I am sure this will be a long winded thread but I got her home today and I am really excited. I could not wait to share it with my Pirate brothers.
2 Weeks ago I had a friend/coworker ask me if I see any early 70's FJ40's come up for sale let him know. He sold his a few years ago and kicks him self for it. We started bull shittin and he said there is a ranch out of town a ways that has one of those Land Cruiser trucks in the field. WHAT!??? We ventured out to the peoples ranch and sure enough tucked back in the trees a short Bed 45.
I talked with the woman who was home and she said it was her dads. It had not been running or driving for years. I asked her if she was interested in selling and she said yes. I gave her my number and said let me know as soon as you decide on a price. A week went by and I had not heard a thing. I could not take the suspense and I drove out to her ranch. She said she had lost my number but had a price in mind. I happily forked over her asking price and the story's started flowing.
Her dad bought it new in 1966 in Salinas CA. He had always been into four wheeling but really wanted to desert race. Some time in the late 60's or early 70's he raced this at least once in NORRA Mexican 1000. It spent the rest of its life on the Rubicon and Northern CA trails. There are a ton of stories with this thing. We are working to get the video of him racing converted to DVD so I can attach it to the story of the resurrection of this old rig.
So what does "Formiga Rosa" mean? Where does it come from? The words are Portuguese this is what this rig was called by the race teams back in the 60's. The "Red Ant".
I am not exactly sure what direction I will be taking this very cool 45 but it will be based on its history. Build and more stories to come.
Where the Ant was resting for years.
2 Weeks ago I had a friend/coworker ask me if I see any early 70's FJ40's come up for sale let him know. He sold his a few years ago and kicks him self for it. We started bull shittin and he said there is a ranch out of town a ways that has one of those Land Cruiser trucks in the field. WHAT!??? We ventured out to the peoples ranch and sure enough tucked back in the trees a short Bed 45.
I talked with the woman who was home and she said it was her dads. It had not been running or driving for years. I asked her if she was interested in selling and she said yes. I gave her my number and said let me know as soon as you decide on a price. A week went by and I had not heard a thing. I could not take the suspense and I drove out to her ranch. She said she had lost my number but had a price in mind. I happily forked over her asking price and the story's started flowing.
Her dad bought it new in 1966 in Salinas CA. He had always been into four wheeling but really wanted to desert race. Some time in the late 60's or early 70's he raced this at least once in NORRA Mexican 1000. It spent the rest of its life on the Rubicon and Northern CA trails. There are a ton of stories with this thing. We are working to get the video of him racing converted to DVD so I can attach it to the story of the resurrection of this old rig.
So what does "Formiga Rosa" mean? Where does it come from? The words are Portuguese this is what this rig was called by the race teams back in the 60's. The "Red Ant".
I am not exactly sure what direction I will be taking this very cool 45 but it will be based on its history. Build and more stories to come.
Where the Ant was resting for years.