1962 FJ40 questions (3 Viewers)

[Wasatch Jay]

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?

I agree with rex in bama.

Unless you really want a beautifully restored Land Cruiser, and are willing to be completely upside down cost vs resale wise, I think the smart move is to sell it.

I look at FJ40s on Bring a Trailer auctions with some regularity. Judging by what they sell, for compared to the posted receipts on money spent, paying a shop for professional restoration, or modifications is a great way to lose money, and in many cases, not a little.

 

[CRZR45]

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?

If you are paying someone to fix it up my 2c is to buy one already done where someone else did it right and they take the loss. The $ adds up quick if you pay someone to do it

 

[brian]

It appears to be a 2 piece hood, but they filled the seam. Theres probably more bondo under that paint. Hopefully the repaired the metal 1st.

They didn’t lift the hood to mask anything prior to paint, so yeah....

 

[Living in the Past]

I see the button on the steering column. That is a common replacement when the owner can't figure out how to fix the horn button in the steering wheel. The shifter between the non OEM seats is something I've seen before. Used when the vacuum shifter stopped working. The pre 63 vacuum shifter has exposed linkage making fairly easy to bypass the vacuum diaphragm. On my phone I and not seeing the handle for the transmission shifter. It does have the Vader Light on the bottom of the dash. No pictures of the rear sill or the section behind the front seats?

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Damn that looks good for $2K. Love the corrugated top. I've sworn to never buy another 40 but it'd be impossible to pass up given your opportunity.

 

[igotta40]

Do you have pictures of those Ferrari you mentioned?

 

[TexasHusker]

Do you have pictures of those Ferrari you mentioned?

 

[TexasHusker]

Those were my last two. I’ve owned four.

 

[rex in bama]

Those were my last two. I’ve owned four.

Sweet! 40s are the opposite end of the spectrum, but you’ll get just as many thumbs up!

 

[TexasHusker]

Sweet! 40s are the opposite end of the spectrum, but you’ll get just as many thumbs up!

Yeah, you know that's why I finally quit with the Ferraris. I really loved the history and the machines, but not all the attention. Felt weird.

 

[igotta40]

I saw this one afternoon rolling through the main square in San Gimignano, either lost or showing off (or both), slowly pushing his way past the tourists. Notice the police watching him…..

 

[TexasHusker]

Yeah that was the downside with Ferraris. Everyone assumes you are trying to act rich, important, flashy. It just felt yucky. A shame, because I really enjoyed those cars. My dad had a 1963 250GTE V12. It was way more understated, except for the sound of the V12.

 

[igotta40]

Yeah that was the downside with Ferraris. Everyone assumes you are trying to act rich, important, flashy. It just felt yucky. A shame, because I really enjoyed those cars. My dad had a 1963 250GTE V12. It was way more understated, except for the sound of the V12.

You’re in luck, then. The posers all drive Jeeps.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I like real car people. Its nice that we all don't like the same thing - makes for more parts. Helicopter people seem to have the we are better/richer/... than other folks; however they will let you work on it for free.

My dad could/did fly a fixed wing. The cyclic jockey's tried to give him a bad time - he just told them that when he wreck it he could fix it; could they?

My favorite was when at break time someone ask him what would he do if 10,000 people came in and applied for his job - he said he would ask them all for a buck and they could have the job.

 

[fireflyr]

Helicopter people seem to have the we are better/richer/... than other folks; however they will let you work on it for free.

My dad could/did fly a fixed wing. The cyclic jockey's tried to give him a bad time - he just told them that when he wreck it he could fix it; could they?

My favorite was when at break time someone ask him what would he do if 10,000 people came in and applied for his job - he said he would ask them all for a buck and they could have the job.

Damn. That’s a bit harsh on ‘Helicopter People’.

I know more about fixin’ them than flying them. Wait, what were we talking about? Oh yeah, a $2000 landcruiser.