New Guy with a midlife crisis - 1981 FJ43

[devo]

When I imported my 1981 FJ43 out of Colombia 6 years ago the DOT, EPA and Home Land Security were only concerned with engine, exhaust and emissions changes. There could be none. No concern with body or drive train. All VIN #’s had to match. The DEA was concerned if was packed with cocaine or not!






devo

 

[Slapshot]

You’d be crazy NOT to do it!

 

[bryce112]

Received and now I will be exploring options for shipping / importing. My cousin had suggested Tranceler (a company down there) but I'd like to inquire with other companies as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[bryce112]

When I imported my 1981 FJ43 out of Colombia 6 years ago the DOT, EPA and Home Land Security were only concerned with engine, exhaust and emissions changes. There could be none. No concern with body or drive train. All VIN #’s had to match. The DEA was concerned if was packed with cocaine or not!






devo

May I ask what company you used for the importation / shipping and/or did you use a customs broker?

 

[devo]

Reach out to Mud member @TWatson and see if he is still in the biz. Tom and his friend Sander were early importers and at the time had several FJ43’s to choose from.

Also check with @aljollano.

devo

 

[bryce112]

Reach out to Mud member @TWatson and see if he is still in the biz. Tom and his friend Sander were early importers and at the time had several FJ43’s to choose from.

Also check with @aljollano.

devo

Received, thank you very much.

 

[bryce112]

Not crazy! ^^^ from CruiserMatt. Buying from a trusted family member who has treated it well? Is a good thing. Does it have heat/AC? May need to add if it does not

Sorry for the late reply, it does not have heat or AC. If I end up with it I would at least like to install heat / defrost. I saw that VintageAir has a kit for that.

 

[bryce112]

Reach out to Mud member @TWatson and see if he is still in the biz. Tom and his friend Sander were early importers and at the time had several FJ43’s to choose from.

Also check with @aljollano.

devo

Hi, spoke to AJ but yet to hear back from T Watson.

 

[bryce112]

Where is it in Colombia? I'm in Bogota

In Medellin.

 

[bryce112]

Reach out to Mud member @TWatson and see if he is still in the biz. Tom and his friend Sander were early importers and at the time had several FJ43’s to choose from.

Also check with @aljollano.

devo

Hi, spoke to AJ but yet to hear back from T Watson.

 

[devo]

Well then stick with AJ, he knows the 43 business like the back of his hand. You can find old threads of some of the 43’s he has advertised here on MUD. He puts out an awesome FJ43 T-shirt too!
TW has been in the LandCruiser world for a very long time and was active with clubs @ Dallas. He was an early importer of 43’s before the craze started. He has Cowboy in his blood and one day the cows called him home to a ranch somewheres in Texas. Maybe when he gets back from branding he’ll remember to look at MUD?

 

[bernardbar3]

getting some more pics and videos soon. And not that it matters but does 16K US dollars sound reasonable? I figure shipping and stuff will probably be @5-6K based on what he told me using a company called Transceler. Also, the only thing not original are the front brakes - he converted to a 1982 disc brake setup using OEM parts. He also replaced the alternator and battery. Drives it once a week - it is a rust free driver not a restored vehicle.

I shipped my vehicle from Santa Marta Colombia to Miami. All in it was about $2,500. Took less than 2 weeks.

 

[bernardbar3]

Where is it in Colombia? I'm in Bogota

I'm in Bogota too. Now restoring/improving an FJ43 I bought for $17k. It was and is in really good shape but I have decided I wanted to add an OEM lift kit, power steering and fit a hard top. It's coming along great.

 

[bernardbar3]

In the state of Antioquia. Also, would anyone know if the front disc brake conversion will affect the importation - the rest of the vehicle is original and numbers matching. Got a few videos to just don't know how to upload (or if that's allowed here)

No, the brakes will not affect the importation.

 

[bernardbar3]

When I imported my 1981 FJ43 out of Colombia 6 years ago the DOT, EPA and Home Land Security were only concerned with engine, exhaust and emissions changes. There could be none. No concern with body or drive train. All VIN #’s had to match. The DEA was concerned if was packed with cocaine or not!






devo

I had to get a Narcotics inspection at the port of Santa Marta. You're right only the engine, vin plate were of concern.

 

[bernardbar3]

A couple words of advice to make the transaction go smoother. Come down to Colombia and buy the vehicle, put it in your name. It will take about 10 days or less to get all your paperwork back and etc. You can then meet with a shipping broker and arrange to have it trucked to the port (Cartagena) and shipped to Miami. That way you're not hit with a lot of fees for POA etc. I've done this several times. Round trip ticket is less than $500. Plus shipping is about $2,500. Well that was before the pandemic I did the last shipping. I do have a contact here in Colombia that I can put you in touch with for shipping.

 

[devo]

@bernardbar3 what are you using for window seal/gaskets for the corner windows? I have an MPR hard top and could use some new window gaskets.


devo

 

[bernardbar3]

@bernardbar3 what are you using for window seal/gaskets for the corner windows? I have an MPR hard top and could use some new window gaskets.


devo

Hello Devo, I'll ask at the shop where I'm having the work done. Also there is a Toyota dealer here that carries all the OEM parts here in Bogota. They have everything.

 

[bryce112]

A couple words of advice to make the transaction go smoother. Come down to Colombia and buy the vehicle, put it in your name. It will take about 10 days or less to get all your paperwork back and etc. You can then meet with a shipping broker and arrange to have it trucked to the port (Cartagena) and shipped to Miami. That way you're not hit with a lot of fees for POA etc. I've done this several times. Round trip ticket is less than $500. Plus shipping is about $2,500. Well that was before the pandemic I did the last shipping. I do have a contact here in Colombia that I can put you in touch with for shipping.

Thanx for the information. Looking at planning a trip in the near future.

 

[devo]

@bernardbar3 because it is a MPR hard top OEM gaskets do not fit. I was just thinking that because you’re in the land of the MPR hard tops that there may be a shop doing some refurbishing ?