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wasnt aware of a 25 for sale fwed - you have any more info about that? i do have some pics of a wooden 63 tray if you interested. i am trying to nut out who made these westralian trays
Thiess Toyota Australia
- Thread starter JohnnyC
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Hi In the Fj25 classified section F/S OZ FJ25 tray back. Any information on trays would be welcome. Cheers Fred.
Hi ozcrusier welcome they would be very nice to see . more info or photos would be great. Cheers Fred
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Info on Thiess Company History
Cam across this Video - not too much Toyota but interesting.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28149423?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/28149423">Thiess Pty Ltd</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4381161">State Library of Queensland</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
If this doesn't work there here is the link
Thiess Pty Ltd on Vimeo
Cheers Dobster
Cam across this Video - not too much Toyota but interesting.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28149423?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/28149423">Thiess Pty Ltd</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4381161">State Library of Queensland</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
If this doesn't work there here is the link
Thiess Pty Ltd on Vimeo
Cheers Dobster
Bumping an old thread...
I am in Australia with a Thiess Toyota delivered '81 Hilux 4x4. If I wanted to try and track down which dealer it was invoiced to, original options etc (my build data plate is missing), would I be best to try Toyota Australia or speak to Thiess holdings?
I am in Australia with a Thiess Toyota delivered '81 Hilux 4x4. If I wanted to try and track down which dealer it was invoiced to, original options etc (my build data plate is missing), would I be best to try Toyota Australia or speak to Thiess holdings?
Toyota is your best bet - They have reasonable customer service team for questions like that. Thiess gave all the historical info to Toyota when it became API. which was earier than your Hilux.
Cheers Dobster
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There's only one thing I love more than Australia and that's a Landcruiser. [If you live in the bush they call it a ToJo]. Great thread! So many good snaps. I had no idea we got SWB 45's here.
From the start of this thread I was worried that Toyota Australia had written the post, as I read on I found lots of people correcting the story, Brilliant. The Thiess Brothers did not import the first Cruiser into Australia, B&D motors did. In the May 1956 edition of Cars Magazine there is a four page road test of a BJ and mentions at the end of the article the FJ25 is also available. The photo I have attached was taken on 4/10/1960 at Thiess Sales O'Riordan Street Mascot (an industrial suburb of Sydney)
Regards
Steve
Regards
Steve
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Was there a master vacuum switch or just the little switch on the each vacuum wiper. I did notice the wiper loaction but I figure it was just the location when it vacuum switch was closed.
I guess I just need to fork over the money to Jim and see if there was a master swtch.
Just to bad we never got winkers here in the US. Toyota has the switch for those right in the middle of the dash and would have worked with RHD or LHD.
I guess I just need to fork over the money to Jim and see if there was a master swtch.
Just to bad we never got winkers here in the US. Toyota has the switch for those right in the middle of the dash and would have worked with RHD or LHD.
HI There was no master switch on wipers as you said they stopped where ever you turned them off. Cheers FredWas there a master vacuum switch or just the little switch on the each vacuum wiper. I did notice the wiper loaction but I figure it was just the location when it vacuum switch was closed.
I guess I just need to fork over the money to Jim and see if there was a master swtch.
Just to bad we never got winkers here in the US. Toyota has the switch for those right in the middle of the dash and would have worked with RHD or LHD.
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did any markets other than australia get winkers (as you call them)? i believe that same winker switch appears on the 56peru fj 25. it is in a different location nearer the steering column somewhere. purpose? i think i mentioned this before in another thread.
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The 56 FJ25 in Peru was not imported to Peru but brought along by the research group from a Japanese university which would make the 56 a JDM FJ25. Sp the JDM had them. Curious were these used thru 1960 FJ25s were changed just the oval Toyota on the hood to the chrome Tbird.
As for the term winker that is the name Toyota used not something made up.
As for the term winker that is the name Toyota used not something made up.
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g,day punters west aussie here checking in. ive been away a lot these last couple of months contract fencing far beyond the reaches of technology. this work will keep me occupied for some time to come camped in the bush with an old caravan a couple 2h diesels and a decent campfire. i am replacing sections of the old no.1 rabbit fence for anyone familiar with that epic feat of engineering. sections of this fence are maintained to keep dingoes out the sheeplands to the west. anyways i recently came across this interesting article in the current issue of RESTORED CARS magazine to which my mate subscribes.
