For those of you who have been on Mud a while, you may know me. But for those who've joined in the last 6 or 7 years, I'm really no one.
I've been a Cruiser guy since I was nearly 3 when my folks bought a brand new '72 FJ40 at Lyons Toyota in Boulder. My cousin still has that 40 in the family. I've had numerous Cruisers all my driving life: a '76 FJ40, an 83 'FJ40 with factory power steering and air, an 84 HJ47 troopy and an 84 FJ40 LX being the main characters with numerous others coming and going while I had the above Cruisers. I've owned, lived and driven Cruisers all over America and Australia.
My last Cruiser was the LX (you can find the thread to the sad day when I sold her here on Mud) which I sold many years ago. I've not had a Cruiser since: longest I've gone in my list without one. But the monkey never got off my back. The new owner has become a very good friend and he keeps me in the loop with my LX.... but that doesn't feed the monkey.
When I finally got ready to buy another Cruiser, they had gone price-silly. So after looking long and hard, I bought a CJ-8 Scrambler and built it from the ground up as close to a Cruiser as I could. But it wasn't a Cruiser. The monkey wasn't satisfied: he didn't like eating junk food.
So I sold the Scrambler. My son and I bought an IROC for his first car and restored it: 305/5speed, Corbeau seats. Great fun to drive. But it's my son's, and the monkey wasn't satisfied with someone else's food.
So I decided I would get the one Cruiser I've always dreamt of but never had: a 43/46. I've been looking for about 2 years now: nearly buying 3 different ones. I realised I likely didn't want a South American one due to the rust abs often shoddy build quality, and I prefer RHD for comfort. I've spent much of my life in Australia and brought two different 40s back with me to the States. I've owned similar numbers of RHD and LHD Cruiser, but always preferred RHD.
So this mostly limited me to a JDM 43, but they have their own issues. I'd looked at several, nearly buying a BJ46 but deciding it was more project than I wanted to take on right now. Further ideals were factory hardtop, H55, power steering and ideally air conditioning. But most important was minimal rust repair, minimal modifications and preferably mostly done: in a change from every Cruiser I've ever owned, I was looking for Bought, not Built. I want to be able to play, improve and enjoy; not rebuild, re-imagine and replace.
Back in October, a 43 came on BaT which seemed to tick all the boxes. So I watched. I try never to bid until the end as that simply drives the price higher. I had in mind what I'd pay, but before we even got near the end she passed that limit. Ciest le vie, not meant to be.... though it haunted me; being so close to everything I wanted in a 43.
Fast forward to two weeks ago: that same 43 was back in BaT. Devine Cruiser God intervention? Who knew. So I watched. And waited.
Last day: I made my move. I had in mind my limit. We went toe-to-toe. I was winning. And a third stepped in the ring: hope was fading. But I kept swinging.
And for the KO: Chamba. This 43 I had dreamt about for 9 months was now mine...ironically for exactly what I sold the CJ8. Cruiser God intervention? Who knows, you tell me.
bringatrailer.com
It's scheduled to be picked up and Saturday, delivered Monday. I've always wished I'd done a build thread on every rig I've done. But by the time I get motivated to do so it's mostly built. So here's my opportunity, but with the twist of it hopfuly being more of a 'Bought Thread' than a 'build thread'. I'll document the process as I make her my own and improve her where I think she needs it.
So here's the start of my thread: I've already set in motion factory weather strip, factory front and rear turn signals, 8274-50 (I'm an OEM snob: fair warning). So the monkey isn't really back: he's always been on my back. Now it's just feeding time.
I've been a Cruiser guy since I was nearly 3 when my folks bought a brand new '72 FJ40 at Lyons Toyota in Boulder. My cousin still has that 40 in the family. I've had numerous Cruisers all my driving life: a '76 FJ40, an 83 'FJ40 with factory power steering and air, an 84 HJ47 troopy and an 84 FJ40 LX being the main characters with numerous others coming and going while I had the above Cruisers. I've owned, lived and driven Cruisers all over America and Australia.
My last Cruiser was the LX (you can find the thread to the sad day when I sold her here on Mud) which I sold many years ago. I've not had a Cruiser since: longest I've gone in my list without one. But the monkey never got off my back. The new owner has become a very good friend and he keeps me in the loop with my LX.... but that doesn't feed the monkey.
When I finally got ready to buy another Cruiser, they had gone price-silly. So after looking long and hard, I bought a CJ-8 Scrambler and built it from the ground up as close to a Cruiser as I could. But it wasn't a Cruiser. The monkey wasn't satisfied: he didn't like eating junk food.
So I sold the Scrambler. My son and I bought an IROC for his first car and restored it: 305/5speed, Corbeau seats. Great fun to drive. But it's my son's, and the monkey wasn't satisfied with someone else's food.
So I decided I would get the one Cruiser I've always dreamt of but never had: a 43/46. I've been looking for about 2 years now: nearly buying 3 different ones. I realised I likely didn't want a South American one due to the rust abs often shoddy build quality, and I prefer RHD for comfort. I've spent much of my life in Australia and brought two different 40s back with me to the States. I've owned similar numbers of RHD and LHD Cruiser, but always preferred RHD.
So this mostly limited me to a JDM 43, but they have their own issues. I'd looked at several, nearly buying a BJ46 but deciding it was more project than I wanted to take on right now. Further ideals were factory hardtop, H55, power steering and ideally air conditioning. But most important was minimal rust repair, minimal modifications and preferably mostly done: in a change from every Cruiser I've ever owned, I was looking for Bought, not Built. I want to be able to play, improve and enjoy; not rebuild, re-imagine and replace.
Back in October, a 43 came on BaT which seemed to tick all the boxes. So I watched. I try never to bid until the end as that simply drives the price higher. I had in mind what I'd pay, but before we even got near the end she passed that limit. Ciest le vie, not meant to be.... though it haunted me; being so close to everything I wanted in a 43.
Fast forward to two weeks ago: that same 43 was back in BaT. Devine Cruiser God intervention? Who knew. So I watched. And waited.
Last day: I made my move. I had in mind my limit. We went toe-to-toe. I was winning. And a third stepped in the ring: hope was fading. But I kept swinging.
And for the KO: Chamba. This 43 I had dreamt about for 9 months was now mine...ironically for exactly what I sold the CJ8. Cruiser God intervention? Who knows, you tell me.
1982 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ43 5-Speed
Bid for the chance to own a 1982 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ43 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #205,914.
bringatrailer.com
It's scheduled to be picked up and Saturday, delivered Monday. I've always wished I'd done a build thread on every rig I've done. But by the time I get motivated to do so it's mostly built. So here's my opportunity, but with the twist of it hopfuly being more of a 'Bought Thread' than a 'build thread'. I'll document the process as I make her my own and improve her where I think she needs it.
So here's the start of my thread: I've already set in motion factory weather strip, factory front and rear turn signals, 8274-50 (I'm an OEM snob: fair warning). So the monkey isn't really back: he's always been on my back. Now it's just feeding time.
