Sorry I missed this thread, but I do have a friend here in Texas who brought in a body from South Africa to build his own. It cost a good bit, but not exactly HEAPS of money. Don't know if that helps...

I do not think it would be that difficult. I guess the trucks would have to be coming from Australia , because the South American ones are in its most part younger than 1974. Equador has been making trucks up untill 2002 or so, so there is close ones , but the smog law issues are the problem.
Next time I go there I will find out. The good thing is that in South America many things can happen.....I mean......a 1994 ute could suddenly become a 1974....ups.....

Appendix and errata.....

One thing is sure, anyone looking to get his ute will have to get his butt off the couch and travel. The day I travel to South Africa I will be able to look for a excellent and bring it.
If anyone is going to rely on "someone" to make the deal for him....no complaints about price please......

My friend Steve says you can buy a "body in white" from South Africa for around $2500 (basically a stripped shell). I think he bought his from a junkyard for less than $1000. Figure another $1000 to ship it back, then you'd need at least a donor sedan here in the US to "finish it off". Other bits could be had from OZ ebay?

South America may be a better option, but he's originally from South Africa, so he went that way.

10's & 20's..... have you asked your buddy Steve about the 140's???

Are those still around??? I know the utes are still build in there, but are there any 140z surviving???

Wow I was suprised to see this thread still going......I got side tracked with a possible 1959 Datsun buy but after the owner wanted $2000 (needs full resto) I'm back on a ute. I've tried several forums for Micro cars but no luck yet.
As Matt said the biggest stumbling block is price. I'm cheap, that's part what I like about Datsun's as the are cheap also , so for me I want one but not bad enough to pay $$$ for one. I'm also the ADD poster child and if someone told me 7K I'd start thinking about buying some more Vintage Motocross bikes and another old Datsun.
So anybody done the math on importing a Ute??

Tom, your ship has come in, and it's close by too. 1977 Sunny Truck $8500 - Prescott Valley, Arizona USA

I never could track this down until it came on eBay today. Too bad someone removed the twin carb engine.

Dave the buy it now price is double of what I honestly would part with........................I do want a Ute but not enough to pay 8K for one. I paid that much for the fancy Italian Dirt (Beta 520) but that was my mid-life moment. This does appear to be the Ute that was in Phoenix and I do know some Rally folk in Prescott who could check it out for me BUT I recently drove a friends Novacar Formula 500 these run 6-9K.............and I could see myself spending Ute money on one.............I'll be keeping an eye on the ebay auction.

Tom

This picture is just example of car...........not me or my friend.

Attach file:

---

  Slide-01.jpg (66.32 KB)