Hunting around for parts I came across an old man who has a 71' or 72', that he's thinking about selling. Says the 8R still runs well. Pretty straight with very minimal rust - nothing major. Baby blue original paint. Clean interior.

The numbers he was throwing out there were pretty reasonable. But I have to see the truck up close, first. Going later today.

Man, I wish I found this guy a day earlier...my wife isn't going to be too happy seeing a third truck in front of the house. But I'll be damned if I let a clean (reasonably priced) 71' fall through my fingers.

 

do it man

 

your wife needs to understand.


build one for your wife! make it plush inside and her favorite color outside!

 

Either that or sleep on the sofa...clutching the keys to my three trucks...dreaming of air bags and 17's....

 

BUY IT!!! Shel get over it sooner or later

 

haha. my old ex kicked me out for working on my truck too much a few times so i just slept in the bed on an air mattress in the bed in the shop. hahahaha

 

lol!

 

Found some parts today....

...look familiar?

Anyhow, I was mistaken, the truck being offered to me is a 70' (not a 71/72). We're still throwing numbers back and forth at one another and even considering a possible trade. Should have a better idea where it will all land this coming weekend. But absolutely nothing is set in stone.

I'm kinda leaning toward throwing what money I have into the 74' for a number of reasons. Two in particular; it was the same body style truck my grandfather owned and used to cruise me around town in as a little boy. I remember, even back then, being in awe of "pop's" (what we called him) yellow HiLux.

My second reason is the fact that almost everyone I've seen who has been lucky enough to come across one of these beauties (69' 70' 71') tends to eventually try and sell her. Bad omen?

I'm sure everyone has their own reasons for parting with a project, regardless of the year, make, or model. But I do know "parts", little interior bits, but most especially body panels, are just not as readily available as, say - a 74'.

They're awesome looking trucks, especially done up, dropped, etc...etc... But.

Either way, ironically I recently came across a 69' at a yard I frequent. Today, while it was pouring rain, sat in the cab, made some phone calls, and ate my lunch. The thunder and lightning pretty much kept the wrecking yard near empty.

Kinda relaxing sitting in that cab, in the middle of a muddy yard...studying everything I could about her. Imagining what it would be like owning one.

Then taking home some possible back-ups (grill badge, fender signal lights, vent covers, and tailgate reflectors) just in case I do end up buying the 70'....otherwise parts that will be available for sale/trade to anyone who might need them.

 

i'm pretty sure those are the same side markers as what was on my 73 hilux as well.

 

Have yet to compare them to my 74's, but I did compare them to the 77' that was in the same yard. The part numbers on the lenses were definitely different and the shape is just ever so slightly different. What I also noticed was the rubber behind the whole thing was different. In such a way where on the 77' you could see the rubber sticking out behind the whole unit, whereas the ones on the early Lux was behind everything or "just right" so you couldn't see any rubber when looking at it head on.

*Compared to my 74' they look pretty close to a match. But the part numbers on the lenses are different.