Could this be a factory soft top truck? (2 Viewers)

[Trollhole]

Those are not factory hinges!!

Sure looks like factory?

 

[Living in the Past]

other than the tailgate holes all the other holes came with the hardtop model ,the mirrors were mounted on the side of the cowl and were pre drilled ,the holes for the tailgate latches would have captured nuts ,also the footman loops are gone and the holes seem to be filled.but the front door hinges seem correct for an fst.seems like a modified fst .good luck

This was a model that came with the padded dash which puts it at least a 68. Same with that style heater started with te 68 model. Mirrors on a 68 model were mounted to the upper door hinge on both hard top and soft top models in the US market. Footman loops were not used on soft top models past the mid sixties. Then from 72-74 all models in the US had them. With the gas fill opening this could be a 72 but with the lights in the bib and lack of any holes for side marker lights probably a 68 or early 69 because of the turn signals. I see a threaded hole for the eyebolt on the passenger's dash and light on dash are the strongest evidence for this being a FST. Just too bas it doesn't still have bows and doors that came with it. On m68 if I were to install a tailgate, dash light and tap some holes for the safety strap eye bolts doubt anyone could tell it wasn't a FST. The VIN plate is stamped FJ40L as the model not FJ40 LV like it should be stamped which was common during this time period.