? From west coast? State?

Definitely not Frank Conn's truck lol

 

[Indygbd]

I take it you got no history on this truck? From west coast? State?

Definitely not Frank Conn's truck lol

I was told it was at a Land Cruiser shop in the late 1980's early 90's on the east coast Virginia maybe that is no longer in business. It was purchased by a collector in Ohio who had several vehicles. I found it in Kentucky. I will see if I can get a bit more history on it.

 

[JohnnyC]

6901 is the tlc4x4 cruiser that is now at the museum

 

[Indygbd]

6901 is the tlc4x4 cruiser that is now at the museum

Thanks. I didn't know and Dan didn't tell me when I asked.

 

[hdjtachtig]

I visited the owner of no #161 with frame nr. 5922 yesterday. It has the data plate with the complete frame number as usual. Also the eye bolts on the lower position. Didn't realize it was this close to yours until I checked in at mud this morning.. So I didn't check the other details.

 

[Indygbd]

My 1958 instrument cluster. I'm going to get this restored soon. I was told up to 6 months turn around time on that. Still debating who to have restore it. I have used Bobs Speedometer in the past with great results.

 

[Indygbd]

I did some checking and found out some history of my 1958 FJ25.
I purchased it from a guy in Kentucky.
He purchased the FJ25 from someone named Rick Lipley who owned several Land Cruiser's in Ohio.
Rick purchased the vehicle from James Asti. James Asti started a company named Land Cruiser Connection in Virginia back in 1992.
James purchased the vehicle in Harrisburg, PA.. That is all I know at this point. I am still trying to track more information down from Toyota and from another source.

 

[nuclearlemon]

James asti was very well known in the cruiser community in the 80s-90s. Old time tlca members may have contact info for him

 

[mmcinnis]

I did some checking and found out some history of my 1958 FJ25.
I purchased it from a guy in Kentucky.
He purchased the FJ25 from someone named Rick Lipley who owned several Land Cruiser's in Ohio.
Rick purchased the vehicle from James Asti. James Asti started a company named Land Cruiser Connection in Virginia back in 1992.
James purchased the vehicle in Harrisburg, PA.. That is all I know at this point. I am still trying to track more information down from Toyota and from another source.

Is it an all black truck? Mike

 

[Indygbd]

Is it an all black truck? Mike

No. It's more red now. That is not the original color though.

 

[Indygbd]

6901 is the tlc4x4 cruiser that is now at the museum

I did find something out interesting about the 6901 museum fj25. It is actually stamped 1959 and not 1958. Greg was kind enough to text me photos of the data plate

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

I did find something out interesting about the 6901 museum fj25. It is actually stamped 1959 and not 1958. Greg was kind enough to text me photos of the data plate

View attachment 1842623

View attachment 1842624

As per VIN it is 1958, just registered first in 1959. Similar to mine was built in early 1959 but was first registered in 1962.

 

[Indygbd]

As per VIN it is 1958, just registered first in 1959. Similar to mine was built in early 1959 but was first registered in 1962.

Correct, however if the museums is the first and only fj25 sold in the U.S. in 1958 shouldn't the data plate be stamped 1958? Mine is stamped 1958.

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

Correct, however if the museums is the first and only fj25 sold in the U.S. in 1958 shouldn't the data plate be stamped 1958? Mine is stamped 1958.

Could be the first one landed in the country but then just left to sit on dealership while other were sold. Who knows it’s all theories. If your frame number is ahead of museums than you can claim the first spot.

 

[oregon fj]

There is a whole lot of question about the stamped year vs. frame number year on early rigs. Mine has a '63 frame number, built in 5/63 (per tech bulletin equipment change points), but is stamped 1964 on the plate.

The frame number is easy - it relates to the calendar year of manufacture.

Some people claim that the year was stamped here in the US based on when it first registered, but that doesn't make sense due to the stamped typeface being the same as the other numbers. Plus Toyota had no real importer or dealer network in the US prior to about '62, so who would have stamped the 1958 on your rig? First owner? I don't think so.

My thinking is that the year stamped was the "model year", or "change year". As an example, between '63 and '64 there were several significant changes, notably the change from centered to offset rear diff, and the door opening shape on the FST tubs. Based on those two items, my 5/63 FST is definitely a '64 model year. And that is what is stamped on my data plate. In fact, the data plate actually calls the year field "MODEL".

 

[Archie 1962 FJ25]

There is a whole lot of question about the stamped year vs. frame number year on early rigs. Mine has a '63 frame number, built in 5/63 (per tech bulletin equipment change points), but is stamped 1964 on the plate.

The frame number is easy - it relates to the calendar year of manufacture.

Some people claim that the year was stamped here in the US based on when it first registered, but that doesn't make sense due to the stamped typeface being the same as the other numbers. Plus Toyota had no real importer or dealer network in the US prior to about '62, so who would have stamped the 1958 on your rig? First owner? I don't think so.

My thinking is that the year stamped was the "model year", or "change year". As an example, between '63 and '64 there were several significant changes, notably the change from centered to offset rear diff, and the door opening shape on the FST tubs. Based on those two items, my 5/63 FST is definitely a '64 model year. And that is what is stamped on my data plate.

View attachment 1842667

Arne lot of what you said makes sense here, especially the “stamp type style” being similar on both ViN and year location on data plate. However how one would explain that mine was built in early 1959 but have 1962 year stamped. It has all the characteristics of early 59 / 58 including front motor mount that was only used on F120 and prior motors. From late 59 Toyota moved to F135 and front motor mounts moved to the either side of the block.

I am thinking these might have been assembled in their corosponding year as stamped on chessis but data plate would have been stamped at Toyota factory when they actually left Japan

 

[oregon fj]

However how one would explain that mine was built in early 1959 but have 1962 year stamped. It has all the characteristics of early 59 / 58 including front motor mount that was only used on F120 and prior motors.

OK, that kinda blows up my theory.