Our Story 

At DeSol Classics, we exist to preserve the beauty and history of the original, legendary Toyota Land Cruiser in a way that nobody else can. Every DeSol Classic car restoration is the result of the work of more than 45 Ecuadorian and Colombian families who, through their hard work, dedication and passion revitalize the legendary Toyota FJ40 & FJ45 Land Cruisers. Our impressive team of highly skilled mechanics, metal workers, paint technicians, leather & upholstery experts, electricians, historians and engineers take pride in their work and have over 100 years of accumulated experience with Toyotas.

The combination of old-world craftsmanship with obsessive attention to details makes our builds more than just restorations. We find purpose and solace in being part of something bigger than ourselves. Everyone contributes and everyone profits.

DeSol Classics is a Florida company that was created to employ talented, good hearted people who are looking for an opportunity to do what they love. We have a long-term management perspective with the goal of continuous improvement and respect for people. We aim to do the right thing for the company, its employees, the customer and society as a whole.

Meet the Team

  • Founder & CEO

    DeSol Classics was born from a vision created by Robert Highley. Robert was born in Spring Lake, New Jersey and moved to Ecuador in 1990 after obtaining his MBA in international business from Thunderbird (AGSIM). He and his wife Myrian opened a global logistics and procurement company called Overnight Solutions which has operated out of Ecuador and Colombia for more than 30 years; www.myovernight.solutions. The 30 years plus experience of logistics and procurement with Overnight Solutions were essential in helping to locate and import original Toyota parts from all over the world.

    The name DeSol comes from the names of daughters Dionne & Solansch. Both girls graduated from high school in Quito, Ecuador and then both got degrees from Wake Forest University. Robert’s father Charles missed his Lawrenceville High School graduation ceremony to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in 1944 during WWII and actually was part of the USA occupation of Japan. His grandfather enlisted in the army after graduating from Princeton in 1917 and won the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic actions in Immecourt, France during WWI. In just one day, Lieutenant Highley led his men on two missions that resulted in the capture of 27 horses, 105 prisoners and 18 pieces of artillery. We are proud Americans and are thankful for their service.

  • Marco has played an integral part of Overnight Solutions since 2002 and founder partner of DeSol Classics. Among his many talents, he is an expert in procurement and logistics. He enjoys CrossFit, dance and Jim Morrison.

Meet the Team

  • A man smiling in front of a beige Toyota FJ Cruiser, wearing a mechanic uniform with patches that read 'Hector' and 'DeSol Classics', and a baseball cap with a red and black logo.

    HECTOR TOMALA

    AUTO BODY MECHANIC

  • A man in a mechanic's uniform standing beside a vintage Toyota Land Cruiser with the hood open, suggesting he is working on the vehicle.

    WUilmer gonzalez

    MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN

  • A man with a bald head smiling in front of a teal Jeep with the hood open, wearing a jumpsuit with name tag 'Jose' and 'DeSol Classics' patch.

    Jose MateuS

    MECHANICAL TECHNICIAN

  • A man with gray hair and a mustache sitting at a worktable with a sewing machine, wearing a graywork shirt with red and navy accents, and a patch labeled 'DeSol Classics' on the chest, against a plain teal background.

    GONZALO PAREDES

    UPHOLSTERY

  • A man with glasses and a goatee wearing a mechanic uniform with name patches 'Juan Carlos' and 'Desol Classics,' standing in a workshop.

    Juan Carlos Paredes

    UPHOLSTERY

  • A man wearing glasses and a gray and black work shirt with red stripes and a patch that says 'DeSol Classics' stands outdoors with a background of green foliage and bamboo.

    Alex Zambrano

    PROCUREMENT SPECIALIST

Why do we specialize in Land Cruisers?

The Land Cruiser has a long and rich history as a rugged and reliable vehicle. These 4x4 work horses exemplifly the spirit of adventure and exploration.

Curious about the Land Cruisers’ history? Click below to learn more.

Learn more