“Early Bronco – Not FJ-40, Jeep 4x4”
I was looking around for an early Bronco and that was the the heading for the ad. I said to myself… “self, wonder what a FJ-40 is?” Typed in "fj-40" in the search on eBay and that’s how I was introduced to the early LandCruisers and all of you sick, crazed people who adore these things. That little deceptive eBay listing started a year long odyssey and new found appreciation for a really cool truck.
Didn't know a damn thing about these trucks. They are like the trucks you see on Animal Planet with dudes in it chasing lions in Africa -- Or a bunch of crazed locals hanging out the back with AK-47’s and RPG’s in the Middle East. On a whim, I bid on a “clean looking” truck never thinking I would actually win and a week later I get on of those congratulation emails from eBay. How the hell was I gonna explain this one to the wife?
Two weeks later it showed up. It looked cool and sound - in the Ebay ad and FROM ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY! -Needless to say, I’ve learned a LOT about these since then. I am the second "real owner" and can trace the ownership back to the original dealer. Pretty clean however considering its age. After I learned a little more about fj40's, I think that I paid a fair price for it.
THANKS to all of you demented 40 owners on this board, over on pirate and elsewhere. With out your help and inspiration, I would have never gotten this thing going. Over the next couple of days I will post a few "before and after" photo's with a few other build up pictures and lessons that I've learned sprinkled in. Hopefully someone else will benefit from these posts as I have from all of yours. I'll mention people who helped along the way and people to avoid. Thanks again all! Many pics to follow.
Before:
I'm working on the doors now and they should be done this weekend. After with a few things yet to go:
I was looking around for an early Bronco and that was the the heading for the ad. I said to myself… “self, wonder what a FJ-40 is?” Typed in "fj-40" in the search on eBay and that’s how I was introduced to the early LandCruisers and all of you sick, crazed people who adore these things. That little deceptive eBay listing started a year long odyssey and new found appreciation for a really cool truck.
Didn't know a damn thing about these trucks. They are like the trucks you see on Animal Planet with dudes in it chasing lions in Africa -- Or a bunch of crazed locals hanging out the back with AK-47’s and RPG’s in the Middle East. On a whim, I bid on a “clean looking” truck never thinking I would actually win and a week later I get on of those congratulation emails from eBay. How the hell was I gonna explain this one to the wife?
Two weeks later it showed up. It looked cool and sound - in the Ebay ad and FROM ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY! -Needless to say, I’ve learned a LOT about these since then. I am the second "real owner" and can trace the ownership back to the original dealer. Pretty clean however considering its age. After I learned a little more about fj40's, I think that I paid a fair price for it.
THANKS to all of you demented 40 owners on this board, over on pirate and elsewhere. With out your help and inspiration, I would have never gotten this thing going. Over the next couple of days I will post a few "before and after" photo's with a few other build up pictures and lessons that I've learned sprinkled in. Hopefully someone else will benefit from these posts as I have from all of yours. I'll mention people who helped along the way and people to avoid. Thanks again all! Many pics to follow.
Before:
I'm working on the doors now and they should be done this weekend. After with a few things yet to go:
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