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RESTORED CARS
Number 212
May-Jun 2012
restoredcars@iinet.net.au
TOYOTA'S EARLY DAYS IN AUSTRALIA
By Dennis Edwards
Early in 1959, my life-long mate Gordon Gibson and I, set out from Mackay in Qld on a working holiday. Eventually, we ended up at B&D Motors in West Melbourne assembling Toyota Landcruisers and Toyota Trucks.
Landcruisers arrived in CKD form in large pine crates at Port Melbourne and had to be fumigated and go through customs. Because of these delays, delivery was spasmodic.
Cliff Thomas was the director, Lindsay Roberts the manager, John Smith the workshop foreman. Part of my job was to drive the cowl and chassis to a motor bodybuilding firm in Geelong, sitting on the fuel tank, briving one and towing one and returning with the finished products.
At the time Toyota could not decide on transmissions. First there was a 3 speed on the steering column with high and low range transfer case. Next was a 4 speed on the floor witha very low first gear ratio and no Hi-Lo ratio. (This worked very well.) Finally they settled for a 4 speed on the floor with the Hi-Lo transfer case and one lever that operated 2wd, 4wd and Hi-Lo ratio (a bit awkward to operate, but they kept it for many years).
In the back corner of the workshop were some damaged panels, spotlights, mudguards and a bull bar, grille and bonnet. These came from a Toyota sedan (Toyopet i think) that competed in the 1956 Ampol Rally. It was going well until it hit a kangaroo! The remainder of the car went back to Japan for evaluation.
I was sent to Port Melbourne to pick up the first Toyota Stout to arrive to arrive in Australia. It had a flat tyre (valve core and valve cap missing). When I went to change wheels I was shocked to discover it had a plastic hubcap. All landcruisers were petrol, these vehicles had a comprehensive tool kit including a lever action grease gun, trouble light, feeler gauges, good quality spanners and screwdrivers, and touch up paint.
The first Toyota trucks to arrive were one petrol, one diesel, 4 speed box, 2 speed differentials, of about 5 ton capacity. The first Toyota Tiara arrived in the 1960s. A white sedan was made available to the motoring journalists for road testing. They gave it hell and tried to 'kill it' but it came up trumps. With WW11 still fresh in the minds of many, Japanese cars were well down the list, and the journalists found it difficult to say or write anything nice about them.
B&D Motors moved from King Street, West Melbourne to a new premises at 34 Union Street Brunswick. This was the old Ansett freight depot. This was a very cold place and i remember we used to warm up our spanners with the oxy torch first thing in the morning so that we could handle them. I oly stayed a couple of months at Union Street and then moved onto another job at Stoke Motors in Exhibition Street, Melbourne, but that is another story!
Number 212
May-Jun 2012
restoredcars@iinet.net.au
TOYOTA'S EARLY DAYS IN AUSTRALIA
By Dennis Edwards
Early in 1959, my life-long mate Gordon Gibson and I, set out from Mackay in Qld on a working holiday. Eventually, we ended up at B&D Motors in West Melbourne assembling Toyota Landcruisers and Toyota Trucks.
Landcruisers arrived in CKD form in large pine crates at Port Melbourne and had to be fumigated and go through customs. Because of these delays, delivery was spasmodic.
Cliff Thomas was the director, Lindsay Roberts the manager, John Smith the workshop foreman. Part of my job was to drive the cowl and chassis to a motor bodybuilding firm in Geelong, sitting on the fuel tank, briving one and towing one and returning with the finished products.
At the time Toyota could not decide on transmissions. First there was a 3 speed on the steering column with high and low range transfer case. Next was a 4 speed on the floor witha very low first gear ratio and no Hi-Lo ratio. (This worked very well.) Finally they settled for a 4 speed on the floor with the Hi-Lo transfer case and one lever that operated 2wd, 4wd and Hi-Lo ratio (a bit awkward to operate, but they kept it for many years).
In the back corner of the workshop were some damaged panels, spotlights, mudguards and a bull bar, grille and bonnet. These came from a Toyota sedan (Toyopet i think) that competed in the 1956 Ampol Rally. It was going well until it hit a kangaroo! The remainder of the car went back to Japan for evaluation.
I was sent to Port Melbourne to pick up the first Toyota Stout to arrive to arrive in Australia. It had a flat tyre (valve core and valve cap missing). When I went to change wheels I was shocked to discover it had a plastic hubcap. All landcruisers were petrol, these vehicles had a comprehensive tool kit including a lever action grease gun, trouble light, feeler gauges, good quality spanners and screwdrivers, and touch up paint.
