Only $59,000. Probably a good thing I didn’t see this before I went for the Land Rover.
1978 Toyota Land Cruiser HJ-45 Pickup
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Category Archives: Cars & Trucks
Mystery Suzuki and old Toyota
Took a little drive in the Land Rover today and that means back roads. Two-lane blacktop. And going slow enough to spot these. Couldn’t tell you the model/year of either. I’ll go back some day during the week and talk to the people working on these. Okay, working on the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Agent Orange
Paul Bandelier has located another beauty. “It’s a 1973 F250 Camper Special. The truck was special ordered by an individual in the Denver area. He specified the big GVW Camper Special, 390, automatic, power steering, power disc brakes (which are monstrous on these CampSpec) air conditioning and dual fuel tanks. The ‘Explorer’ package is what makes for the upgraded groovy interior.” After a little TLC in Paul’s shop it will be for sale. Hmmm.
Why the Land Rover Defender is so expensive in the US
“Used examples of the North American Spec (NAS) Defender can cost between $70,000 and $150,000 while the same car in Europe can be had for as little as $10,000.” (CARSCOOPS)
When I started lusting for a Land Rover it was the Defender the turned my crank. I was completely unaware of the Series Rovers but SO glad I got nudged in that direction.
RP’s 1971 Chevy pickup
Life-long friend Richard Peck (RP) with his 1971 Chevy truck. Almost certainly, at some subconscious level, this kindled the flame of my desire of an old truck. For reasons unknown, RP got rid of his truck. Like snipping off a couple of feet of your soul because you don’t need it anymore.
Series Land Rover in Columbia, MO
George K. spotted this beauty in Columbia, MO yesterday. I had heard rumors there were some older Land Rovers up there but this is the first sighting.
UPDATE: Got in touch with the owner of this 1969 Series IIa. “It is largely original except the frame has been replaced and the charging system upgraded with an alternator. I just use it around the farm and for hunting and fishing. I bought it off the estate of an obstetrician in Pennsylvania. The doc used it to get around the mountains to deliver babies.”
And then there were two
Gonzo Mechanic George Tergin went with me to “take a look” at the old truck I’ve been trying not to buy. It’s a 1977 Ford F150. Straight six engine. Manual 4-speed in the floor. Beat to shit, but in a good way. The current owner got it from a guy in Colorado who was, I think, the original owner. It looks…lived in…but that’s a topic for another post. Mechanic George saw nothing that alarmed him and gave me the green light. We tried to dicker a little but I had my checkbook in my hand, so…
Now I have two trucks. The pickup is called Minty Fresh (by the guy who sold it to me) because… it looks like mouth wash? Once it’s got plates and all that it will live in a storage unit from which Barb and I will retrieve it it for hauling, yard and garden work, or — god forbid — when the Land Rover is in the shop.
Don’t know what the original owner did with the truck but the bed is beat to shit (“distressed”). Driving this truck will up my Testosterone Index by five or ten points. Watch this space for updates.
Four-Wheel Drive: ENGAGED!
Shortly after getting the Land Rover in late August I discovered I was unable to engage four-wheel drive. There’s a plunger-like doodad (with a bright yellow knob on it) you push down to switch from two-wheel to four-wheel drive. Mine just never worked and I had visions of owning the only Land Rover in America without 4WD (sob!).
My friend (and wizard mechanic) George Tergin investigated and determined some of the linkage in the transfer case (look it up) was worn so we ordered replacement parts. Since some of them had to come from the UK, it took a while but today he fixed the problem. After which we took the truck for a drive on the Tergin Motor Sports Off-Road Test Track (a field behind his shop)
Turns out it was a combination of worn parts, wrong parts and improperly installed parts. And he let me look over his shoulder (and occasionally assist) for three hours, patiently explaining what he was doing and why.
We’ll eventually get a big snow in mid-Missouri and I’m ready now.
Another old Scout
Paul Bandelier loves old cars. Especially old Mustangs. But he’s got some sweet old trucks sitting outside his shop and I’ve fallen in ‘like’ with one. I’m hoping he finds a buyer for it before I brake down and buy the thing. Yesterday I stopped by his shop and introduced myself and he showed me his latest acquisition.
I can’t recall the year but he said he found it in Colorado and plans to “fix it up and find it a good home.”
Another Jeep
Left my card in hopes the owner will get in touch and I can learn the story (got to be one) behind this little beauty.
