"Retro off-roaders"

[stavok]

As a sideways bump to @stavok SIMPLY 4x4 thread, I just had an (albeit small and superfluous) epiphany - how cool would it be if the manufacturers of these classics - and as someone said the 80s-90s were peak times for the automobile - were able to sell them "as new" again through the "continuation" schemes some automakers do? I think JLR did something similar a while back, but how many of us here would buy a brand new 80 series Toyota, proper Defender, 90's Pajero/Shogun/Montero, Patrol, or any of the others mentioned in this thread? If the prices were comparable to the Grenadiers, I bet lots of folks around here would jump at the opportunity.

YES! Yes! - but sadly no I'm afraid is the truth-at least in the USA that is. The top 5 priced Land Cruisers on Autotempest right now are 1970's and 1980's between $102,000 and $189,900. LC 80 series in mint condition are regularly around $100k. From the end user side there is clearly demand. I think the problem is the supply side. I wasted some time yesterday daydreaming of a new 4x4 with zero computers- no BCM, no ECU, mechanical HVAC controls, manual mirrors, etc... I circled around Unimogs, retro builds, kit cars, pined for my old purely mechanical John Deere diesel boat engine, researched Montana registration, and came back right to where I started- Registration and Emissions are the problem - Toyota dropped the FJ Cruiser solely due to CAFE standards. We are trapped in a Catch-22 where computers have taken over the world. Manufacturers can't build it unless it meets crash and CAFE and an individual can't build because we can't register and pass emissions.

 

[Logsplitter]

Here’s a forward control Grenadier with some design tweaks. Designing a vehicle using AI is not my forte and very frustrating. I’m sure with the right software it would be easier.
Oh I forgot to add the Grenadier name on the bonnet

 

[Tom109]

Here’s a forward control Grenadier with some design tweaks. Designing a vehicle using AI is not my forte and very frustrating. I’m sure with the right software it would be easier.
Oh I forgot to add the Grenadier name on the bonnet
View attachment 7915690

Aka the Logsplitter

 

[simonpa]

Here’s a forward control Grenadier with some design tweaks. Designing a vehicle using AI is not my forte and very frustrating. I’m sure with the right software it would be easier.
Oh I forgot to add the Grenadier name on the bonnet
View attachment 7915690

and now the proposed price ??

 

[landmannnn]

Here’s a forward control Grenadier with some design tweaks. Designing a vehicle using AI is not my forte and very frustrating. I’m sure with the right software it would be easier.
Oh I forgot to add the Grenadier name on the bonnet
View attachment 7915690

A bit of a cross between a Pinzgauer and that UAZ minibus

 

[Logsplitter]

That’s the final one. I’ve had enough of that silly game.