Big Tonka Toy.. ‘95 Pajero SWB.. in Japan
Discussion
It’s 1991 and I’m 14 years old. A mates dad has an 80s Shogun that he’s looking to trade for one of these new fangled lines from Land Rover.... it’s called the Discovery. It’ll never catch on 
For some reason that I don’t recall, I’m with them at the 4x4 dealer. While the deal is being discussed, my mate and I are having a wander around the showroom. Sat there in two tone bright red and silver is another newcomer - the MK2 Shogun SWB. It looks fantastic and once sat in it, I’m fascinated by the Altimeter and Inclinometer gauges.
I’ve wanted one ever since that day, but never got around to scratching the itch...until now.
Problem being, 25-30 years later, all the UK Shoguns are dead or have terminal issues. All of the imported Pajeros that I looked at online have been abused or after years in our climate have horrid Mot histories littered with chassis corrosion.
Only way to avoid all of that is to import from Japan. But there aren’t that many decent ones left there either! There were a handful at dealers, but prices were seriously eye watering - think £12-15k on the road in the UK!
So I decided to stick with the auctions. After 6 weeks of looking, one finally appeared, with just 51k miles....
.... and duly ‘won’.... though I did have a bit of ‘what the hell have I done’ that day
A couple of weeks later and the pictures at the docks arrived. No idea why they all use potatoes in this day an age though.
For some reason that I don’t recall, I’m with them at the 4x4 dealer. While the deal is being discussed, my mate and I are having a wander around the showroom. Sat there in two tone bright red and silver is another newcomer - the MK2 Shogun SWB. It looks fantastic and once sat in it, I’m fascinated by the Altimeter and Inclinometer gauges.
I’ve wanted one ever since that day, but never got around to scratching the itch...until now.
Problem being, 25-30 years later, all the UK Shoguns are dead or have terminal issues. All of the imported Pajeros that I looked at online have been abused or after years in our climate have horrid Mot histories littered with chassis corrosion.
Only way to avoid all of that is to import from Japan. But there aren’t that many decent ones left there either! There were a handful at dealers, but prices were seriously eye watering - think £12-15k on the road in the UK!
So I decided to stick with the auctions. After 6 weeks of looking, one finally appeared, with just 51k miles....
.... and duly ‘won’.... though I did have a bit of ‘what the hell have I done’ that day
A couple of weeks later and the pictures at the docks arrived. No idea why they all use potatoes in this day an age though.
There’s a few things to deal with on the bodywork - being a grade 3.5, it has some scuffing to the silver wheel arches and the roof was noted as faded. I’ll just have to wait to see how bad that is.
Cant complain too much at that age though and the interior is in really lovely condition.
Cant complain too much at that age though and the interior is in really lovely condition.
105.4 said:
Looks nice and clean.
What are the extra charges after the hammer has dropped up until it’s on the road over here?
May as well come clean - the hammer price was circa 400k yen and it’ll be on the road for £7,400.What are the extra charges after the hammer has dropped up until it’s on the road over here?
It’s a lot for a Pajero in the UK, but it’ll be incredibly rare at that mileage and condition. I did see nice looking one go for £6k on eBay that had a cracked chassis on the Mot the year before!
ker’ and hence the rebranding there. Congrat's op, grade 3.5 is really good. I've had two cars from Japan (though I used TorqueGT) and the auction grade has always been overly harsh so you might be pleasantly surprised, my Crown was grade 3.5 but only one of the scratches they noted was visible when I got it!
The wait is the hardest part, it'll be hard to resist but don't get the vessel name/check it online - it'll just prolong the wait!
The wait is the hardest part, it'll be hard to resist but don't get the vessel name/check it online - it'll just prolong the wait!
TommoAE86 said:
The wait is the hardest part, it'll be hard to resist but don't get the vessel name/check it online - it'll just prolong the wait!
Been there and done it - I’m a glutton for punishment! I enjoy tracking them along despite the wait 
Worst part I find is waiting for it to get on the boat in the first place
Nice.
I ran a LWB 2.8 Shogun a good few years back.
I really liked it, although it was slow and drank like George Best. Im sure it was around £100 to fill, and that maybe got me about 300 miles. My C63 is nowhere near as bad.
The head cracked on mine and rot was starting to take hold of the chassis. I had a replacement head fitted then moved it on.
It still lives on although is currently SORN.
Happy motoring when it arrives.
Edited to add, it was £110 to fill and 350 miles. That was round about peak diesel prices back then.
I ran a LWB 2.8 Shogun a good few years back.
I really liked it, although it was slow and drank like George Best. Im sure it was around £100 to fill, and that maybe got me about 300 miles. My C63 is nowhere near as bad.
The head cracked on mine and rot was starting to take hold of the chassis. I had a replacement head fitted then moved it on.
It still lives on although is currently SORN.
Happy motoring when it arrives.
Edited to add, it was £110 to fill and 350 miles. That was round about peak diesel prices back then.
Edited by Terzo123 on Thursday 10th June 17:00
We had one of these when we lived in Australia for a period, other half chose it and loved it! Called it Patsy.
It was a 3.0 auto. Absolutely biblically slow and horrendous on fuel, but we had some fun in it!
Seats were ridiculously comfy, dog loved it too.
Edit: I should also add, the head gasket went not long after we sold it, supposedly. (It genuinely showed no symptoms.)
It was a 3.0 auto. Absolutely biblically slow and horrendous on fuel, but we had some fun in it!
Seats were ridiculously comfy, dog loved it too.
Edit: I should also add, the head gasket went not long after we sold it, supposedly. (It genuinely showed no symptoms.)
Edited by Jimmy No Hands on Thursday 10th June 17:36
Terzo123 said:
The head cracked on mine and rot was starting to take hold of the chassis. I had a replacement head fitted then moved it on.
Seems to be a big issue with the 2.8s as a result of cooling problems. Will wait and see what the radiator is like, but minimum will be a full coolant flush on arrival.Great looking purchase OP.
I dipped my toe into Mitsi land with a newer Warrior spec shortie last year. I use it mainly for towing and messing around, the thirst is prodigious (3.5 petrol) but I worked on the basis that for sub £2k with minimal rust and 95,000 miles it was worth a punt.
Can't imagine how they sold them new though, who would buy one? If you've the rear seats up there's hardly any space for luggage, the drivers seat is electric and doesn't slide forward for access, passengers have to go in the other side.
Did I mention I really like it? It's so daft it's brilliant
I dipped my toe into Mitsi land with a newer Warrior spec shortie last year. I use it mainly for towing and messing around, the thirst is prodigious (3.5 petrol) but I worked on the basis that for sub £2k with minimal rust and 95,000 miles it was worth a punt.
Can't imagine how they sold them new though, who would buy one? If you've the rear seats up there's hardly any space for luggage, the drivers seat is electric and doesn't slide forward for access, passengers have to go in the other side.
Did I mention I really like it? It's so daft it's brilliant
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