interesting road trip

[crushers]

at least it was to me.
i recieved a call a few months back from this old farmer who had a 1983 BJ42 with a blown clutch and could i replace it. of course. so he tows the rig down here on a flat deck and i jump in and the clutch goes to the floor.
"you don't need a clutch just a slave and master"
"i was told i needed a clutch job"

so i installed a clutch slave and master and he was on his way after chatting for about 4 hours.

on Friday i get a call from the same gent telling me to come for a visit.
"okay, i will swing by on Sunday"
after a long drive i meet up with him and his wife at their farm. what a beautiful homestead. i walk into the quonset and here is what i saw.

 

[crushers]

he has 5 land cruiser pickups, a 1983 bj42 and a real nice 1987 HJ60.

as you can see he has used these trucks as they should be used. they are all low km 1978-1980 45s. i was shocked to say the least. he told me he sold 4 trucks to another guy a couple years ago but he wants to hold on to these ones.

he told Berni and I his history of dealing with Toyota land cruisers.
the one story he loved to tell was when he was drilling in the Yukon he would load 7500 lbs into the back of a FJ45 and drive off the road and back to the drill sight and the dodge, ford and chevys couldn't even leave the road with out getting stuck. the gleam in his eye was intoxicating as he told story after story.

then he invites us in for a "tea". we head into his humble but homey house and sat down at the table. out comes potatoes, carrots, saugage, beets, cucumber, bread, and of course tea. all the while the wife and husband are bickering as only those that have been married for 45 years can. it was very entertaining.

he has a 1980 FJ45 wiht 82,000 km on it and the thing is in real nice shape. it has been parked for the last 15 years, he takes it out for a run ever few months "to keep the seals lubed".

the cool part of this story is other than the clutch work i never met the gent before.
he said "you treated me well on the work you did, so when i am ready to sell the cream 45 you get first dibs"

too cool.

cheers

 

[crushers]

more picks

 

[crushers]

oh and he had this stuck away as well.
1951 or 53 i can't remember. but is has an original 00744 miles on it.
an old international...
sweet rig and as clean as they come. the mice have not gotten into it at all....

 

[Diescipel]

You hear stories about rigs in barns etc., glad to know they're true

Isn't great how treating people well without any greed always comes back to pay you dividends you couldn't have even imagined?

Nice story--the mining anecdote kinda blew me away. Glad to know what they can do, even if you never come close to doing it...

B

 

[crushers]

last pics

 

[crushers]

You hear stories about rigs in barns etc., glad to know they're true

Isn't great how treating people well without any greed always comes back to pay you dividends you couldn't have even imagined?

Nice story--the mining anecdote kinda blew me away. Glad to know what they can do, even if you never come close to doing it...

B

yep, i never dreamt that he had such a rig hidden away. just unreal. like you i had heard stories for years of the rare finds...
he sure does love Land Cruisers...
cheers

 

[Technikev]

Well, you just busted open an urban myth, Wayne. If you didn't have the pics, I would say you may have been into the laughing lettuce, there. Pink elephants, my ass. LOL

I guess one would never see such a display on either of the coasts or in Ontario because of the humidity and salt on the roads. I guess this is the real "Alberta Advantage", eh? Anyway, it's nice to hear about his positive experiences with Cruisers.

Maybe this is a peek into the future of a few of our garages. One can hope...

-Kevin

 

[jzilla]

Great story wayne, and nice trucks.

 

[canadian bum]

Wow, that is quite the collection of land cruisers. It would be nice just to go look at them one day. Kinda like looking into the past.

 

[bigbrowndog]

Good one Crushers, interesting & good pics. Its a good feeling when you get something done like that and you don't feel you have been shafted.Obviously this guy appreciated your effort.

 

[Diescipel]

I guess one would never see such a display on either of the coasts or in Ontario because of the humidity and salt on the roads. I guess this is the real "Alberta Advantage", eh?

Yeah, I was going to ask if he used a dehumidifier or something. There's not even surface rust on these--I mean that International is unreal. Wouldn't happen down here in the salt fog coast of the Humboldt current.

B

 

[brownbear]

Yeah, I was going to ask if he used a dehumidifier or something. The

B

Really?? if you have been to alberta you would know about DRY. its soo dry it make everyones lips go alligator.....

Alberta is crazy dry. all the moisture gets dumped over the mountains, by the time calgary sees any its long since dumped,

Now exceptions to the rule, they got rain this summer, lots of it. But generally they are dry as can be.

Maybe I am thinking more Calgary, but I think this hold true in most albertan towns.

 

[crushers]

Yeah, I was going to ask if he used a dehumidifier or something. There's not even surface rust on these--I mean that International is unreal. Wouldn't happen down here in the salt fog coast of the Humboldt current.

B

driving that international would surely put me in a time warp. i get that way when i drive an old 40 or 45, time seems to have slipped back a couple decades and it never fails when you turn on the original radios it is always the oldies station that is playing....
it adds to the illusion...
cheers

 

[macneill]

It's nice to hear someone being rewarded for being a decent person.

 

[ridgerunner]

Great story Wayne!

 

[David*BJ70]

Hope I find a old farmer like your's near my home !

Nice for you !

 

[Tackle]

oh what a great story! i've dreamed of this one myself - ' you look like a nice person, why don't you come around back and check out this cherried out bj42 i've been meaning to sell - you can have it for, oh i dunno, how 'bout $500 and a 6 pack? ' alas, it's just a dream - but glad to know they're out there. thanks for posting that!!

 

[MadmanCruiser]

I could just cry....that has to be one of the most beautiful barns I have ever seen in my life.

Dayum I wish I could come across something like that in Ontario.,

Great Story Wayne.

 

[crushers]

oh what a great story! i've dreamed of this one myself - ' you look like a nice person, why don't you come around back and check out this cherried out bj42 i've been meaning to sell - you can have it for, oh i dunno, how 'bout $500 and a 6 pack? ' alas, it's just a dream - but glad to know they're out there. thanks for posting that!!

if he said that to me i would offer him more since he obviously does not know what he had and i would feel bad about "stealing" a rig from him.
when he offers the truck to me he will get a fair purchase price. fair is fair.

i have had other cruiser want-to-be's come to me to and try and talk down another cruiserhead in price, if the truck is over priced then i will attempt it but if the owner is asking a fair price then i just tell the buyer to pay the price...
fair is fair.

after all he might know of a few others sitting around collecting dust as well...

cheers