1986 Toyota Land Cruiser Diesel BJ 70

1986 Toyota Land Cruiser Description

Well, there's a time when every man has to call it quits, and for me, that time is now. I purchased this (originally Canadian) vehicle in 2011, sight unseen. The vehicle was advertised as having "a little surface rust." But, as you can see in the picture, the problem is much deeper than that. The rust is pervasive on the bottom of the vehicle, and although the body is generally in decent shape, it's got rust too (e.g., see the pictures near the rear windows). Having already paid for the vehicle, I decided to keep it a few years, and see how much progress I could make. Life got in the way, and although I've spent about several thousand dollars on various repairs such as:
-- installing a new fuel cell (accessible through the back swing doors)-- new clutch master cylinder-- new leaf springs, tie rods, and shocks-- electric fuel pump and relay bypass to address the "funky chicken"(search "funky chicken bj 70 land cruiser if this phrase means nothing to you)
as well as having it legally imported into the US and titled (registration is current) into California. I drive the truck nearly every day, and while it's been dependable, I simply don't have the time, money, or expertise to restore it to the condition I had originally hoped.
The truck has a clear CA title, and runs well. As mentioned above, there is a (still unresolved) problem with the shut off relay, which I had bypassed with a single switch accessible from the dash. When starting and stopping the engine, the switch is on (allowing the shut off switch to function), but I switch it off when in use, so as to prevent the funky chicken. A better electrician than my mechanic should be able to design a better solution.
There is a lot of rust on the vehicle, and any serious restoration will require a disassembly to the frame. As I mentioned before, I wanted to do this, but have bit off more than I can chew. The alternative is to simply drive the vehicle as-is, and live the rust, rattles, and other idiosyncrasies. I drive it often, and uniformly get complements at what a cool, vintage vehicle it is...perhaps this is what you're looking for.
I've done my best to accurately represent the vehicle in pictures and words. The bottom line is you're getting a rough, but functional, BJ70. It's got rust, and other small problems (though the truck runs well, and the 4x4 works great).
I paid $8000 four years ago, and am into it for easily twice that by now. I am prepared to take a bath on this, and there is no reserve price. I'm moving in a couple of months, and can't take the truck with me, so whatever the market says it what I'll get. My loss, and ignorance in this type of vehicle, is your gain.
Please contact me with any questions. I'll drive to within an hour or two from San Diego to help with delivery or shipping, but other than that, it's up to you. Best of luck.