Builds The "Red Rocket" Troopy (7 Viewers)

[flx]

Unfortunately that VIN was missing a digit and the last 3 were x'ed out. Inconclusive.


I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but if they really factory-built 20 in LHD that would be one of the rarest variants ever.

Yes the real question is
- Did they came out of the factory as LHD ?
- Were they converted by Toyota Japan (the article in French above mentions Toyota Japan sent them prepared with the double shock mount, reinforcement, etc.)
- Were they converted by SIDAT (Toyota France) upon landing in France ?

But what for sure is that they are around here.

In the round of Toyota weirdness I know also the BJ71 is supposed to exist only in V version in the EDC but recently a softtop one was for sale here... BJ71 title, 13bt inside, softtop on original frame, looking like a 30 years old utility vehicle but nothing like a custom built thing. Should not exist but here it was. (Not posting pictures to not hijack even more this thread)

 

[LukisStyles]

That looks like the one Roger converted to LHD about 7 years ago.

BJ74 Restoration and LHD Conversion has begun!

I purchased a good condition 1985 BJ74 about a year ago. I have been driving it daily since then, just to make sure everything worked, find any bugs, and just enjoy it. During that time, I searched and found a wrecked 1985 BJ70 that I imported for parts. 70 donor vehicle--partially torn down...

forum.ih8mud.com

it was....but i can tell you tens of thousands went into to get it right when i had it. huge headache. Roger did the conversion mechanically awesome, apart from a few things.

 

[cruiserdan]

Yes the real question is
- Did they came out of the factory as LHD ?
- Were they converted by Toyota Japan (the article in French above mentions Toyota Japan sent them prepared with the double shock mount, reinforcement, etc.)
- Were they converted by SIDAT (Toyota France) upon landing in France ?

But what for sure is that they are around here.

In the round of Toyota weirdness I know also the BJ71 is supposed to exist only in V version in the EDC but recently a softtop one was for sale here... BJ71 title, 13bt inside, softtop on original frame, looking like a 30 years old utility vehicle but nothing like a custom built thing. Should not exist but here it was. (Not posting pictures to not hijack even more this thread)

I can tell you, from first-hand experience, that it is quite possible to create a factory-appearing vehicle that never existed. This one is parked in my carport.

 

[svsisu]

I'm not sure there is much discussion about the Red Rocket in the last number of posts, but really cool information being put in this thread. And that 74 that started the derailment is amazing; lucky new owner.

 

[theglobb]

Don't worry about hijacking my thread, hijack it as much as y'all want, it's extremely interesting to me and clearly others aswell. Talking to him he said it was a RHD originally converted to LHD like y'all said. It confused me cause I saw those Japanese weight stickers that are on the rear of some imports but it was LHD, very confusing at first. Gonna go ahead and @ what his insta account says his mud user is @LuckyDevil, feel free to add anything you want or know about, your rig has sparked quite the quest to get to the bottom of LHD 74's haha.

 

[FJBen]

yeah that LHD BJ74 was definitely a JDM convertered to LHD by a user on here, then sold, then sold again. Sweet rig for sure.

I think like @flx said, there were only a handful of LHD BJ74's in france for the Dakar, and most were full race vehicles it sounds like. The big question is, did Toyota Japan do the LHD conversion or was in done in France. It seems like Toyota would have just used a LHD BJ73 and put the 13BT in it, slapped on a Bj74 VIN and called it good with the other race mods they apparently shipped with. The motormounts/radiator, and all drivetrain bolt right up with that 13BT, so I would think it would easier to fit a 13BT in a BJ73, rather than swap the inside and all steering over.


I too tried looking up those VIN numbers but couldn't find any thing close like @cruiserdan said. I got bored checking different number combinations. It would be extremely helpful if we could find an actual VIN number that is complete and not digits X'd out.

I would assume the VIN is created by order for Land Cruiser, then stamped on the frame then on the body once it's on. If this is all "off the books" for racing/dakar then who knows.

@theglobb tell your friend to buy a TROOPY, not a TROOP-ER

 

[FJBen]

A few more pictures

And then this sad picture:

Barrels of rum for Baltazar.
Bad surprise for the Toyota n ° 53 of Vincent Moutou and Sylvain Corroy. While the West Indian duo had just signed 9th place in the stage, their car rolled off at km 210. Three spins which put the BJ 74 in a strange state. The crew was unharmed and luckily the rum was saved!

 

[gilmorneau]

I wasn’t going to contribute to the derailment of the thread, but I gotta agree with @FJBen that if what you want is a LHD BJ74, start with a LHD BJ73 and a LHD BJ71. Swap bits until you have a LHD BJ74 and a LHD BJ70, then sell the BJ70. Everything bolts in, no fabrication or wiring nightmares. Relatively easy, actually. A bit of an investment up front to buy two trucks, but I have some idea what was spent on the above RHD to LHD conversion (particularly as regards electrical) and I seriously doubt it would cost more to buy two trucks and swap everything.

 

[OGBeno]

The electrical was a nightmare on that conversion.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Unfortunately that VIN was missing a digit and the last 3 were x'ed out. Inconclusive.


I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but if they really factory-built 20 in LHD that would be one of the rarest variants ever.

Could have they been shipped as CKD since they were to be heavily modified anyways? Those CKD cruisers got a different type of VIN & VIN plate (or no VIN at all, race only?).

We can all just keep guessing until someone posts up a pic of the VIN plate anyways, until then....there are no definite answers.

Toyota doesn't do anything special like this really and if they did...they won't get sold to public afterwards for highway use.

 

[OGBeno]

^^ Agreed.

CKD frame numbers start something like: BJ74-9004754

 

[FJ73Texas]

I can tell you, from first-hand experience, that it is quite possible to create a factory-appearing vehicle that never existed. This one is parked in my carport.

Is that a crew cab with a 8ft bed? How do you turn that thing?

 

[FJBen]

Is that a crew cab with a 8ft bed? How do you turn that thing?

you turn it eventually.

 

[cruiserdan]

22 feet long with a 166-inch wheelbase.

 

[LukisStyles]

The electrical was a nightmare on that conversion.

that was an understatement. I sent the damn thing to Canada to get fixed right. that was after years and $1000's trying to fix it here in the states.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Need a pic of the red troopy to get this thread back on track.

 

[gilmorneau]

Need a pic of the red troopy to get this thread back on track.

Yes...something on a beach, perhaps. Or in mud.

 

[FJ73Texas]

Threads rarely stay on track on ih8mud.

That being said, I always enjoy more red troopy photos.

 

[theglobb]

Need a pic of the red troopy to get this thread back on track.

Yes...something on a beach, perhaps. Or in mud.

Threads rarely stay on track on ih8mud.

That being said, I always enjoy more red troopy photos.

As y'all wish. Did my best to find ones I've never posted before. Also it hasn't hit me yet that I graduate in 2 days and leave for cross country in a week wow

not the Red Rocket but I saw it in Colorado 2 years ago

 

[Gun Runner 5]

So there’s a red Troopy somewhere?