This thread was started in Classifieds but it's gonna be more of a chat thread I think.
So...there's a 55 for sale in NH. Well, sorta an FJ55. SouthBostonFJ posted up pics in the for sale section about a "piggy" for sale. I clicked on the link and soaked in the horror. It's located in Keene, NH which I coincidentally had a meeting in Keene today at 9 am.
I called the guy last week with zero intention on buying the truck but wanted to see it with my own eyes. Turns out "it" is a 1973 which my piggy is as well. He had some new parts for it that he would sell to me on the side so I decided it was worth a drive by.
The guy who owns it is named George. Very interesting guy who restores Land Rovers and sells Rover parts. He just started restoring a 1949 Dodge Power Wagon which was beyond rusty but certainly worth the effort. Gonna be a killer Power Wagon when he's done.
Anyway, the guy who built this "piggy" owned a Land Rover dealership in NH. George said the guy was definitely odd but very much a genius overall. He built this rig and used it as a daily driver for many, many years.
He fashioned the design after Blitzkreig APC vehicles from Germany...(hence the Mercedes emblem) The entire body is made from 14 gauge sheet metal...there are no pig body panels in it other than the firewall and the dash. The frame, axles,engine and trans are Land Cruiser but that's it. It's all riveted, welded, bolted, screwed etc.
The truck has no roof on it but the guy had a snap-on tonneau cover which he made himself. The cover apparently is gone which is why George put boards over the top and covered it with rubber so the rain would stay out of it.
It has the original F135 and a 3 speed which apparently runs excellent and supposedly it drives great. Blind spots must suck though! It was last registered on the road in 2003 in NH. NH is fairly lenient on things but this would never be passed in MA.
The guy who built it died a little while ago and George ended up with it. I was stopping by for some parts and a good laugh and I certainly got both but hearing stories and talking trucks with people like George is half the reason I love Cruisers.
George gave me a list of phone numbers of retired guys that have Cruisers in their barns and in the woods. I have a feeling I'll be making a field trip up North again soon.
BONUS: I got most of the paperwork from the truck (except for the title) including the a mint condition dealers warranty booklet from the original dealer in WHite River Jct, VT. Also got an owners manual and some cool sales booklets. raw parts I got were a brand new blower motor, speedo cable, tool kit with roll, grease gun, bottle jack, starter and a few other things. Fun times!
So...there's a 55 for sale in NH. Well, sorta an FJ55. SouthBostonFJ posted up pics in the for sale section about a "piggy" for sale. I clicked on the link and soaked in the horror. It's located in Keene, NH which I coincidentally had a meeting in Keene today at 9 am.
I called the guy last week with zero intention on buying the truck but wanted to see it with my own eyes. Turns out "it" is a 1973 which my piggy is as well. He had some new parts for it that he would sell to me on the side so I decided it was worth a drive by.
The guy who owns it is named George. Very interesting guy who restores Land Rovers and sells Rover parts. He just started restoring a 1949 Dodge Power Wagon which was beyond rusty but certainly worth the effort. Gonna be a killer Power Wagon when he's done.
Anyway, the guy who built this "piggy" owned a Land Rover dealership in NH. George said the guy was definitely odd but very much a genius overall. He built this rig and used it as a daily driver for many, many years.
He fashioned the design after Blitzkreig APC vehicles from Germany...(hence the Mercedes emblem) The entire body is made from 14 gauge sheet metal...there are no pig body panels in it other than the firewall and the dash. The frame, axles,engine and trans are Land Cruiser but that's it. It's all riveted, welded, bolted, screwed etc.
The truck has no roof on it but the guy had a snap-on tonneau cover which he made himself. The cover apparently is gone which is why George put boards over the top and covered it with rubber so the rain would stay out of it.
It has the original F135 and a 3 speed which apparently runs excellent and supposedly it drives great. Blind spots must suck though! It was last registered on the road in 2003 in NH. NH is fairly lenient on things but this would never be passed in MA.
The guy who built it died a little while ago and George ended up with it. I was stopping by for some parts and a good laugh and I certainly got both but hearing stories and talking trucks with people like George is half the reason I love Cruisers.
George gave me a list of phone numbers of retired guys that have Cruisers in their barns and in the woods. I have a feeling I'll be making a field trip up North again soon.
BONUS: I got most of the paperwork from the truck (except for the title) including the a mint condition dealers warranty booklet from the original dealer in WHite River Jct, VT. Also got an owners manual and some cool sales booklets. raw parts I got were a brand new blower motor, speedo cable, tool kit with roll, grease gun, bottle jack, starter and a few other things. Fun times!
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