Utes in the U.S.?

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E

enfield

10 Year
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Threads
64
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748
Location
Bryan, TX
Why don't we see more of these imported? Troopys have become fairly common, but the utes almost never come up for sale. Are they usually too beat to be worth importing?
 
Utes hold their value better than troppys. But there are some in the USA.
 
There are plenty in Australia but people who own them know there tough and there's nothing on the market that compares. I could sell my hj75 for peanuts compared to a brand new VDJ cab chassis for $68.000. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with the VDJ just the old hj75 has 1 wire type reliability. No electrics no dramas in my book :)
 
That's what I'm looking for. I need a truck for the farm, that can tow small stock trailers and the occasional load of building materials. Being able to hit the trails with it is a plus.
 
My experience.....
When I first starting looking for a Ute from Australia I quickly learned that unlike the Troopies, most had lived a very HARD LIFE and good examples were few and far between. For this reason alone, I don't think you'll ever see large numbers in the U.S. Rest assured that the example that now resides in my garage didn't look that way when it showed up.
 
Gun Runner 5 said:
My experience.....
When I first starting looking for a Ute from Australia I quickly learned that unlike the Troopies, most had lived a very HARD LIFE and good examples were few and far between. For this reason alone, I don't think you'll ever see large numbers in the U.S. Rest assured that the example that now resides in my garage didn't look that way when it showed up.
Click to expand...
What Charles and Scott said.

Another 'My unicorn experience......"
  1. I could not find a clean 75 in North America that was not either a beater import or mine truck. The Aussies work for a living, as do the miners. The European/Gulf/South American trucks seem to have hard lives or rust issues as well. My RHD gasser was not eligible for import for two years but I am patient as well as picky.
  2. If you are chubby or over 6 feet, the 75 truck cab is a little tight, which argues in favor of the Troopy.
  3. As a picky SOB, I wanted a cab/chassis 75 and went out of my way to buy a 12,000 mile FJ 75 with two owners since new - Aisin Corporation (fire truck in Japan) and a Canadian (used as @CRUSHER's shop truck). It is a very lightly used cream puff with a sweet 6x8 aluminum tray.
  4. The 3F / H55 combination works well for my needs. Like driving an old Austin Healey - good performance/mileage. If you need to have a diesel, my solution won't work for you. I mention this because it appears that the few Gulf/South American 75s that might be out there tend to be gassers.
  5. My options at this point are to swap steering to LHD (I am a hater) and mount a factory pick-up box.
  6. Or I could sell it and build a 79/80 :)
75/79 Owners that I know of in US (yes, I have missed a few but have only listed the rigs that I know the owners):
  • Charles (75 with factory box)
  • Scott (multiple SA 75s)
  • Yooper (79 Series)
  • Earl (75 Series with factory box)
  • Kerry (75 Series with factory box)
  • Christo Slee (79/80 with factory box)
  • C2DFJ45 (79/80 with factory box)
  • Me (75 with aluminum drop-down tray)
A new 79 body on a 80 Series frame with decent drivetrain will run you $100,000 or more if well built by a pro.
A Frankenstein 75 out of Canada will likely cost $30,000 and then you might have title problems.
A clean 75 with a good title/import documents? Priceless

PS - My truck works for a living, occasionally....

75.webp
 
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I don't guess I've seen any of the 79/80 conversions. They use U.S. Spec 80s and install 79 cabs on the chassis? Sounds neat!
 
enfield said:
I don't guess I've seen any of the 79/80 conversions. They use U.S. Spec 80s and install 79 cabs on the chassis? Sounds neat!
Click to expand...
All it takes is money, skill and/or patience.

RECIPE:
LHD 79 Series Cab/Fenders/Front End/F Bumper/PU Box/R Bumper/Interior with Snorkel
PLUS
UZJ 80 Frame/Drivetrain/Etc.

upload_2016-2-1_14-35-23.webp
 
Ward you left out the photo of the pile of cash.....:doh:
 
So this would be titled as an 80 series?
 
enfield said:
That's what I'm looking for. I need a truck for the farm, that can tow small stock trailers and the occasional load of building materials. Being able to hit the trails with it is a plus.
Click to expand...

I can definitely hook you up with a "farm truck." Both HZJ75 and HJ75 Pickups. There's a ton down here, but like most have said, these things take a beating from day one. Most here (Nicaragua) are used for farming (coffee, tobacco, sugarcane and pineapples). So, technically, they are not stanky, manure undercoated trucks, but they have their fare share of battle wounds and run-ins with trees and rocks.

That said, there are also a few I've looked at that were nearly perfect, low miles, and well cared for. For instance, an older guy in Managua (owned a hardware store) had a beautiful 1989 HJ75 with only 135,000 Miles, completely stock, heat, A/C and the cool flip down windshield and removable top. Tried like hell to convince him to sell, but no luck. Trucks like that are gold.

I'd certainly love to see more of these on U.S. roads as well. We're def. missing out.
 
I sent you a pm Joe. Sounds like you may have access to what I'm looking for. I don't want a show queen, just a solid truck.
 
@wardharris ..... A new 79 body on a 80 Series frame with decent drivetrain will run you $100,000 or more if well built by a pro.
A Frankenstein 75 out of Canada will likely cost $30,000 and then you might have title problems.
A clean 75 with a good title/import documents? Priceless


"Priceless" ....... Cool. : )
 
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