I am working on getting FJ25 data from Toyota (1 Viewer)

[Indygbd]

Still working on getting information from Toyota. This is like pulling teeth. I get emails stating that I would love to help, please get me more information, and to call. I call and then never get a return phone call. It is ridiculous!

On another note.
I decided to work on tracking information down from the testing the military did on early Toyota's at Aberdeen in October of 1957. I am working on it and was told someone would get back with me the first of the week. I have heard that before so I will not hold by breath. I will not give up either. The information is out there somewhere. I just need to find it.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

I decided to work on tracking information down from the testing the military did on early Toyota's at Aberdeen in October of 1957. I am working on it and was told someone would get back with me the first of the week. I have heard that before so I will not hold by breath. I will not give up either. The information is out there somewhere. I just need to find it.

Should be able to get this info from Aberdeen, but it may require scheduling a research visit if I recall....

 

[Indygbd]

Should be able to get this info from Aberdeen, but it may require scheduling a research visit if I recall....

I spoke to a woman named Heather there. She said they have a historical archive and that they would look into it. I asked for photos, any test results, information about what vehicles they tested, do they have serial numbers of them, and how they disposed of them when testing was completed.

 

[Indygbd]

Spoke to Aberdeen again today. They said they are working on my request. My guess is that means they have done nothing so far. They did ask me to fill out an official Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Army which I have now done.

 

[pardion]

Spoke to Aberdeen again today. They said they are working on my request. My guess is that means they have done nothing so far. They did ask me to fill out an official Freedom of Information Act request with the U.S. Army which I have now done.

Keep up the good work.

 

[Matt1260]

would like to know all the countries they were exported to?

 

[HelloKitty65]

FOIA means they may charge you per page of material. Might ask.

 

[HelloKitty65]

If so, ask for an exemption from the charge. I can look up reasons.

 

[Indygbd]

If so, ask for an exemption from the charge. I can look up reasons.

I received an email while on vacation from them. They stated exactly that. The information requested is old and they are having trouble tracking it down. It could take more time and am I willing to pay for replication of material, ect... I responded yes to the email and asked how much the charges would be. No response from them.

 

[HelloKitty65]

From justice.gov:"The second level of fees limits charges to document duplication costs only, "when records are not sought for commercial use and the request is made by an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, whose purpose is scholarly or scientific research; or a representative of the news media." (47) FOIA requesters falling into one or more of these three subcategories of requesters under the 1986 FOIA amendments enjoy a complete "exemption" from the assessment of search and review fees.(48) Their requests, like those made by any FOIA requester, still must "reasonably describe" the records sought in order to not impose upon an agency "'an unreasonably burdensome search.'"(49) (For a further discussion of this requirement, see Procedural Requirements, Proper FOIA Requests, above.)"

It is key to have a precise description of what you want.

 

[HelloKitty65]

Is MUD an educational institution?
IMO Hell ya!
"The OMB Fee Guidelines define "educational institution" to include various categories of schools, as well as institutions of higher learning and vocational education. (50) This definition is limited, however, by the requirement that the educational institution be one "which operates a program or programs of scholarly research." (51)To qualify for inclusion in this fee category, the request must serve a scholarly research goal of the institution, not an individual goal. (52) The definition of a "noncommercial scientific institution" refers to a "noncommercial" institution that is "operated solely for the purpose of conducting scientific research the results of which are not intended to promote any particular product or industry." (53)

 

[Indygbd]

Is MUD an educational institution?
IMO Hell ya!
"The OMB Fee Guidelines define "educational institution" to include various categories of schools, as well as institutions of higher learning and vocational education. (50) This definition is limited, however, by the requirement that the educational institution be one "which operates a program or programs of scholarly research." (51)To qualify for inclusion in this fee category, the request must serve a scholarly research goal of the institution, not an individual goal. (52) The definition of a "noncommercial scientific institution" refers to a "noncommercial" institution that is "operated solely for the purpose of conducting scientific research the results of which are not intended to promote any particular product or industry." (53)

I just called her number. She stated that there are different agencies at Aberdeen other than the U.S. Army Test Center at Aberdeen. I might been to file a request with the different departments at Aberdeen. I am not even sure who they are at this point. The women I spoke to forwarded the information on and said I since it is a FOIA request it has to go through proper channels. I will get a response as soon as the search is completed. Of course they did say if I had a reference or case number for the original testing it would be easy to search for the records. If I had that, I could probably look it up myself. I searched all of the only archives available and came up with nothing.

We will see that happens.

 

[HelloKitty65]

If they told you the number then maybe they would have to kill you. Maybe the Land Cruiser tests were to see how they'd hold up to atomic tests, not climb hills and drive over rocks and such.
Am thinking the really fun stuff is old photographs or movies.
I have some old super8 movies my dad shot in the 60's of an army inspection. Lots of shiny 4x4's (jeeps), rubber boats, portable weapons. Cool stuff.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Bump! Anything ever come of the Aberdeen inquiry?

 

[Indygbd]

Bump! Anything ever come of the Aberdeen inquiry?

Zero.... I filed 2 Freedom of Information requests, and both came back with a similar response to this.
See attached response below. I chased this down with my congress representative as well. I was told from them the same thing. If the records were not deemed to have historical significance, they were not kept. I chased down the different departments and locations mentioned in the response and was told those records were not found.

 

[Indygbd]

I also never got anywhere with my Toyota Executive contact. He called me, he also contacted multiple higher ups including VP of Toyota Motor Sales for me. They passed messages along in the U.S. however said if those records exist it would be in Japan and not here. Shortly after this, I stopped working with Toyota and that's where the conversations ended. Sorry guys. I tried.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great effort! I appreciate the update.

 

[Indygbd]

Here are a few more screen grabs from Toyota Executives. No luck with them. They suggested going to Japan to the museum there. i reached out via email to them and never received a response.

I also know Toyota displayed a early 1958 at the LA Auto show in January 1958. I reached out to them for archive I formation and photos. Thought I might be able to make a vin out in photos from that event. That letter is attached too

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Great digging! I know a few of those folks, I'll do some more prodding.

 

[OGBeno]

There is quite an archive in Toyota City and I know Toyota allows academic researchers to come and go through archival information. I don’t think they allow just a lay person to do so. I haven’t inquired but I believe there needs to be an approved research plan from an institutional setting. University of Land Cruiser?

The Americans will most likely not have much data going that far back. Most people in Plano don’t even know what Land Cruiser is until recently.

I can guarantee the Japanese in Toyota-cho do.