Khamis Mushait FJ45, aka Ms Troopy

[WarDamnEagle]

Love the 280zx sitting off to the side! What a cool experience Greg and those seats covers are sharp! Amazing how cruisers know no boundaries or cultural differences.

So the local Datsun club showed up at his house after we got back from the desert. Two Zs and some old pickups. One was a 4 door pickup. I had no idea they made those back then. When I told them I used to have an '82 280ZX the owner of the Z you can see in the photo insisted I take it out for a drive.

 

[greenbeast]

My first vehicle was a single cab 4x4 Datsun pickup. The second was the 82 280Zx cowboy coupe with T tops. One of my favorite vehicles of all time, had high miles when I bought it and it ran forever!

 

[FJ43 1980]

Those seat covers are amazing as is the FJ43 and the rest of his collection.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

My first vehicle was a single cab 4x4 Datsun pickup. The second was the 82 280Zx cowboy coupe with T tops. One of my favorite vehicles of all time, had high miles when I bought it and it ran forever!

My wife still hasn't totally forgiven me for trading ours for an '85 4Runner. We still have the 4Runner, which she used for work for a while and is "hers" but she still misses the Z. I actually have to agree with her. Probably the one car I sold that I wish I still had.

 

[Living in the Past]

My daughter's first car was an 80 300ZX. Was a gutless wonder with an auto. Wrecked it within a month. I had a 76 or 77 260Z 2+2. May have been a 280 only owned it a short time. I liked so my first wife figured it needed to go. I did have a 69 Opel GT I bought back in 1971. I future ex didn't like that either. Sold it in late 1973 after buying a new Monte Carlo. In 1974 bouth a 68 FJ40. I still miss the Opel. Can't say it I miss the opel or my first LC. But because I still have the 68 that may answer itself.

What could be better, 40/60 series Land Cruisers and experiencing the local culture. So does your new friend sell these seat covers? Wouldn't mind a set for an FJ45LP. Got the hard part cover since I have the passenger seat from Middle East late model 45.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

My daughter's first car was an 80 300ZX. Was a gutless wonder with an auto. Wrecked it within a month. I had a 76 or 77 260Z 2+2. May have been a 280 only owned it a short time. I liked so my first wife figured it needed to go. I did have a 69 Opel GT I bought back in 1971. I future ex didn't like that either. Sold it in late 1973 after buying a new Monte Carlo. In 1974 bouth a 68 FJ40. I still miss the Opel. Can't say it I miss the opel or my first LC. But because I still have the 68 that may answer itself.

What could be better, 40/60 series Land Cruisers and experiencing the local culture. So does your new friend sell these seat covers? Wouldn't mind a set for an FJ45LP. Got the hard part cover since I have the passenger seat from Middle East late model 45.
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I'm sure he can get them made and shipped. If your daughter's car was a 300 it would have been a bit later than '80. Pretty sure those didn't start until '83. What year is the 45LP?

 

[Living in the Past]

Probably was an 83. All I remember it had a digital dash and gutless. Good vehicle for a teenager's first car. Bought it from a friend at work. This would have been in 1995. It looks like the other Z was was a 280. Been around 40 years ago and owned a short time. My ex and I separated few years later. Did manage to keep my 68 FJ40.

The 45 is a 1965 (64 production).

 

[FJ40GURU]

Cheers, Greg! Thanks for your support.

Well see what you started? Box arrived from Australia with a few NOS parts. Thanks Amir! @FJ40GURU

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[120mm]

Changed the air filter today; normally not noteworthy but thought I would show this part that was covering the air filter. It doesn't show up on the parts diagrams so maybe it's aftermarket? Not sure. It covers about half the filter and I assume, with the bottom vanes, is supposed to channel air downward and perhaps keep at least half the filter cleaner? Old filter was very dirty and I didn't notice any stratification of contaminants. I put it back in on the theory that it can't hurt anything.

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Sorry for the necropost, but....

That's designed to impart a spin to incoming air so that larger particulate matter separates before the filter.

It, or something on it, is on every modern ag and construction equipment I've ever seen. Usually combined with a snorkel, which pulls cooler, cleaner air from as far away from the ground as possible.

