SAUDI IMPORTS-Information Thread

[wngrog]

This is the main reason I started this forum. So many people are asking me about Saudi Land Cruiser imports that I needed a landing page for all of the information.

As of 5-31-2026, in partnership with @Meshal we have sold/imported 26 Land Cruisers.

This partnership has been successful because I trust Meshal to get me the best Land Cruisers for our customers.

Meshal is a designer by trade, not a used car person, however he’s a Land Cruiser fanatic first. Just like me, he loves these things and most importantly he has a very good eye for good trucks. Many people import vehicles with rolled back odometers and others with poor mechanical or body work but Meshal knows these things and keeps me and my customers safe from being swindled.

So, what’s available?

The first thing you need to know is that, for the most part, the Saudi seller is not a 3rd world moron. Even in the deepest desert they have the internet now and they know that their father’s FZJ80 with 45,000 kilometers is worth something. A lot of something. Also, they know when someone starts sniffing around a 25 year old vehicle it probably means it’s going to the US.

What’s the point? Point is, the Land Cruisers I ask Meshal to find are expensive. If you are looking for a $25,000 truck then I’m not your guy. I’ll cover shipping later but to get a cruiser landed in the US for $25,000 it would cost $18,000 there and that’s really not the market I’m working with.

99% of the vehicles in Saudi that are available for import are Gasoline motors. Don’t ask for a diesel as they are not there. If we see a 1% diesel that’s nice we will buy it. Don’t hold your breath.

40 Series

The most common available vehicles are 80+ 40 series. Many have AC. Many have no heat. FJ45 Pickups. FJ45 Troopies, FJ40s. We can get these fully restored or as is.

60 Series

Meshal finds great 60s and 62s. Carbureted 2F and 3F. H55 transmissions. Zero rust. Awesome graffics.

70 Series

FZJ70 is very common. 90” wheelbase like a 40. Hard top. AC. Heat. Awesome trucks. Lots of legroom. I’ve brought in a few and the owners love them. It’s a FJ40 on steroids. Carbureted 1FZ and even some early carbureted 3F trucks. The FZJ71 with coil pack 1FZ is available as well but harder to find

FZJ73 mid wheelbase

These things are crazy rare. They exist but they are very rare.

FZJ-75 pickups

Removable top. Very common. Carbed 1FZ or 3F. Battle wagon. Very utilitarian and a blast to drive. Some have dual tanks. Most have AC and heat. Limited legroom. LX may have power windows.

FZJ-80

Two types. The narrow body G or GX. Utilitarian. Tough. Carbureted 1FZ. Some have tailgated. Some amby doors. Some have tire carriers. Some don’t. All have dual tanks. Unreal simple. No idiotic EGR, pesky heater hoses, ABS etc. Very few have lockers.
The GXR and VXR are the higher end. Most have flares. Cool boxes. Some late VXR have the fuel injection like we got in the US. Rare. Lockers. Rare. Diesel, 1HZ…very rare. 1%

FZJ79

Non removable hard top pickups. Coil Pack 1FZ. Fast. Dual tanks. About 6” more legroom than a FZJ75 so most all Americans can drive them. Some come with lockers. Some Limited Slip. Some LX have power windows and some other goodies. Coil spring front.

100 Series

The most common 100 series is the FZJ100. This is the coil pack 1FZ. Totally bad ass 240 hp motor. These come in G, GX, GXR and VXR variants. Rear Lockers are out there but rare.

The 2UZ 100s are fairly rare. They only come in the higher variants. 5 speed manual. Total beast. Rear lockers are more common with these. Finding a low mile 2UZ truck is hard. All 100s have dual tanks.

FZJ105s exist but barely. If they are out there they are mostly heavily used. Beware of a shiny low mile 105.

 

[wngrog]

OK. Now you know what we can get, here is how it works.

Reach out to me or Meshal via PM on Mud. Once we know you have read all of this information, we will get a WhatsApp 3 way text thread going to start the search.

Meshal lives in Riyadh but most of the vehicles he finds are all over the country. Saudi is a very large country so he often has to fly to do the personal inspections.

Once we determine he is going out then you will PayPal Meshal expense money to go out and video your truck. This usually includes driving it and taking it to a shop for a lift and underbody inspection. Lots of photos and videos. Usually he won’t head out unless you are pretty sure it’s what you want.

Once you decide on your truck and Meshal provides the purchase price, YOU will wire the money to Meshal in Saudi Arabia. It’s easy.

This may be the breaking point for many of you. Wondering what kind of protection you have sending $50,000 to a dude on Mud hoping you will get a vehicle in 3-6 months.

26 vehicles imported and counting. Thats your guarantee. I’ll have a place below that buyers can share their experiences…good or bad.

Meshal offers all the services needed in Saudi to bring the truck up to any level you want. He has mechanics that rebuild motors, driveline and all of the “soft parts” You can choose to use this service or take your vehicle as-is.

Labor in Saudi is cheap but Toyota parts are Toyota parts. They cost the same there as they do here. We only use Toyota parts.

Please. If you have to clear this purchase with your wife, do this before contacting me. I have no problem with you having to clear your purchase with your wife, I just don’t want to hear about it.

