Costa Fabrications Intro & Pinzgauer 718M Overland build

[CostaFabrications]

Hello all, I've been a follower of the forum for some time now and with my latest acquisition decided to join as now I have something to contribute. I'm a full time fabricator and certified welder that that specializes in off-road vehicle prep/building. Ive Been focusing the last couple years on Toyotas, land cruisers mostly. But I have always had my eye on pinz's. The 6x6 in particular, ever since I went on a rally over 12 years ago and got to drive one on the trails I've been hooked...
I've recently imported a 1988 718M LHD and she is in fantastic condition! with only 30k miles. I bought the truck with the intention to outfit and sell as an adventure ready rig capable of global travel. This is not a for sale add but will be my build thread. To share what I do and exchange ideas in the building and design process of setting this vehicle up. I'm very excited to get started on her but I do have a Unimog build going on simultaneously as well as keeping up with land cruiser parts orders and local work. So right now I'm in the design phase while sorting through the truck to get to baseline mechanically.
Here the truck is as she sat when removed from the container after her long journey. My face still hurts from the smile I had on the whole ride home.. She drives awesome. The 710's and 712's are tractors by comparison (and I love those too). These diesel variants are incredible. she cruised right along with traffic and the power steering with disc brakes makes driving a pleasure. Not to mention how quiet it is in the cabin compared to all the petrol versions I've been in. I love it!
At the present moment I'm thinking about building a two section removable insulated hard top with real windows ( large side and alpine windows). Well two tops that form one. But is modular maybe so you can run full length hard top or half length with it being behind the cab and leaving a short pickup style bed at the rear. Or you can run the factory soft top as well. So the end user can really dial in the truck depending on the journey at hand. I really like the Aussie style tray backs! Perhaps a setup like that in the way back with all the slide outs and storage and then the midsection hard top living/sleeping area??? just thinking out loud....that might be the setup....
Anyways hope you enjoy the thread as it develops. And you can check out some of my other work on Instagram if you want to see some examples https://www.instagram.com/costafabrications/

Cheers,
Rich

[Haf-e]

Congratulations! Looks like a great truck. Excited to see your ideas for the top arrangement sketched out. The 712MK trucks have always been my favorite - a 718 done like that would be very cool.

[GadgetPhreak]

Very cool, excited to follow along on your journey.


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[VinceAtReal4x4s]

Very cool! I was wondering who in the US that went to.

Can you start a new thread on your mods in the TDiesel section? Thanks!

[CostaFabrications]

Very cool! I was wondering who in the US that went to.

Can you start a new thread on your mods in the TDiesel section? Thanks!

Sure thing. Ill repost over there.

Thanks

Rich

[mopar]

Welcome to forum local neighbor!

[CostaFabrications]

Welcome to forum local neighbor!

Thank you!