Archives for posts with tag: pick-up

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I just spotted this VW Type 2 T3 Syncro DoKa via Expedition Portal. The ad states that it started life with a 1.9-liter gas engine and was “properly” converted from 2wd to 4wd. The engine is currently out of the truck and the seller is offering buyers a couple of different powertrain options: a 1.6-liter JX  gas engine or a 1.9-liter AAZ turbo-diesel with a Giles injection pump, K14 turbocharger, and ARP engine fasteners. Also offered, is a locking front differential in addition to the locking rear. The truck has also been treated to a full repaint and a new suspension. It’s reported to have covered only 80,000 km.

I love these drop-side transporters. This is a 3-door DoKa model. No build year is given but the seller states that it’s over 25 years old (making US import unproblematic). This mostly likely means it’s a 1985 model, which was the first year of the Syncro and the last year of the 1.9-liter engine, according to my research.

A lot of these trucks led hard lives. It’s nice to see one in such good condition.

The truck is being offered in Bright’s Grove, Ontario, Canada for $18,500 as is, $25,000 with the 1.6-liter JX and lockers, or $30,000 with the 1.9 diesel.

More photos after the jump.

Links:
The ad on The Samba
Wikipedia, Volkswagen Type 2 T3 article

The Syncro Story

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This gorgeous, restored 1978 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 long bed pickup looks better than new. It’s said to have traveled 53,000 miles since new. Much has been replaced and it features a new Warn winch. Bring a Trailer notes that it came from the factory with Air conditioning and power steering, two desirable options. A 4-spd manual and the Toyota 2F, inline six round out the specs.

The truck is located in Montana. Bidding currently stands at $39,800 with about 5 days on the clock.

Update 4/29/2013: The seller seems to have ended the auction early and sold the truck offline.

Link trail: Bring a Trailer > ebay Read the rest of this entry »

Toyota Gibraltar Stockholdings, according to their website, provides Land Cruisers to agencies working in relief, emergency and development projects around the world. They import stock 70-Series pick-ups and modify them for field use with the addition of extras including bumpers, winches, bedliners, tires, radios, and canvas enclosures.

Here’s how they do it.

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This photo showed up on Facebook a few days ago, apparently. An Australian dad built his son a scaled-down 70-series Land Cruiser, complete with Lightforce spotlight and bull bar. I wonder if the antenna means it has a radio as well.

It occurred to me that a truck like this could totally go on the trail with an adult convoy since trail speeds average about 10 mph. How amazing would that be for a kid out in the wide open country with their own truck and their family there for backup?

In a related story, this was told to me the other day. A guy went out with his kids in his FJ80. They were in a big, dry river bed, so he put the truck in low range, got out and let his kids drive it around. They were nine and twelve. “They’ve been driving go-karts for years, so they know how to drive pretty well.” Then after a bit he saw his kids stop the truck. “What are they doing?” he thought. Two seconds later they were barreling across the wash.

They had shifted the truck back into four-wheel-high and were giving it the boot. “Hey get back here!” he yelled. “I gotta make sure they’re not watching me next time when I put it into kid-mode,” he told me.

Maybe it’s time to build your kids their own rig. 🙂