Treasure arrives in the British Virgin Islands

[richw]

remote brake booster.JPG

PV 382.JPG

Better late than never, after waiting nearly 4 months this beauty made it to the BVI's
I purchased through a Japanese used car web site and sent the wire transfer off October 2015.
The container was unloaded today, she started right up and idled perfectly but there was no clutch.
Got that sorted in short order (seals gone on the slave), at least enough to drive 1 mile back to my workshop.

You never know what you are going to get when buying 'sight unseen'.
Just some web site pictures that you analyze over and over.
There's no previous owners to contact, just half a dozen pics, that's it.
Happily she is better than I imagined.
One coat of paint in 42 yrs, all joints oiled or greased, the doors close like she rolled off the production line last week.
63,000km on the clock, barely run in!
The Japanese owner must have been an enthusiast, I reckon that this patrol was family owned, one caring owner, maybe an engineer? who knows?
I'm not sure I'll ever know there story.
I don't even know what part of Japan she came from?
No tool box, spare wheel or jack but cranking handle in place.
I showed my lads how that works, but after much posturing none of them managed to match my triumphant crank start.
I'll leave it there for now.
I'm sure there will be plenty of questions like 'where do I get that brake booster?'
(no idea!)
Cheers richw
(I confess to scaring them with tales of thumbs bent backwards)
The attention to detail is obvious, all moving parts are greased, the engine oil was crystal clear and remained so after running for a couple of hours. (no sludge), it's really hard to find any faults. Everything is original apart from a brake booster upgrade that looks like it 'grew' there.

[Ascinder]

Wow! That looks like to scored! What a clean looking Patrol. I have a feeling you were right on the brake booster too, It was the first question I wanted to ask.

[RiverPatrol]

Yup, you did good. Very nice Patrol. Congratulations!

[Esteban]

What a beauty! Congratulations!

There's a thread that covers some about this brake booster. One of the easiest mods to do once you have the booster. I'll dig the info tomorrow.

[ratpatrol66]

You have yourself a very sweet Patrol! Are there any others in the BVI?

[richw]

hurricane tie up.jpg

near the end.jpg

Others in the BVI?
Not since my last one was scrapped over 20 years ago.
(How I wish I had saved some parts now!)
Here's a pic of 'Woody', he ended up being more plywood and 2x4 than steel!

[richw]

enthusiast.JPG

engine.png

a few more pics

[RMP&O]

Awesome!

Do you plan to keep it protected from the salt and rust/rot or just use it till it is more wood than steel!?

Cheers

[richw]

Awesome!

Do you plan to keep it protected from the salt and rust/rot or just use it till it is more wood than steel!?

Cheers

RMP+O, that is a very cynical comment and I don't care for it.
I thought this was a forum for like minded individuals who enjoy restoring, renovating and generally CARING for old Patrols.
Why do you feel the need to suggest that this fine vehicle is doomed?

That old Patrol 20yrs ago had a rotted out chassis, the doors were long gone when I came across it abandoned.
With a patrol population of 1 in the BVI plywood made sense and I extracted a few happy years of use before the aft spring hangers folded up.

The new Patrol will never be more than one mile from the sea in the BVI, I will be doing all I can to preserve it's integrity be sure of that but it will be a working vehicle not a show piece.

I am British, when we sign off with 'cheers' is has meaning.
It shows familiarity and respect.
Not normally used after a cheap cynical comment to a complete stranger!

[faux40]

Great looking Patrol! I'm glad it made it's voyage to you intact and that it's even better than expected. I'm pleased to hear that the Patrol population in BVI has again reached 1! Twenty years is too long to be Patrol free!

John