1962 FJ40 questions (11 Viewers)

[TexasHusker]

Two hours ago, I didn't even know what an FJ40 was. Now I own one. Bought it for almost nothing. I haven't looked at this in person, but my brother in law did and said it looks fine and runs. The interior needs some love'n.

So...I am going to spend this weekend reading up on the FJ40 - I won't have it for a week. But what is the consensus on these to get them fixed up? Is the goal to keep everything stock as it was as new, or are there a lot of popular modifications that everyone seems to like? I certainly don't want to bastardize a good vehicle, but I'd like to get this to a shop and have it treated properly and brought to snuff.

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[TexasHusker]

One thing I have quicly noticed is, BLACK isn't a color option for this car when new. So...if the paint is good, do I hold my nose and live with it, or should a proper color be a part of the resto project? Thoughts?

 

[charliemeyer007]

The only new "car" I ever bought was a black Yamaha SR-500. I knew the only other color they came in was red, soon to be pink. Black showed every spec of dirt, finger print, bird poop, pine pitch, rain drop....

My 72 was red white and blue when I got it in 82. I had the neighbor do some bondo work and paint it. I wanted cammo but the girl friend said she wouldn't ride in a cammo rig. So I chose flat tan, matched up to local dirt - brownish. Took 3 gallons of paint, 7 on the outside 5 on the inside. I had to buy the 3rd gallon extra $50, because the guy didn't know that flat paint had to be shot straight as in not thinned. It lasted for many years - then more damage and body cancer since 2000 or so.

Not a purest. Its a tractor, body work on a real working 4 wheel drive is a waste of money IMHO - spend your money on things that actually help off road. Better tires/rims, shocks, springs, lockers, winch, recovery gear, lights that sort of stuff.

If I fix it up again I want to do the Flying Tiger from the P40's on the front - the rest can be flat tan again.

 

[rlong]

That looks great, my first Landcruiser was a 1962.

 

[EWheeler]

One thing I have quicly noticed is, BLACK isn't a color option for this car when new.

Youre way ahead of 99% of people who have owned a 40 for many years.

Leave it. Make it safe. Drive it. Enjoy it.

 

[igotta40]

That’s really cool. I believe the technical term for a truck like that is “unicorn”.

You will apparently get a huge variety of replies and suggestions, all with good intent. Filter accordingly. Good luck.

 

[igotta40]

Two hours ago, I didn't even know what an FJ40 was. Now I own one. Bought it for almost nothing. I haven't looked at this in person, but my brother in law did and said it looks fine and runs. The interior needs some love'n.

So...I am going to spend this weekend reading up on the FJ40 - I won't have it for a week. But what is the consensus on these to get them fixed up? Is the goal to keep everything stock as it was as new, or are there a lot of popular modifications that everyone seems to like? I certainly don't want to bastardize a good vehicle, but I'd like to get this to a shop and have it treated properly and brought to snuff.

Thanks in advance everyone!
View attachment 3957018

Something odd going on with the front hood. It doesn’t look right, maybe it’s an aftermarket fiberglass replacement.

 

[sofj45]

All depends what you want out of it. If you want to go more purist look over in the 25 section. Since that is an early cruiser it’s going to have some different parts than most the 40s. Blinker are incorrect and stock ones are easily available and just look correct even if not going pure it will still look way better than trailer light bolted to the fender. From that one picture, the rear hatch door has been modified. Should only have glass in the top section of door, the mirror head is incorrect but who cares and the seats look to be replaced. If the doors are correct to the year then the door handles are a very hard and rare piece to find. Rear hub cap is correct for the year. Would love to see more pictures and see what’s under the hood. But looks like a decent rig. The hood looks like it’s been skim coated as it should have a seam straight down the middle with a chrome spear at the front. 62 is a early cruiser so when searching for parts if going to stay original it’s a bit more of a challenge but I love early cruisers. Here’s the key thing. It’s yours so enjoy it the way you want and take what everyone else thinks for what it is. My only 2cents would be if your just looking for something to beat up as a wheeler and don’t really care if it’s a landcruiser please don’t beat the s*** out of that one, atleast not from that one picture as it looks really decent. Welcome and enjoy

 

[MOTOV8R]

There are a ton of mods available, many being just newer or upgraded land cruiser or toyota parts. But you can definitely go much further with LS swap, cumins swap, and many drivetrain and suspension swaps. 1962 is a very early fj40, if your goal is a more modern drive train or significant mods there are probably better starting candidates but it’s yours, do what you want with it. There are many original colors that are a lot more appealing than black. Spend a few hours googling stuff (most searches will probably lead back to this site) and you will have a ton of info to get you started. Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[fireflyr]

Looks a lot like mine when I first got it. A bad respray over a really straight, rust free vehicle. Hopefully yours is cancer free too. If someone told me these days they were picking up a Landcruiser for $2k I’d say watch out, it’s probably a scam. I paid $5k back in 2003 for mine and thought I got a good deal.
My suggestion is to just read as much as you can. I kept mine relatively stock for years and only made mods or improvements to make it safer. Disc brakes, back to a stock color (I don’t think forest green with a gold metal flake was ever offered ), then just recently I went to the dark side.
Drive it for awhile then decide. You came to the right place for information. This is a very supportive group with tons of experience that will help whichever way you decide to go. Best of luck.
You will find though that the more pictures you post the better.

