Almost a year has passed since Lea and I took the train to Fribourg to collect what was probably the cheapest Toyota Land Cruiser in Switzerland.
The drive back to Zurich was an adventure in itself. Before we could even leave the seller's driveway, the old diesel refused to start and had to be brought back to life with our jump starter.
Once it was running, we agreed on one simple rule.
Don't switch it off.
There was no guarantee it would start again, so we pointed the Land Cruiser towards Zurich and hoped for the best.
Against all odds, it made it home.
Barely.
If you haven't read the first chapter of this project, I highly recommend starting there before continuing with this update.
One Year in the Workshop
What followed was almost a year of evenings and weekends spent in the workshop.
Every time we crossed one job off the list, another two appeared.
Rust repairs.
A complete brake overhaul.
Electrical gremlins.
Missing hardware.
Incorrect replacement parts.
And dozens of those small jobs that only reveal themselves once an old vehicle is taken apart.
Looking back, it's hard to believe how much work has gone into making this Land Cruiser roadworthy again.
A Huge Milestone
Last week, I finally posted the application to the Strassenverkehrsamt in Schafisheim to request an MFK appointment.
That single letter represents almost a year's worth of work.
For the first time since bringing the Toyota home from Fribourg, we genuinely believe it's good enough to pass the inspection.
Hopefully.
Anyone who has restored an older vehicle knows the feeling.
You tighten every bolt twice.
You check every light one more time.
And somehow you're still convinced you've forgotten something.
Now all we can do is wait.
A Little Friendly Pressure
As if waiting for the MFK wasn't enough, my friend Gian Luca bought himself a Land Rover at almost exactly the same time I bought the Toyota.
Ever since, every time we meet, he asks me exactly the same question.
"So... when is the Land Cruiser finally going to be ready?"
The plan has always been to take both trucks on adventures together.
No pressure, Gian Luca.
Well... maybe just a little.
The Real Project Starts Afterwards
Passing the MFK has never been the finish line.
It's simply the next milestone.
Over the last year, we haven't built the Rottweiler Motors Truck.
We've simply made the Land Cruiser usable again.
Safe enough.
Reliable enough.
Good enough to earn another chance on Swiss roads.
If everything goes according to plan, that's when the real fun begins.
The vision has never changed.
We want to build a retro monster that's equally at home carrying motorcycles to the Alps, hauling camping gear across Europe or disappearing down dusty tracks in search of the next adventure.
There are still plenty of ideas waiting.
Different wheels.
Practical upgrades.
Adventure equipment.
And countless little details that will slowly transform this tired old Toyota into the Rottweiler Motors Truck we've imagined since the day we spotted that Ricardo listing.
Hopefully, the next update won't be about another repair.
Hopefully, it'll begin with two simple words.
It passed.