Getting the bug. Thoughts on this specimen:

[Fast Eddy]

Although the underside is clean, who knows if they properly serviced and greased the many components of the drive train, some of which you won't be able to inspect without a tear down, e.g. transfer case, diff, steering box, electrical wiring etc.

For this price I'd assume all those things would need to be gone through. As long as they're basically functional...

If you're comfortable with these unknowns and have the capabilities to fix these yourself should they become an issue, then it might be worth considering. Myself, I'd prefer to find a clean California/Arizona rig that had the same level of condition minus the paint job

I bought just what you're describing, with original paint. I still had to go through basically everything and restore it.

If you're not comfortable doing all these things yourself, make a spreadsheet and start filling it in with shop estimates and start saving your thousand dollar bills. You're going to need a bunch of them. If you're in this position, you'd be much better off spending $15k and getting something that has already been gone through and tested on the trail for a few years.

 

[Living in the Past]

69 model would of had reflectors that are MIS but that could be because it came up from south of the border. But not sure south of hte border had Padded dashes that early. That started in the North American market first. Another thing that is MIA and I'm sure it was in all market is the outside handle on the hatch. So. CA I would pass and look for a better one. Sitting for five years doesn't mean there is something wrong. Next year I will of had a 73 FST for twenty years and have neve started the engine. Didn't need it I was just offer a deal I couldn't pass up. With always having a least a few other cruiser running the poor thing just sits.