78 FJ40 value

2LCs · 11-07-09, 12:11 PM

I'm looking at the following, and need some help on the value:

1978 FJ40 Originally Red Paint, Been resprayed Black, with White top. Chevy V8 conversion with Automatic tranny. No rust to speak of, and underside has been sprayed with coating. This is not a show truck, but has a small lift, cosmetically it is a solid 8 out of 10... steel tub has been repaired and resprayed. Has carpet on the floors and new front seats... all gauges, and signals work. All wiring and lighting is in working order.

I took a test drive, and it pulls like a train, and goes well on the highway.

I like that it isn't perfect, but it looks OK and my wife is interested in driving it as her toy.

Asking $12,500...

What is this worth?

high country cruiser · 11-07-09, 01:01 PM

No pics no way to tell.......

JohnnyC · 11-07-09, 01:06 PM

x2 pics....also use a magnet and see just how much bondo is on it

Rmyshrall835 · 11-07-09, 01:16 PM

I think you answered your own question, if you said 8 out of ten thats 80% right? Offer him 10000, and if you have a problem doing that you obviously think its worth more or less, depending of if you think its a lowball offer, or too high of one.

2LCs · 11-07-09, 03:06 PM

Pictures Added. I'm a newbie with the 40's... so some expert advice would be helpful.

cjgoode · 11-07-09, 03:33 PM

Seems like a lot of money to be considering it is an automatic and I see rust problems and repairs underneath. Did you look under the floor mats. For that much I would hope any rust problems would have been fixed. Looks like the tried to spray paint the underneath and did a real poor job at that. Who knows what else is hiding.

marks69cruiser · 11-07-09, 03:49 PM

I think you can get a better deal for 12000. Look around here on mud. Check out the build ups, find what you like. Then go out and test drive a few. You will be glad you did. Good luck.

cjgoode · 11-07-09, 04:28 PM

Check CL and ebay also, you will find this looks nice and shiny on the outside, but looks like they cut a lot of corners. You can use google and search for
fj40 site:craigslist.org
this will find all on craigslist across the whole country, will give you an idea of what they sell for, you can also look at the completed items on ebay to see the ones that actually sold and what they sold for. This will give you a good idea of what is out there and for what price, then you can decide if this is the one, or you would be better to wait for another one.

2LCs · 11-07-09, 04:42 PM

It is just sprayed underneath. The Floorboards are great, I did see them. They repaired a some of the tub, like I mentioned.

This is a local truck for sale, and what I do like about it is that it is an automatic (wife's toy, remember), and it is a good driver. We will not be wheeling this (60 does that)... and I'm looking for a realistic value, because that seems like a hard question to answer.

As for what is hiding underneath, this a is not a frame off, and it is no show piece... but it does look nice, and it drives great, everything works, if there is rust, it is not showing anywhere (so it can't be but so bad (right?). Consider all the above, what is it worth?

zrheard · 11-07-09, 05:27 PM

i bought one w/alot of rust... and after i got on the site i learned the wisdom "engine work is easy body work is hard"
and its not worth a dime till this is corrected

Fullsizeyota · 11-07-09, 05:33 PM

Who goes to all that work then keeps the manual steering?

Absolutly retarded to do a v8 and not mount a pump to the motor.

cjgoode · 11-07-09, 05:43 PM

I would say less then 10,000 from what I can see. It looks nice, but you can find them that also look as nice for 8,000 and less. IMO over 10,000 should have had a frame off or be original and did does not need one. I still say that is a lot of money for what I see underneath. Like it or not a v8 and automatic lower the value of an fj40. To make the outside look that nice and not repair obvious problems underneath shows cutting corners, only focused on appearance, not longevity. Those problems underneath will end up being problems on the topside. For 12,500 you should not be able to see obvious rust damage.

high country cruiser · 11-07-09, 05:48 PM

Ask yourself a few questions?
#1 Is this @ a car lot or a dealer? (Mustang in background)
#2 Can I afford it?
#3 Will I want to resell it later and will I get my money back?
#4 How many Landcruisers on the market in this economy?
#5 Will I be happy w/ my decision to buy it a month from now (or is this an impulse)
#6 Hell yea I want it @ any price..........

In my honest opinion $6,000 to $7,000 and thats top end w/ all matching #'s (frame & vin) and the electrical in tact. There's lots of things to look for in used vehicles and if you have the knowledge use it or trust someone that does.
IMO I've seen alot of real nice Cruisers on the market lately................

My best advice is to look hard @ the engine,front axle,brakes,transfer case,rear axle and electrical under dash, all hiden problem areas.

Is an emissions (smog) test required in your area is so BE CAREFUL w/ that I learned the HARD way. I see smog equipment stiil on the motor.

Texx · 11-07-09, 06:02 PM

Not bad, but waaaaay overpriced. Maybe 7500. You're gonna have ongoing problems with rust, once it's there, it never sleeps. I consider the respray to be a huge minus, especially in the wrong color. There was never a black 40 imported to the states. I just prefer the correct look. Hope he's got alot of room, it's certainly got potential,but not at that price

cruiser user · 11-07-09, 06:25 PM

Can I ask where the fuel tank is?? Isn't it supposed to be under the body on a 78??

