The target was an unmolested, virgin diesel 40 series LandCruiser with an absolute requisite for no rust. Low kms a bonus, but absolutely no rust.
Like any successful hunt; it required planning, patience, preparedness to travel and when the time came the true ability to take the prize. There is pleasure in the process.
Three years had gone by with many tidy examples available on Carsales, Gumtree and Shannons Auctions, but my dream was better than tidy, it needed to tick all the boxes. Patience was hard, especially with two of my best buddies with fine taste becoming newly appointed members of the FJ owners club! They were eager to get me behind the wheel, appealing to the emotional and rationale. Together to fast-track my ownership we all walked down the road of honouring the timeless design, I witnessed the street cred and love towards the FJ40 by Joe and Jane Public; and was ever reminded of the ballooning values for the vintage 4×4 classic.
Patience…. I was on the hunt.
At times, I questioned whether this was the right decision; as each month went by prices continued to increase and self doubt started to creep in that perhaps waiting for my idea of the perfect truck wasn’t the best strategy.
Gone were the days at the start of the hunt of finding a deal, now I was in a race against securing the dream, whilst I could still afford it. We are now in a world of really good money being asked for average to poor examples, I can’t see this changing. In the States, auction blocks are landing six figures for mint examples and the prevalence of first class dedicated restoration companies focusing on solely FJ’s will continue to drive the interest in these iconic trucks.
I was concerned that my strategy of waiting for that pristine, unmolested virgin truck had backfired and it was not out there. Three years had past, the affordability window narrowing and that allusive ultimate unicorn still yet to be seen. I was quickly becoming the dumb donkey.
But patience… I was on the hunt.
Part 2, ‘Every truck has a story’ to follow….
Roaming Red Adventures 