International 80 series importation advice (1 Viewer)

[Yotaburbuja]

Greetings fellow awesome people, I live in California. However my wife is in Colombia and I made the decision to buy a 1994 Toyota Land cruiser 80 Series there. “Burbuja” (Bubble) as they refer to it for it’s round shape and what would happen to you in the 90s if you touched one considering the owners were mostly narc0s and you would get “popped” Anyways it’s been a lot of fun here but I have contemplated shipping it back to the USA specifically California… It is carbureted with a manual transmission. Originally from Venezuela now legally registered in Cali Colombia. I have done a lot of work to it there. It’s ready to adventure. Would be a bit of a unicorn back home. Is it worth looking into shipping? Should I just enjoy it in South america? Maybe take it through the Darien Gap (kidding, kind of

Let me know your thoughts please, if there is anything you are interested in difficult to find back home for your budget. I’m also happy to do the footwork as i’m in Colombia now. Plenty of fj40s here and I have experience with the purchasing process and paperwork. I also have a fantastic mechanic and parts supplier here. Thank you all, Happy new year!

 

[mudgudgeon]

There a great thread in the " importing" section of the forum. Start reading there

 

[mudgudgeon]

Thread 'Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To' Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/information-re-importing-to-the-usa-and-complete-diy-how-to.1242055/

 

[devo]

Nice Rig and welcome.
Many of us up here have 40 Series that have been imported from Colombia with the MPR hard tops. If you have a shop or know of a restorer that could help with window seals we would be grateful !
I wish I could help with the import mess but I can’t. Mine was imported through Texas.

 

[greentruck]

What's the name of that color? It's rather stealthy looking.

You got a part # for the hood ornament? Not to everyone's taste, but I'd bet you could import a few of those if OEM.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

You got a part # for the hood ornament? Not to everyone's taste, but I'd bet you could import a few of those if OEM.

75303A	EMBLEM SUB-ASSY, HOOD
75303-60010	CHROME PLATED
75303-60020	GOLD

 

[greentruck]

75303A	EMBLEM SUB-ASSY, HOOD
75303-60010	CHROME PLATED
75303-60020	GOLD

No gold for me, but the chrome one might look interesting on the new LX.

EDIT: Drat. No chrome in stock at partsouq, but 16 in gold. Figures.

 

[Yotaburbuja]

What's the name of that color? It's rather stealthy looking.

You got a part # for the hood ornament? Not to everyone's taste, but I'd bet you could import a few of those if OEM.

I’ll have to find out exactly what color mine is, I would take off my hood ornament for you if you want it and bring it back with me to the states. I can look into more if anyone else is interested as well.

 

[Yotaburbuja]

Nice Rig and welcome.
Many of us up here have 40 Series that have been imported from Colombia with the MPR hard tops. If you have a shop or know of a restorer that could help with window seals we would be grateful !
I wish I could help with the import mess but I can’t. Mine was imported through Texas.

Everyone is on vacation here with the Salsa festival now but I have a few more weeks here. I will see what we can find with window seals. Was this for the 80 or 40 series? Which windows in particular?

 

[Yotaburbuja]

75303A	EMBLEM SUB-ASSY, HOOD
75303-60010	CHROME PLATED
75303-60020	GOLD

WarDamnEagle is a professional

 

[Yotaburbuja]

Thread 'Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To' Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/information-re-importing-to-the-usa-and-complete-diy-how-to.1242055/

You are the man thank you very much

 

[WarDamnEagle]

WarDamnEagle is a professional

lol. WDE is a retired professional chemical exec. But I appreciate the compliment.

 

[Yotaburbuja]

Nice Rig and welcome.
Many of us up here have 40 Series that have been imported from Colombia with the MPR hard tops. If you have a shop or know of a restorer that could help with window seals we would be grateful !
I wish I could help with the import mess but I can’t. Mine was imported through Texas.

Something like this? I’m sure I can find whatever you need in La quince here. Not totally confident about oem but definitely something, maybe from china. I’m happy to investigate.

 

[Yotaburbuja]

lol. WDE is a retired professional chemical exec. But I appreciate the compliment.

I’m very grateful for all of you! Retired and still working overtime on christmas!

 

[bhsdriller]

Impossible to get it registered in CA so unless you can do it somewhere else leave it there

 

[cruzinfj1]

@Yotaburbuja Just out of curiosity what does an average 40 go for down there?

 

[devo]

@Yotaburbuja
Thanks for posting the window seals for that FJ45. It looks like a complete OEM replacement kit. Very nice by the way!

I’m looking for window seal/gaskets for the MPR hard top. OEM window seal don’t fit the MPR! The MPR hard tops were made exclusively in Colombia for the 40 Series Land Cruiser.( and later the 70 series) A bunch of us have imported them and are looking for an easy fix to our window gasket issues. The thinking is that if the MPR tops were manufactured in Colombia there must be a bunch down there and that the Land Cruiser restoration shops must run across the MPR tops and have a solution for replacing window gaskets that can be 40 years old.
So maybe if you are snooping around down there and had time you could look into it?
I’ll include a couple of photos of my FJ43 to give you an idea.

Thanks
devo

 

[Yotaburbuja]

@Yotaburbuja Just out of curiosity what does an average 40 go for down there?

Ultimately depends on the condition. There are a lot of different options depending on the quality you are seeking. Today they have the car festival in Cali. Here are some on the higher end of the spectrum.

 

[Yotaburbuja]

Impossible to get it registered in CA so unless you can do it somewhere else leave it there

This is what I figured, better off bringing back an fj40 I believe

 

[Yotaburbuja]

@Yotaburbuja
Thanks for posting the window seals for that FJ45. It looks like a complete OEM replacement kit. Very nice by the way!

I’m looking for window seal/gaskets for the MPR hard top. OEM window seal don’t fit the MPR! The MPR hard tops were made exclusively in Colombia for the 40 Series Land Cruiser.( and later the 70 series) A bunch of us have imported them and are looking for an easy fix to our window gasket issues. The thinking is that if the MPR tops were manufactured in Colombia there must be a bunch down there and that the Land Cruiser restoration shops must run across the MPR tops and have a solution for replacing window gaskets that can be 40 years old.
So maybe if you are snooping around down there and had time you could look into it?
I’ll include a couple of photos of my FJ43 to give you an idea.

Thanks
devo

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Ahhh okay, i’m learning here. I’m going to continue the search. I’m actually really interested myself as well. I’m considering buying a fj40 or fj43 to import for myself instead of my 80 series. I will keep you updated my friend. Thank you very much for the information. I didn’t know anything about the MPR hardtops being from here.