 

[Honger]

Couple more

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THIS... I miss this.

 

[Honger]

Spent a bit more time examining these covers and I am not sure that Toyota delivered them any better. Also realized the photo above in the Troopy shows the bottom and top swapped. Had to go do another "test fit".

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I've come to find that this fabric/pattern are an acquired taste. I love it and almost put it in my 40, but it wasn't original in the GCC for a 1977, just gray.

That new fabric/material that his covers are made from came from some guy (either Saudi or Emirati) who went to Korea and found a textile manufacturer to duplicate the material. He had an original swatch somehow. In any case, we've done covers for a couple of our restorations with the material... my guys actually have bolts of just the material.

Glad to see you found these, the OEM GCC pattern is so cool.

 

[Living in the Past]

I've come to find that this fabric/pattern are an acquired taste. I love it and almost put it in my 40, but it wasn't original in the GCC for a 1977, just gray.

That new fabric/material that his covers are made from came from some guy (either Saudi or Emirati) who went to Korea and found a textile manufacturer to duplicate the material. He had an original swatch somehow. In any case, we've done covers for a couple of our restorations with the material... my guys actually have bolts of just the material.

Glad to see you found these, the OEM GCC pattern is so cool.

You have this material back in the Middle East? I have the passenger seat from a Late model FJ45 and actually like the material. Have a split in a seam but I got a really good deal on the seat from a mudder.

Do have a question for those who have spend time in Middle East and have been involved with the 40 series. Is there a reason so many transmission shift canes have custom made leather boot covering most of the cane?

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Do have a question for those who have spend time in Middle East and have been involved with the 40 series. Is there a reason so many transmission shift canes have custom made leather boot covering most of the cane?

It's probably canvas and they like to cover shifters, etc. with canvas that covers both shifters and the transmission hump with storage bags incorporated.

 

[Honger]

You have this material back in the Middle East? I have the passenger seat from a Late model FJ45 and actually like the material. Have a split in a seam but I got a really good deal on the seat from a mudder.

Do have a question for those who have spend time in Middle East and have been involved with the 40 series. Is there a reason so many transmission shift canes have custom made leather boot covering most of the cane?

Yeah, but it's my shop's personal stash... I've asked if they'll stitch up a few sets to sell; nope. Things are funny over there... and I've only pushed so hard on this.

40's, 45's, 70-series... these are all worker trucks over there, often personally assigned (ie. they always have the same driver). These guys like to customize their work trucks a bit... dash pads, shift covers, steering wheel covers, etc. Often when they have seat covered with new fabric they'll get the door cards covered with matching along with shifter covers, etc.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I've come to find that this fabric/pattern are an acquired taste. I love it and almost put it in my 40, but it wasn't original in the GCC for a 1977, just gray.

That new fabric/material that his covers are made from came from some guy (either Saudi or Emirati) who went to Korea and found a textile manufacturer to duplicate the material. He had an original swatch somehow. In any case, we've done covers for a couple of our restorations with the material... my guys actually have bolts of just the material.

Glad to see you found these, the OEM GCC pattern is so cool.

I knew the material came from Korea. It's dead on to OEM. I have to say I like the pattern personally. My FZJ75 is very similar but a bit different. Seats are OK so I'm not in the market per se but would definitely buy some for it if I came across the exact material.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Well the Troopy and the Pickup are on their way. Left Jeddah earlier this week headed to Jacksonville. Not sure of exact ETA but think sometime early June.

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

The time has come...
All the best Greg!

 

[hurtwj]

I actually live in the Khamis area. This is what I am doing with my spare time too. All of these are 82 or 83 . All have Factory AC (not working but installed)
and pw steering with 4 sp. All of the FJ40's are Saudi LX versions .. The Saudi LX only had 2 wipers. The troopy is already going to a buyer and will get shipped in a few weeks.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Those are very nice indeed! That Troopy looks like mine's twin. Wish I could visit Khamis Mushait before we leave Saudi but it's not going to happen. My in-laws actually lived there in the early 80s so my wife has been there but not in many years. The Abha area is supposed to be the Mecca for old Land Cruisers in Saudi. It certainly looks that way from your photos. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[Michael B]

Are those Saudi license plates easy to come by and exportable?