 

[TexasHusker]

Guys, thank you so much for all of the comments. I truly appreciate it. Here is where I am at I think. I don't have a personal passion for old Toyota Cruisers, and I"m not particularly handy. My interest has been older Ferraris - even on those I've done some DIY but not a lot - So I am considering just shipping this to a legit Land Cruiser restoration specialist and telling them to go to town. I would enjoy puttering around in a mint 1962 Cruiser, but don't have a lot of interest in the actual process. But then I wonder if I would ever come out financially in a deal like that. Obviously I gave practically nothing for the FJ, so all of my expense would be in a restoration. And I think I would probably tell them to restore it to factory rather than a bunch of later (but cool looking) mods.

Any counsel on this? Any ballpark range of what a fellow would pay for a restoration on something like this, ranging from $X to $Y?

 

[brian]

Sell it.
$20,000.00 and be happy

 

[Mike Shull]

I thought that the 1962 had the unique door opening like a CJ5? Either way, even though it is a rare truck, I know what I would do with it, and it would probably involve an FJ80 donor. Do what you want with it and make it your own. This one looks very nice as is.

You could easily have $100k++ in a restoration.

 

[brian]

I thought that the 1962 had the unique door opening

The soft top and hard tops had different tubs....or rather different panels on the tubs.

 

[Mike Shull]

The soft top and hard tops had different tubs....or rather different panels on the tubs.

We had an early 60s Cruiser that must have been a FST. It had the round door openings. It was cool but it needed doors and we weren’t into fabrication at that point.

 

[TexasHusker]

Sell it.
$20,000.00 and be happy

Surely the truck wouldn't be worth $20K. ??

 

[rex in bama]

Guys, thank you so much for all of the comments. I truly appreciate it. Here is where I am at I think. I don't have a personal passion for old Toyota Cruisers, and I"m not particularly handy. My interest has been older Ferraris - even on those I've done some DIY but not a lot - So I am considering just shipping this to a legit Land Cruiser restoration specialist and telling them to go to town. I would enjoy puttering around in a mint 1962 Cruiser, but don't have a lot of interest in the actual process. But then I wonder if I would ever come out financially in a deal like that. Obviously I gave practically nothing for the FJ, so all of my expense would be in a restoration. And I think I would probably tell them to restore it to factory rather than a bunch of later (but cool looking) mods.

Any counsel on this? Any ballpark range of what a fellow would pay for a restoration on something like this, ranging from $X to $Y?

Yeah, I can’t imagine any full restoration on one of these (even with your low starting price and especially with the labor being outsourced) would ever be a wise financial decision. If it were me, i’d try and make it safe/reliable/driveable, then work on cosmetics. Cosmetics for me would be getting parts back to original (turn signals, seats, etc.) and seeing if that overspray could be removed (getting it back to the original paint, whatever that condition may be). Old, original patina rigs look the best, command the most respect, and seem to hold their own in the marketplace. That looks like it could be a great, rewarding project.

 

[mesa man]

These old 40s deserve respect! Go original era correct or go home! Modify something that’s more available and already hacked up. So called up grades like the awful black hurts the value bad, so seek reliable info from people who know from experience. The vin will tell you a lot of info, are #s matching? More pictures please! What a score for you, if you are not in love with it, please find her a good home!
I love my 1961, sat in port for 2 years and dealer took hold and registered as a 1963.
By evidence of a 1- before vin# on firewall.

 

[pb4ugo]

Its hard to determine its value with just 1 pic. I would guess 2 grand is a smok'n deal. Its value is considerably more than what you paid. Its condition will likely dictate the direction in how to build it. You can make it a solid safe driver with more contemporary driveline parts or build it back to a stk 40. Older 40's are not as refined and are a little more antiquated. It all depends what's missing and whats not. Its easy to break even or be upside down with a restoration to original condition and have a few years in it, if your not careful.

 

[Mike Shull]

I took another glance. The black paint and aftermarket turn signals threw me off. I would return this one to stock. It looks too good to modify. Is there any filler under that paint?

Can you post more pictures?