New member with J70 questions

[lostandconfused]

Hello,

I’m new so I’d like to preface this by saying that if this is better suited for the import forum just let me know!

I’m looking at a LJ70 that I found near me, it’s already registered in my state and a reasonable price which are two big pluses for me. The biggest single hang up is that it is missing the rear seat, the seller (who is the second US owner - not a great sign) says the previous owner removed the seat to make more room for storage. However, I suspect it may have been imported without the seat because the seat didn’t meet the origin country’s (Belgium) seat belt laws.

If this is the case, and it was imported and registered as two seater can I run a foul of DMV/DOT by installing a new rear seat?

A secondary question would be how hard do you guys think it would be to find a stock seat in the US?

I’d appreciate any help!

 

[joekatana]

If it came out of Belgium it came with a rear seat but they probably chose to opt for the cheaper road tax and to do that they needed to remove the rear seat, remove the seat belts and make the connections unusable ( welding the bolt holes shut) and convert it to a flat floor and a small divider, 99% of al land cruisers in Belgium and the Netherlands are like this.Stupidest thing ever but I grew up there and am used to it.

 

[lostandconfused]

Hmmm I suspected something like that might be the case. Who would go to the trouble of importing a car and then take the rear seat out and lose it... hmmm

That being said I think I do see bolt holes in the images and no divider: RARE Toyota Land Cruiser LJ 70 Turbo Diesel **BEST OFFER

I guess that still leaves the million dollar question of if I could legally put in a new seat.

 

[roscoFJ73]

I guess that still leaves the million dollar question of if I could legally put in a new seat.

What makes you think it wouldnt be legal? Shouldnt be too hard to find a seat. The BJ/FJ70 seat may work.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

I have never seen a state that is overly concerned with interior mods. Virginia's vehicle inspections (although fairly stupid) are pretty thorough and I have never had issues with aftermarket interior items. Are you looking to register it in NY?

It appears to be a clean truck. You can occassionally find part outs on 70 series amd might be able to score seat and belts that way. If you are in NY even a part out in Canada might help you.

 

[JuanJ]

Hello,

I might be stating the obvious here.

While a DMV inspection may overlook an extra seat, chances are it will focus on seat belts.

Make sure the seat you get has seat belts. Or find a way to bolt them on.





Juan

 

[jblueridge]

Juan’s is right. I bolted a junk bench seat from an old F150 onto the wood bed of my brother in laws Unimog. We added some stout welded plates underneath to anchor seat belts. Installed “universal” non retracting lap seat belts. No problems with inspection.

 

[OGBeno]

If you are in NY, I have a 2nd row bench seat available for sale.

No seat belts though.

 

[jmylie]

Get the back seat from Onur.

You can get aftermarket seatbelts or

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Good luck

 

[lostandconfused]

Yeah, even without the inspection rear seat belts are a must - dead or mangled friends and family really take the fun out of a new car. If I do buy it I’ll be sure to add them, thanks!

 

[ritlax49]

If you are in NY, I have a 2nd row bench seat available for sale.

No seat belts though.

Is that seat still available? Of course 2nd or 3rd to anyone ahead of me

 

[divemedic]

Yeah, even without the inspection rear seat belts are a must - dead or mangled friends and family really take the fun out of a new car. If I do buy it I’ll be sure to add them, thanks!

When I registered my truck in Ohio, they looked at the frame number and nothing else zero regard given to anything else.

I feel it more prudent to find out why it’s on its second US owner. Get a compression test done and take a magnet to everything before you buy.