It was!
Long story short, step father passed away last August and left behind his beloved 1st Gen. 174,00 miles. All original except for the steering wheel, pedal pads, and LCD monitor. 99% rust free and 95% straight body wise.
A truck I admired since a teen and spent years teasingly tried to get him to part with as a young adult. Even when I eventually married as a middle aged man I still had a soft spot for it.
Note during this time I had owned and toyed with old Toyota 70's wagons and trucks, even a 1981 4x4 pick up.
Anyhow, so he passes. Leaves Mom the truck to let her decide who should get it. I've got 2 step siblings so I didn't expect to inherit it and I was ok with that.
6 months goes by and I get wind that Mom is selling the truck along with other belongings they shared to make repairs to the house they shared.
Turns out none of the siblings wanted to step up and keep his beloved truck on the road another 31 years! None of his own children, nephews or nieces, none of his own siblings. And ironically I was the last one it was offered to.
Maybe it was because Mom wanted $6,000. Her magic number.
My wife and I along with our 3 kids (all under 7) had outgrown our Priuses. So we were in the market for a bigger ride. I was trying hard to fight the "minivan" route. And had dialed in on the FJ60.
But when the 4Runner was offered, it was like standing at the doorstep of a childhood fantasy, with the keys to make it real.
Wife balked.
I said it seats 5! LOL.
$6,000 though???
She had a point. But I thought maybe it's just my price of admission.
I countered $4,800. Showed Mom an FJ60 I was about to go look at for less than that. She gave in.
Reluctantly the wife gave way. For 2 weeks we used it daily. I had already read car seats would be a b**ch. It was harder than I imagined.
Although more room than a Prius, my boys (6 and 2) were still close enough to make hell for each other.
I was the only one having fun.
So I started sending feelers out to those I knew who'd be interested. But after tires and tune up bits I was $5400 into the truck. Guys I knew were rolling their eyes at $3500! I was getting gazes at $3,000. But no excitement.
Wife was quiet.
Then I come across this CL ad. $5,000 1997 Fzj80. 266,000 miles with service records. All original panels. Paint still nice. Never been off-roaded! The interior was its weakness. Torn front seats, crack in the dash, and almost all wood trim at yellowed.
At the end of the ad he had noted he was willing to trade for something "fun" or a worthy "commuter".
We met up. Both were instantly in-love with one another's ride. Took all of 30 minutes to test drive and do the paperwork.
What an amazing, practical ride!
My son loves having his own row! The 2 car seats fit beautifully in the second row, and the wife has forgotten her Sienna aspirations.
We're so taken this will eventually will go to the wife. Now my dilemma is get another 80 or go 60 for mine? Lmao.
Or get her an LX450 and keep the 80 for myself...?
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Once that route is finished I'm gonna be a little bummed!! I only started taking that route down the last 5 years or so though. From San Diego it looks to be out of the way, but without all the dodging of semi trucks on the Pacific side, it's actually faster for me to cut that far east. Either way, gotta enjoy it while it lasts I guess.
They are already running semis down it.
