I've been meaning to add to this thread, but it's been a busy week. Anyhow, this is an interesting thread and here's my contribution:
1. So, I've mentioned before that my dad had Land Cruisers when I was a kid. I have lots of memories in the mustard 40, but also vague memories of other ones earlier on. So, just called my dad and his friend had a green 40 that we hunted in as well. I was real young, maybe 7 or so. I posted the only 2 pics of my dad's 40 that I have.
2. First vehicle I owned was a green '73 or '74 Toyota Camry - 22re/4speed. I bought it for like $500. My buddies and I wheeled that car around southern NM. It'd go lots of places you wouldn't think a car would go. It was a blast having a vehicle that was so simple, easy to fix, and basically indestructible. No pics unfortunately.
3. Second vehicle was a '84 CJ7 - 304/4speed (I believe it was a 4 speed). Boo, only had it a few months. After breaking the rear axle and repairing it, I sold it for a decent profit.
4. Third vehicle was a '77 Chevy Cheyenne (350/automatic). My uncle bought this truck new, sold it to my grandfather, and I bought it from him. This was a great truck. We took that truck all over NM. Lots of power and tough suspension and axles. As HS seniors we wanted to go fishing to Snow Lake in the Gila over spring break. The forest service said no access due to snow. Well, as stupid seniors, we made it. It was bitterly cold. We fished, drank beer, howled at the moon, and froze. We had the whole Gila to ourselves. And we almost got stuck a few times. Looking back, it was stupid and really could have gone south fast.
5. So, had to sell the '77 in college because I got married. Then comes the time of 4 doors and minivans.
6. I got my first job out of grad school at Los Alamos Nat. Lab. My wife and I traveled there to look for homes over a weekend, bought one in White Rock, NM, and on the way back to the Albuquerque airport realized I'd need another vehicle. I found a green '74 FJ40 for $750 that needed an engine and was sitting under a tree. It was a NM truck, so no rust. I bought it and had it towed to my buddies house in Albuquerque. I ended up buying a cheap Ford Ranger 2wd a few months after arriving in Los Alamos since the 40 didn't run. I put a 350/SM465 into the 40. It was a great truck.
7. Moved to west TN to teach at a university. More kids and making less money meant selling the 40 on
ebay to someone in DC. Funny story that about 5 years or so after selling the 40, someone calls me from Nashville with questions on it. Apparently the 40 went to DC, Seattle, and then to Nashville.
8. No Land Cruisers for about 20 years as we poured our money and labor into a little 9 acre farm. We had chickens and cows. It was a great time and our children have so many fond memories or chasing escaped cows at midnight, killing chickens, killing stray dogs, running through the pasture, ...
9. So, after selling that place, that freed up time and resources for an interest in Land Cruisers again. Since then I've had a '76 40 that I bought from Montrose, CO. Sold that, bought yellow '76 40 from Eagle, CO. Great truck and swapped in an SM465. Bought the '77 55. Sold the yellow 40 for what may be my dad's old '76 mustard 40. We also bought a '82 40 that needs a lot of body work that we're doing as an investment. Bought a parts 40 also. So, I have 3 40 right now. I hope to sell the parts truck soon and get the '82 fixed and sold in the next 6 months or so. Definitely keeping the '77 55 family wagon and the mustard 40.
That's my story.
Onward!
Mike
www.automobilemag.com
is that a Mullet in front of Cheby 