You have no idea how much time we’ve wasted on potential customers that flaked out because their wife killed the deal because the car does not have air bags or rear shoulder belts or a 5 speed and she can’t drive a stick

 

[wngrog]

When we bought our first two trucks, Meshal flew to the US to meet us and show that he’s the real deal. He’s been back a few times since and we’ve become close friends.

His English is perfect so there are no communication issues.

He just doesn’t eat bacon. That’s his only flaw.

 

[wngrog]

Vehicle Costs and Shipping

Meshal and I watch the US market for pricing. We watch what sells and what doesn’t.

I’ve never once asked Meshal what he paid for a vehicle we are buying. It’s none of my business. What it my business is being reasonable in pricing for our customers.

There are a lot of people involved in these transactions. There is the seller. There is the person that finds the vehicle and tells Meshal about it. There is Meshal. There are the shops that let him inspect the vehicles. There are the shippers that move the cars around Saudi Arabia once we buy them.

We don’t post prices of these vehicles because inevitably someone will say “I can get that truck for 1/2” or some nonsense like that and it’s just not ever true.

Prices will be between you, me and Meshal.

Shipping.

We combine 2 vehicles per shipment so a buyer will be liable for 1/2 the container and 1/2 the port fees.

Containers have ranged from 8500 from Jeddah to Houston to as low as 5500 when no one is blowing s*** up over there. Transit times once on the water are 35-45 days.

I am the broker. I charge $1000 per vehicle for my side of the import process. I pay all of the container fees and port fees and deal with the paperwork.

I pick up the vehicles in Houston and bring them to my shop in Mississippi for further modification if wanted. I do the bumpers, lockers, lifts etc.

Those fees vary.

If you want your vehicle in Houston or want a shipper from Houston I can arrange that as well.

Over the last 3 years we have had some wild rides during these wars but we always get the cars. Just saying. It happens.

As of now we are paying 2.5% tarrifs at the port. That can change but it’s been constant so far. I’ve not been charged a Chikin tax on a pickup yet.

Meshal is not responsible for shipping. His prices include getting the vehicles registered for export and to the port.

If there are any delays on his end it will be communicated.

Edit: hopefully shipping costs will go down in the future but lately the per vehicle costs are around $7000 all in.

 

[Meshal]

We do not ship parts, big or small, and if you see someone got a part from us, well, he is a lucky one. thats all.

So please no engines, not H150 no stuff.

 

[wngrog]

Registering the vehicles

Every state is different. Check your regulations.

We provide the import papers from the EPA and the TSA that satisfy every state I’ve dealt with so far.

Meshal sends a copy of the Registration (they don’t have titles) , and a couple of other documents.

I usually have them translated and have no issues with my local DMV.

Again, I’ll have customers comment below on their experiences with registering their vehicles.

 

[wngrog]

We do not ship parts, big or small, and if you see someone got a part from us, well, he is a lucky one. thats all.

So please no engines, not H150 no stuff.

We tried to stuff a bunch of parts into one of our truck shipments and it turned into a massive nightmare so we are out of the parts business.

 

[wngrog]

Once your vehicle is enroute we get a tracker so we get to watch its progress.

This is a FZJ75 and a FZJ79 coming in 2 weeks

 

[Meshal]

First, I want to thank my brother Nolen for all those detailed steps about our operation. Nolen and I are about to get into the 5th year of doing this. We enjoyed it, and sometimes we hated it. The main goal is to provide as many clean LHD Land Cruisers as possible to people who love “authentic” Land Cruisers, and I think we've succeeded. Knowing those people is driving them since day one of landing, like a true Land Cruiser, is beautiful. They trusted the process, and they nailed what they wanted.

After my trip from Chicago to Boise to deliver the tan GX, FZJ80, I realized that what we provide is only for the good eyes. A lot of admiration for how unique those trucks in the USA are, and I strongly believe this is an important factor for buying a classic truck; it must catch people's eyes.

Is it a job for me? No, I am like any other here, spend money on land cruisers and have fun! Then why is it a full-time job? Because I enjoy it especially with a team member like Nolan. I enjoy reading and tracking parts numbers, restoring stuff, and more!

The only thing to say is: Please make sure you are ready to make such a transaction before reaching out. I care about my time, and it is valuable to me, my mom and dad, my wife, and my trusted client. So please, I don't need a pizza gift card or a $100 USD tip, I'm good, I don't need it, and if you meet me, you will feel ashamed you offered me such a “finding fee.”

 

[matzell]

From what I am seen and heard, you guys are doing a great job and wish you both continued success with this. Some really cool trucks coming over here to the states! Glad to have you both here for the community.

 

[Himbo]

As of now we are paying 2.5% tarrifs at the port. That can change but it’s been constant so far. I’ve not been charged a Chikin tax on a pickup yet.

You haven't been charged the 10% tariff? I have a skincare business and were charged the 10% tariffs last year.

 

[wngrog]

You haven't been charged the 10% tariff? I have a skincare business and were charged the 10% tariffs last year.

As of now 25 year old cars from Saudi are 2.5