Meet La Cuchara Roja aka "The Red Spoon" (3 Viewers)

[ClemsonCruiser]

Hey gang it's been a minute since I've done a build thread but I recently started a 45 build for a client that I believe is worthy of being documented. It's a 1965 FJ45 SWB with removable top this will be my third SWB build and by far the most unique. With that in mind I will go ahead and get a disclaimer on this build out of the way up front. If you're a purist you might want to advert your eyes or ignore this build all together. As this 45 let's just say is going to be a little more "athletic" than my normal stock-ish builds

Okay now for the details on the truck. Surprisingly this old girl popped up for sale basically in my back yard a big thanks to my good friend @daniel.watters for tipping me off on the truck. It was for sale on Facebook market place with a few photos posted that showed what appeared to be a fairly original and unmolested truck. The price seemed fairly reasonable too which in today days world had me concerned it was possibly just another internet scam. But after placing a call to the then owner Ronnie he came off like a nice guy and had a great knowledge of the truck and a family history going back nearly 30 years with the truck. After our conversation I felt assured the truck was legit and we made plans for me to come down to look it over in person. A short 2 hour drive later and I was looking over this gorgeous 45.

It was as good as Ronnie had promised if not better, and I knew she had to come home with me. With the blessing of my client I made plans with Ronnie for me to come back in a week and trailer the old girl back to my shop!

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

A few more pictures from that first day.

I always love finding original Koito headlights still in service

Original two hole mirror and original functioning wiper motors!

Beautiful rust free roof and gutter rail.

And a decal that had me scratching my head, definitely not something I'd seen before. More on this one later

 

[Jacket]

Man - that's a really nice starting point. That thing looks great!

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Thanks Matt! It really is a gem of a little truck and man it sure was nice to have it local to me usually I'm buying these old girls sight unseen on the other side of the country.

 

[JackA]

Looks great. I have a similar sticker on an old valve cover too. Maybe a replacement engine from Japan.

 

[whitey45]

Killer 45, man I have it’s twin only an Fj40! I am wondering about that engine sticker As well, never seen one’

 

[Michael B]

Great find! I’m looking forward to this build!!

 

[FJ40 MATT]

JP loves the red swb 45’s

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

A week later it was time for pick-up and not even the cold dreary rain could dampen my spirits.

Is there any better feeling than seeing this in your review mirror??

Stopped by my local dealer to pick up some parts on the way home. I was shocked when half the sales reps came out to take a peek and even more shocked when a few knew what it was.

Back home in good company

 

[middlecalf]

Was that restored sometime in the past? If not, unbelievable condition, esp. for eastern truck. That would be a hard one for me to “upgrade.”

But JP I think you’ve crossed over your officially allotted number of pristine trucks (aka cream puffs) for renovation that have functioning tin cup brake/clutch reservoir systems .

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Now it's time for a little of the history of this old girl. In talking with Ronnie the truck was sold new in Dodge City, Kansas originally purchased there by a local dentist. Who used it as his daily driver until around 1990 at which time he sold it to Ronnie's father in law. Not long before the dentist sold the truck he had if pretty much fully restored. The truck was originally Horizontal blue and he had it repainted the red it currently is. There was some engine work done, hence the strange decal and a Weber carb was fitted but thankfully the SD40 wasn't scrapped and was give to me with the truck. Ronnie's father in law who purchased the truck had a summer home in Cuchara, CO and from around 1990 on that is where the 45 resided, only being used from June to August every year. Cuchara is a tiny little town off the beaten path but it is big enough to have a local coffee shop, and during the summer months the 45 was a regular just about every morning. Other than that the truck bounced around the local trails and back roads in that rural part of Colorado. Not a bad living for and old Cruiser and is surely what led to in being so well preserved The 45 finally left Cuchara with the passing of Ronnie's FIL and found its way to Georgia via Ronnie. That's the brief history I have on the old girl and now the title of the build thread should make a little more sense

Downtown Chuchara, CO

I imagine the 45 and this old Willys are probably old friends, the long abandoned ski resort in Cuchara in the back ground.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Looks great. I have a similar sticker on an old valve cover too. Maybe a replacement engine from Japan.

You nailed it Jack! After doing some research and digging around I found an old thread where some one else had one and was looking for info. In that thread MOT was able to translate the Japanese characters and essentially what it says is these were firetruck engines F130s to be exact. I believe Marv Spector imported a bunch of them in the late 80s or early 90s and they made their way into 40s and 45s like this one and Whiteys rigs. I believe they originally would have come with the DD40 the SD40s big brother. I actually have an air filter from one of these that I'll post picture of later, it's pretty neat.

Decal all cleaned up.

Other decals on the valve cover.

FJ24 fire truck they came out of

Also of interest the valve cover has no vent hose nipple to connect to the air filter housing. Just has these little vents to off gas into the air.

 

[redfj45can]

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[ClemsonCruiser]

Okay that is a good enough start for now. I'll leave with a couple more photos of the old girl next to her twin and a little walk around video of it's pre resto-mod state

 

[tahoe40/45]

Nice JP!, cant wait to see what you do to this Cruiser.
That is the same valve cover that is on FJ25s, no breather to air cleaner. If you look at early valve covers with the vent hose nipple, you can see that they just welded the vents like that one closed.

 

[Bear]

JP,

Know about the SD40 carb, but the DD40 is a new one. Double Ds always mean something quite different to me !

 

[KT40]

JP,
You and Whitey have the same luck finding 45's. You cover the right coast and Whitey the left coast. Nice find. Looking forward to the build.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

JP,

Know about the SD40 carb, but the DD40 is a new one. Double Ds always mean something quite different to me !

Feast your eyes on these double Ds Bear!!!

Credit to Jim C. On the pics.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Nice JP!, cant wait to see what you do to this Cruiser.
That is the same valve cover that is on FJ25s, no breather to air cleaner. If you look at early valve covers with the vent hose nipple, you can see that they just welded the vents like that one closed.

Great info Antony, thanks!

 

[Bear]

Nice. Lookin' at Double Ds always makes me thirsty!