Quote: I am only a miserly six feet tall & once spent over 20 [almost] continuous hours behind the wheel of my 1200 ute. I had covered over 1,000 miles [about 1700k] & I gotta admit that the best part at the end of the journey, was getting out of that ute.
However, for shorter journeys, those of modest girth, but lofty elevation should be quite OK

The stock seat's are not too great... I put some R32 GTR seats in and they sit really low, plus they have really thin backs and provide maximum legroom. My buddy's like 6'2" 260lbs and can drive it. He had OEM recaros from a mitsubishi in his.

i have this type of ute in my backyard at my mums house does it have any value

I'm in the same boat as you guys in the US. Utes weren't sold here or anywhere else in Northern Europe however I have found two so far. Both are SA built ones. The first one was a real basket case and I still haven't finished trying to piece the body back together but 18 months ago I found a guy who owned a much better one. I gave him parts to get it on the road and three weeks ago he called me to ask if I'd like to buy it. Joy! It went straighht into my workshop for a rebuild and so far it looks like this...




Prior to finding this one I had even considered importing a ute from SA but I can't really afford to do that. I also wondered about importing just a bodyshell to help with that but again the cost would most likely be too much. I have time but not money so restoring what I already have is the only way. I wonder, if you imported a bodyshell and the ute specific parts like tail lights and rear glass, if you could build it up using everything from a 4 door sedan and register it as you might a kit car... using the original donors identity. That might get you around some of the legalities. I don't how the law on this kind of thing works that side of the Atlantic.

-Ed

I'm not 100% certain, but I think USA we can import a new body and build it up here. Brand-new "kit cars" like the Noble and AC cars are sold this way here.

I figure it would only be around $4500 USD to have a brand new ute shell shipped to USA.

It sounds like though very rare, it is easier to find a 1200 truck in England than in USA. I only know of two here, and I've never seen one with my own eyes.

Hi i have a whole driving 76 model ute you can have for $4000 aus.

I feel sorry for you guys, you are so deprived! Good cars are expensive over here in australia but at least you have the option. I suppose at least there is plenty of big old chevs and fords ect. To bad if your not into them though. The datto ute is pretty special though, it about the lightest rwd car you can get and heaps of fun with a bit of power! Mine has the a15 with twin 40's and it puts the wind up a few of the V8 boys. It sounds like a motorbike with the straight through exaust!

ratdat uk, thats a nice straight ute you have there... not sure of english rego but yu should be able to rego through as an imported comercial vehicle for business purposes.... most countries have a similar loophole/program... just use it for work now and then... keep us updated... i miss my old ute... but love the sedan shape more.

Quote: Sigh ...

you can import a ute from oz to the states without issues so long as it's 25 years or older
so far, however, nobody wants to spend the money
since the whole thing about owning a 1200 over here is to buy cheap and keep it cheap
there are people who spend more, but it's real tough to get more than that for any car no matter how nice it is
so do we have any high-rolling gamblers here?