Thank you for the good wishes, brother.
I don't know if it'll be the baddest, or not...but it's certainly going to be the most impatiently awaited! If it's any consolation, boss...I get to see the rebuild ONLY when you guys do. On weekends...with days and days passing in between.
What I'm incredibly pleased about though, is how it seems to be conforming to the original plan. At least as far as rims/tyres, engine/transmission, and bodywork is concerned. The wheels look ok on the beast. The engine LOOKS perfect, but I have no idea about how good it'll be when we actually get around to starting it.
The coachwork, of course, is REALLY special. At the very heart of the rebuild, was the concept for this vehicle to be first and foremost an FJ40, even if it retained virtually nothing from the original donor body, other than the front quarter panels and bonnet. I'm very pleased that its FJ40-ish-ness hasn't faded, at all. The rear doors have been beautifully crafted by Jamil Ustaad, and cannot possibly be mistaken for anything other than FJ doors...even though they aren't! The hand-crafted hard-top cabin is also, unmistakably FJ...with the rounded corners and glass, that are unique to the beast. The rear window also, cannot possibly be confused with anything that would appear on ANY other off-roader but the FJ. So overall, I'm exceptionally happy about the entire process...even though virtually every single part of the donor has undergone some sort of radical modification / alteration.
The aesthetics, however, will be stringently put to sword when the T&A phase of the rebuild commences. Whilst all the concepts may appear right, while static...for them to gel together when the vehicle is in high-speed, difficult-manouevre motion...is another matter, altogether.
That phase...is fast approaching, Alhamdolillah. My ONLY gripe is, that it isn't approaching fast enough, for my liking!