KSA Land Cruiser enthusiast (1 Viewer)

[WarDamnEagle]

I have heard that there are some shops in the Qassim area of KSA that specialize in Land Cruisers and in my search for said shops I ran across this link:

https://haraj.com.sa/1112046315 جيوب عشش من النوادر مجدده ومخزنه لاتفوتكم

It's my understand from some of my local colleagues that have relatives in that area that this gentlemen is retired Aramco and is a total Land Cruiser fanatic. Apparently he drives around town every day in a different one. The shop that you see in the photos is his as is the rather large house with all the Land Cruisers parked out front. The box that you see in the bed of the FJ45 is the original box as it came into the port from Japan. The spare tire, tools, etc were shipped in the box strapped to the bed of the truck.

Enjoy!

 

[WarDamnEagle]

 

[FJ43 1980]

I have heard that there are some shops in the Qassim area of KSA that specialize in Land Cruisers and in my search for said shops I ran across this link:

https://haraj.com.sa/1112046315 جيوب عشش من النوادر مجدده ومخزنه لاتفوتكم

It's my understand from some of my local colleagues that have relatives in that area that this gentlemen is retired Aramco and is a total Land Cruiser fanatic. Apparently he drives around town every day in a different one. The shop that you see in the photos is his as is the rather large house with all the Land Cruisers parked out front. The box that you see in the bed of the FJ45 is the original box as it came into the port from Japan. The spare tire, tools, etc were shipped in the box strapped to the bed of the truck.

Enjoy!

Some serious cruiser porn on that site. I’ve seen some of those pics before, but not all. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Dizzy]

How old are those images?

 

[Bear]

Eagle,

All is not as it appears. There is a small group of KSA collectors who are fanatical in their recreations of Land Cruisers as-they-were-shipped overseas. Also pictured on the Internet are similar official Toyota photos of Land Cruisers parked at the Japanese port ready to be loaded for export. As you spool through this gentleman's various photos you will see: boxes of replated items, plastic wrap on everything from seats to individual dash knobs, often with Toyota parts stickers included--some authentic recreations, others imagined. None of these recreations are ever intended to be anything but display items, often parked inside large houses sitting on Arabic(Persian) rugs and surrounded by large mirrored walls. Some are transported to "shows." More like museum items, perhaps they are the big-boy toys of wealthy men, much like the never-played-with Barbie dolls that mothers collected as "college tuition investments" for their daughters--never opened, or the protective label cases on Beanie Babies, or sealed uncirculated coins. Today, as with many antique toys, the box is often worth more than the collectible item inside it. Maybe not so in this instance.

This is probably done as a way of showing-off to other older fellow Arabs; the younger generation, however, just drives their flashy gold-plated Lamborghinis and Bugattis through the resorts to impress their friends and the touristas. Even the less wealthy Arabs sometimes add plastic wrap to their well-worn trucks to emulate the same "originality," often wrapping components that never would have arrived that way. This all may be a cultural phenomenon, much like the Pakistani decorations inside and outside their vehicles.

Not to say that the wealthy recreations are not top-notch, as they search and spend heavily to acquire the very best, often NOS, items. Not sure if the person you posted is a restorer-only and recreator, or is also a collector as well. Certainly with this kind of detail-oriented attention, driving one of these-- fully assembled-- would be a real treat. Seeing crated parts does give a good reason why we pay a "dealer-prep fee" when buying a new car here in the States, but I think we receive vehicles much more completed !

 

[JohnnyC]

^^^ This ^^^

Recreations.... but... would love to have just one ... he’d probably not even knotice

There are flaws here and there ... and nothing says authentic like painted dots.... lets put them everywhere

 

[boozewz]

100% recreations. Well said @Bear

 

[Bear]

Yep, upon first view, some of them look like they just got unloaded at the docks. Have often wondered if there really IS one of these that is totally original, unwrapped, that they are all copying. How much fun that would be to actually assemble a brand-new original.

 

[rob5182]

View attachment 2009653

I've been to the shop and this mansion in Qassim. The shop is owned by Abu Thamr and the house is owned by Abu Ali, both can be found on instagram. If you go up there, don't expect to find any real bargains as they're all fully aware of the market value.... especially to westerns. BTW, this is the area Spector Offroad purchased there Saudi parts about 20 years ago.

 

[tls3601]

Interesting. Seems to be a big stash of parts in that part of the world. I have a personal friend that does high end super original restorations. He gets many of his NOS parts from UAE. He says shipping is reasonable but the parts are NOT.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I've been to the shop and this mansion in Qassim. The shop is owned by Abu Thamr and the house is owned by Abu Ali, both can be found on instagram. If you go up there, don't expect to find any real bargains as they're all fully aware of the market value.... especially to westerns. BTW, this is the area Spector Offroad purchased there Saudi parts about 20 years ago.

Thanks for the information. I'll do a bit more research. I just missed an all original '83 40 LX with PS and AC a few weeks back. It was in Taif which seems to be another area with a lot of older Land Cruisers. It sold for 48k SAR which I thought was reasonable given it's condition.

 

[rob5182]

Thanks for the information. I'll do a bit more research. I just missed an all original '83 40 LX with PS and AC a few weeks back. It was in Taif which seems to be another area with a lot of older Land Cruisers. It sold for 48k SAR which I thought was reasonable given it's condition.

I've got a 83 LX here in the kingdom I had restored, let me know if you're interested.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

@rob5182 very nice work. That one looks great. I sent you a PM.

 

[Living in the Past]

I've got a 83 LX here in the kingdom I had restored, let me know if you're interested.
View attachment 2027807

I have a few questions on your 83 LX. Obviously a petrol model from this region of the world. Does it have a H55F five speed? Glovebox door does it have the twist handle or just a straight pull knob? Also curious on the steering column, is it collapsible? Certainly not trying to bud in on a deal just trying to get a better understanding of your market. Pictures of your interior would be great.

 

[rob5182]

There may be some FJ40's equipped with H55F's here in Saudi, but over the last 5 years I haven't found any. The glovebox has a twist handle, the steering is collapsible and this one has FF rear axle with 4:10 gears.

 

[rob5182]

And one more pic

 

[Living in the Past]

There may be some FJ40's equipped with H55F's here in Saudi, but over the last 5 years I haven't found any. The glovebox has a twist handle, the steering is collapsible and this one has FF rear axle with 4:10 gears.

View attachment 2033907View attachment 2033909View attachment 2033910View attachment 2033913View attachment 2033915

Interesting it doesn't have a five speed being a LX model I assume made after 10/82. Also even in the Middle East would expect a late model LX would have a heater. Adding a five speed would be a straight bolt in with all the correct parts. Is there a bulkhead plate on the firewall where the factory blower for the heater would go? Seen some late model non heater 40 series with a fitting that could be removed and blower installed. Add factory power steering and PTO winch and would be my dream 40 series.

 

[Living in the Past]

The reason I asked about the glovebox door is the suppose 84 that @WarDamnEagle posted a link to had just a handle.

I believe it sold for under $13K US dollars. The glovebox door is the pre 8/80 in the US. Never seen a RHD with the twist knob. Same with the collapsible steering column on a RHD. RHD did get the insert dash 10/81 a year ahead of LHD.

 

[rob5182]

There's no block off plate or holes in the firewall for a heater, but she does have factory power steering. I believe the LX was built 3/83 and my white FJ40 is a 5/84 with full options, heat, AC, PS and the cool plaid interior trim.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Does the 84 have rear jump seats in the same fabric or a bench seat?