The first Toyota trucks to arrive were one petrol, one diesel, 4 speed box, 2 speed differentials, of about 5 ton capacity. The first Toyota Tiara arrived in the 1960s. A white sedan was made available to the motoring journalists for road testing. They gave it hell and tried to 'kill it' but it came up trumps. With WW11 still fresh in the minds of many, Japanese cars were well down the list, and the journalists found it difficult to say or write anything nice about them.
B&D Motors moved from King Street, West Melbourne to a new premises at 34 Union Street Brunswick. This was the old Ansett freight depot. This was a very cold place and i remember we used to warm up our spanners with the oxy torch first thing in the morning so that we could handle them. I oly stayed a couple of months at Union Street and then moved onto another job at Stoke Motors in Exhibition Street, Melbourne, but that is another story!
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an interesting little article. yes we all understand the innaccuracys in the landcruiser transmission information but to be fair Mr Edwards is drawing on his reccollections from over 50 years ago and i for one am pleased he chose to record his reminiscences. there is much more i would like to ask him.
there are 5 pictures of landcruisers in various states of build to accompany the article of which all are fj25. two have victorian number plates HDB-088 and HDW-383.
It seems that the column shift ('three on the tree') transmission was only used in 1962 in australia so is something of an oddity over here.
you may also notice that the term 'truck' generally mears a heavy vehivle of some ton capacity in australia; somewhat different to its american useage. i have mentioned this before in this thread with reference to the japanese olympic team 'truck' of 1956.
RESTORED CARS is an interesting publication that has been publishing for nearly 40 years.
there are 5 pictures of landcruisers in various states of build to accompany the article of which all are fj25. two have victorian number plates HDB-088 and HDW-383.
It seems that the column shift ('three on the tree') transmission was only used in 1962 in australia so is something of an oddity over here.
you may also notice that the term 'truck' generally mears a heavy vehivle of some ton capacity in australia; somewhat different to its american useage. i have mentioned this before in this thread with reference to the japanese olympic team 'truck' of 1956.
RESTORED CARS is an interesting publication that has been publishing for nearly 40 years.
ute vs truck australia
the australian taxation office (ATO) defines that a vehicle with a payload greater than one metric tonne 1000kg is a light commercial "truck" and one metric tonne or less is car/utility.
new south wales police describes a "truck" as having mechanicals of heavier duty than cars and utes and under the australian PU/CC pick up/cab chassis classification there are references and exemptions based on definition of certain light commercial vehicles having heavy duty car based independent front suspension of cars being trucks and and certain four wheel drives such as hilux and landcruisers having front leaf springs as trucks but are classed as utes utilities due to payload not exceeding the one metric tonne.
so the lite stouts RK40, RK41 and RK43 are utes in the car utility class, where the heavier duty RK45, RK100, RK101 and RK110 onward are are classed as the more expensive insurance and registration of light commercial "trucks". so via definition my RK101 stout in australia is a truck as it dose not have coil independent front suspension such as utes and cars and due to front leaf springs is not a ute but a truck.
if anyone has any info on the first of the the RK45 stouts that that arrived into australia in 1962 i would like to know about it as i have one of them and the most info about them on the net is within in these five pages
the australian taxation office (ATO) defines that a vehicle with a payload greater than one metric tonne 1000kg is a light commercial "truck" and one metric tonne or less is car/utility.
new south wales police describes a "truck" as having mechanicals of heavier duty than cars and utes and under the australian PU/CC pick up/cab chassis classification there are references and exemptions based on definition of certain light commercial vehicles having heavy duty car based independent front suspension of cars being trucks and and certain four wheel drives such as hilux and landcruisers having front leaf springs as trucks but are classed as utes utilities due to payload not exceeding the one metric tonne.
so the lite stouts RK40, RK41 and RK43 are utes in the car utility class, where the heavier duty RK45, RK100, RK101 and RK110 onward are are classed as the more expensive insurance and registration of light commercial "trucks". so via definition my RK101 stout in australia is a truck as it dose not have coil independent front suspension such as utes and cars and due to front leaf springs is not a ute but a truck.
if anyone has any info on the first of the the RK45 stouts that that arrived into australia in 1962 i would like to know about it as i have one of them and the most info about them on the net is within in these five pages
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just re-reading this old thread and decided to give it a bump. page 12 from 2012 is too far away!
JohhnyC - asked before once, know its a long time ago, but wondering still if you have a newspaper reference for your post #42?
JohhnyC - asked before once, know its a long time ago, but wondering still if you have a newspaper reference for your post #42?