A visit to Pilgrim Restorations in Costa Rica

[lostworldexpedition]

While in Costa Rica we could not pass up a visit to Paul Pilgrim owner of Pilgrim Restorations. He is pretty well known in some circles for making body parts for Landcruisers from scratch. Just like we visited Proffits, Specter, TLC and other Landcruiser places in our travels we had to check this out.

It may have been a mistake because I have not stopped drooling and daydreaming since we left...

This "40" is wider and longer than an actual 40. Made from scratch, just impeccable

A standard 1987 Central America spec 60. 5 speed, high top for the standard 3rd row seats

Paul mentioned he could put this troopy body on any frame I wanted... e.g. extended 80 series frame :drool:

This Pig is gonna be awesome when it is finished.

Guess what this beautiful 4 door body is...

Some parts are stamped out some are hammered out

IMHO I think the body parts they make at his shop are better than Toyota the original stuff. There are at least 5 absolutely beautiful 40's there...

 

[Wander]

Wow that is some very nice work. Just curious, what kind of money do those bring in Costa Rica?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

45lv

 

[cruiser guy]

45lv

My :wings: 45LV!

http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj45-owners...v-resto-thread-67-central-american-model.html

Here's some pics of the wider '40 under construction.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-corner/339464-fat-40-very-hummerish.html

Does Paul have the diesel in the '55 yet?

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Sadly the Pig may be suffering from "Customer does not have any money" syndrome, so it may sit a little as is. Painful, because that truly will be an awesome rig.

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Wow that is some very nice work. Just curious, what kind of money do those bring in Costa Rica?

To be honest with you, I can't tell you any specifics. I think that for the amount of work that goes into parts it all sounded reasonable. For example the widened 40 is selling for $25k, for all the labor that went into it it seems fair to me. Paul is a quick replier via e-mail and he is in MUD as well, maybe I will ask him to join ExPo.

 

[haven]

Maybe Pilgrim would be a good shop to replicate this camper, owned by forum member Soenke

The original was built by Marcus Haase at the Off-Road-Schmiede workshop in Germany (http://www.off-road-schmiede.com/ in German). But you can't drive home to USA from Germany! Soenke's vehicle uses a 1979 HJ47 pickup cab and front clip, mated to running gear from a 1993 HDJ 80 diesel. Both cab and chassis were heavily modified.

Read more about Soenke's fascinating project here
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20822

 

[Jacket]

45lv

Now we're talkin'. 45lv body suspended on a 60 or 80 frame - I'd be set for life.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Where is this shop located in Costa Rica? I'm going to have to make a stop down there one day! I wonder if they would be interested in pulling an H55 tranny and shipping it stateside???:sombrero:

 

[pilgrim restorations]

hi..

Hi, Just joined up.
We can pretty much custom build anything from metal, the campers are pretty easy, my dream is to make a 40/45/lv or 4 door troopy on a 80 frame
We currently have in stock a 4 door cab for a 45, a unimog having a 4 door conversion,
Please if you guys need anything or have any ideas or are just passing by, please give me a shout.
My Best Regards.
Paul.

 

[toy_tek]

After reading this thread I might pass by just to fill out a job application. :coffeedrink:

 

[landcruising]

Great! I will be visiting as well, once we get there...


Adventurous greetings,
Coen

 

[REDrum]

Sheet....just got back from two weeks down there, was in 4WD >50% of the time, roads are in bad shape up on in Nicoya. Was trying find (by word or mouth) some LC specialists in CR, would like to have an LC down there. Will be back in May and will hunt'm down.

Funny...from what I've seen down there, LCs (and anything Toyo w/ 4WD) bring more money than in the states same year/miles...(LC 100s bring >$20K, LC80s bring $10 to 15K in just about any condition) Yet Defenders only bring 1/2 to 1/3 of US prices. Go figure...

Bringing restored vehicle north ain't too bad so long as they are on the TSA list (ie year/make/model/trim have been sold in US before)

But going south w/ vehicles is a different story....Have a buddy down there who wanted my 99 4rnr bad but import taxes are killer. After 3 months of a car being in country they come looking for close to the value of the car in taxes.... It woulda been $7K to bring a 99 4rnr in :Wow1:

Pura Vida!

 

[cruiser guy]

If any of you is able to contact Paul PLEASE let me know. I've been trying since the photo of my LV was posted to try to contact him to finish the project but it seems he's skipped the country with all the parts for the LV!

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Well, thats no bueno.