Sputnik40 · 11-07-09, 06:30 PM

Concur with the above - $7,000 range. Bit overpriced. Pretty clean in a lot of areas, shackle reversal - looks like front seat covers replaced, etc. - the running board rot is the worst I've seen, which would have me really going over the quality of the body work - no way to really tell in the pics - as it actually looks decent...

Texx · 11-07-09, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruiser user

Can I ask where the fuel tank is?? Isn't it supposed to be under the body on a 78??

No, started in 79 model year.

Isaacjohnstar · 11-07-09, 09:27 PM

I would agree that it is way over priced. I see them up here in Montana for around 10k for a perfect all matching rust free cruiser. It's much less aggravating to fix your own mistakes instead of the P.O.'s mistakes.
I know that there are Mud members all over that would scrutinize a cruiser in there area for fun and they would probably be more impartial than you. Heck I know i would drive a cruiser to NC just for the gas and a one way ticket back home!

Just My $0.02

Splangy · 11-07-09, 09:49 PM

WAY over priced. Anybody can throw some mud and paint on a $2000 FJ40 and get it to look pretty (If you're into pigs with lipstick)

TimJG · 11-07-09, 09:59 PM

While i agree it's overpriced, lots of people like fj's so they're going to be expensive. Also, I think it would be worth it just to teach your wife to drive stick and then get a manual; I agree with cjgoode when he says auto tranny is going to lower your resell value.

2LCs · 11-08-09, 09:50 AM

Thanks for the input everyone. I think this gives me a fair idea of what it is really worth... I'll keep digging on the body work etc... it is a good looking example, but like I said before, I'm looking for a toy for my wife, not a show truck. I just don't want to overpay because the value is vague. We never see FJ-40's in this market (coastal NC)... and this is not at a dealer.

3_puppies · 11-08-09, 09:52 AM

like all said above, overpriced
to me it's the little stuff adds up to reduce the price, ambulance door handle on 90 off, not removing the heater to paint the entire firewall...stuff like that.
something looks wrong under the ambulance doors?

I would also take it on a long trip hour+ on highway, check for overheating, and vibrations

motoloco · 11-08-09, 10:26 AM

A V8'ed FJ40 is never worth more than 4K No matter how nice, a re painted non original color FJ40 is never worth more than 2k, nice spray painted fire wall

That is a 2k truck MAX!!!!!!!!! 12K LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

crushr · 11-08-09, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoloco

A V8'ed FJ40 is never worth more than 4K No matter how nice, a re painted non original color FJ40 is never worth more than 2k, nice spray painted fire wall

That is a 2k truck MAX!!!!!!!!! 12K LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hmmm - TLC's Icons are repainted, V8 FJ40s and sell for over $100k.

Your figures are completely wrong.

crushr · 11-08-09, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullsizeyota

Who goes to all that work then keeps the manual steering?

Absolutly retarded to do a v8 and not mount a pump to the motor.

I've been driving/wheeling my V8 FJ40 w/o power steering for over 20 years and have never felt the need for power steering. Some of us like to keep things simple - gives me a good upper body workout!

alaska60 · 11-08-09, 12:10 PM

fresh paint is always scarey.......bring a refrig flexible magnet back there and run around that body... I saw signs of serious rust issues that were trying to be hidden.. exp------wheel wells rear!? also the frame looks to be covered with a fresh rattle can of semi black! If it was stock with the oem engine tranny.......and red paint.....then yes 12K would be considered......however, to many things have been compromised for this price. let him know of the decrease of value by painting it a color that was not even available and a chevy motor and trans too. he has taken away from the true value of this ride.
Just my 2 cents.

alaska60 · 11-08-09, 12:15 PM

P.S.
dont buy it!
You can find a much better cruiser for 12K if that is your budget. MUCH BETTER!
12 K for that is nutz!!!!!just plain crazy!!!!! no................it is stupid!!!

cjgoode · 11-08-09, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoloco

A V8'ed FJ40 is never worth more than 4K No matter how nice, a re painted non original color FJ40 is never worth more than 2k, nice spray painted fire wall

That is a 2k truck MAX!!!!!!!!! 12K LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I need to take a trip to Colorado, if that is a 2k truck there I can get rich buying them and bringing them to the East coast and selling them. I see 40's with v8's sell for over way 4k all the time on the East coast.

2LCs · 11-08-09, 03:31 PM

Thanks again. To be clear, I don't think it is worth 12K. I see the cut corners as well, and the guys who did the work admit it isn't a great job. That being said, if it was closer to say $7500, I think that is a fair value, that would hold for a while. Certainly, I don't want to over pay for a tuck that is just covering up flaws with paint. But, again, the V8 and the Auto are pluses for me. We have a 87 FJ60 with a stock 2F... and that is my truck, this would be for my wife, who demands an auto...and likes the power that the V8 provides for road safety alone. My FJ60 was originally red and is currently entirely rhino-lined in black, so I'm not too worried about this truck not being original paint.

I'll see what the guy says to the 7k range and report back.