1963 FJ40 Build Thread

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Not really. There should be a number just before the FJ in your vin number...VIN: ?FJ40198864 ...if there isn't, then I think 1965 and 1966 are the only years not to have a digit here...but they would have had a brass tag on the firewall. Otherwise, well at least over here, a 1965 should have had a slanted vent/heater air intake on the right side just forward of the kick vent.

Here is a cool video for you to watch...but after what has just happened in Japan...................................well I hope the owner and his family are OK; YouTube - タイトル

My Aussie 65 has the five in front of the FJ

Cheers Dobster

My Bad - mine doesn't have the number - I used SORs chart to work it out.
 
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Just a thought - but this looks like a US Cruiser or at least not an Aussie original. The Rear tail lights are not correct for Aust and the Front turn signals were dual lens. Also I haven't seen any in Aus with the reflector in the spare wheel.

Looks like you have an original non split rim as the spare but the others look like they are split and your master cylinders look to be a little later.

It looks fantastic though. If you can get some history off the former owners that would be great.

Cheers Dobster
 
Ok update...

Frame Number 3-FJ40-19xxx

What does this tell us?

its definitly a 1963....and a late 63 as Living in The Past hit on....your vin is only about 2800 off from 1964's

BTW that clears up the frame number thingie :)
 
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Ok update...

Frame Number 3-FJ40-19xxx

What does this tell us?

That should tell us '63, but the corrugated top sides tell us '64...so very late model '63???

My '64 was built around Oct/Nov '63, and is tagged 4FJ4021xxx...less than a couple thousand after yours...so with roughly 450 to 500 units per month, say yours might have been manufactured around June/July '63?

The question now is, when did the high posted corrugated tops end? Does anyone have a '63 with a vin number in between ours? Does it have high posts like the early 40s, or will it have low posts like my '64?

Edit: Just having some fun, but still curious as to when the high posts would have ended.
 
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That is what seems to make sense to me...probably one of the last "1963"s to roll out, but they used one of the first '64 tubs and tops...what do you think Johnny? Do we have a list of '63 owners? Would it be cool to start threads for individual year models, and have owners sign in? 1961 owners post up here, 1962s, 1963s, 1964s, and early 1965s...only the corrugated top models as they are most closely related to 25s...we are in the 25 section after all...or am I over thinking this ;)

Is John up yet? We need his input :)
 
Just a thought - but this looks like a US Cruiser or at least not an Aussie original. The Rear tail lights are not correct for Aust and the Front turn signals were dual lens. Also I haven't seen any in Aus with the reflector in the spare wheel.

Looks like you have an original non split rim as the spare but the others look like they are split and your master cylinders look to be a little later.

It looks fantastic though. If you can get some history off the former owners that would be great.

Cheers Dobster
RHD would not have been from the US market. My guess is the tail lights are correct for the year. The little amper lights were probably added to make it legal in Australia. My 62 and 63 microfiche do not show a special Australia tail light like my 65 does. Here in the US we had US made reflectors added to make the early cruisers legal. Wasn't until around 64 we saw Koito reflectors. We also never got a spare tire carrier on the left side until the 75 model. As far as the reflector on the spare tire carrier my 68 has two hole that matched the reflectors on the rear crossmember. But in the US we got hub caps so no reflector was mounted. The only earlier spare tire carriers I have are pre stud for the lock which this one is not. My guess the reflector is stock. Did the front turn signals on your 65 have dual lenses. Here it was only a 61/62 model year.
 
My '64 was built around Oct/Nov '63, and is tagged 4FJ4021xxx


:hhmm: My thought is the first number of the VIN was the year of production not the model year. I have that 63 model that was made in 62. The VIN is stamped 63 but the VIN started with 2. Curious how you figured the production date. I have never seen a table going back that far.

One thing to remember is model year most always started in the year before. This still could be a very early 64 model. Toyota was known for making mid year changes. So may never know which year Toyota considered this one to be.
 
:hhmm: My thought is the first number of the VIN was the year of production not the model year. I have that 63 model that was made in 62. The VIN is stamped 63 but the VIN started with 2. Curious how you figured the production date. I have never seen a table going back that far.

One thing to remember is model year most always started in the year before. This still could be a very early 64 model. Toyota was known for making mid year changes. So may never know which year Toyota considered this one to be.

I roughly estimated about 450 to 500 vehicles per month, which is about what we can see on the SOR chart, and worked backwards from there. Not perfect, but it is the best I can do. Still interesting that this one has a 3 in front.

Concerning that reflector...I have also seen it mounted in a hubcap...
 
That should tell us '63, but the corrugated top sides tell us '64...so very late model '63???

My '64 was built around Oct/Nov '63, and is tagged 4FJ4021xxx...less than a couple thousand after yours...so with roughly 450 to 500 units per month, say yours might have been manufactured around June/July '63?

The question now is, when did the high posted corrugated tops end? Does anyone have a '63 with a vin number in between ours? Does it have high posts like the early 40s, or will it have low posts like my '64?

Edit: Just having some fun, but still curious as to when the high posts would have ended.

High post. I think we've established that mine was a late 62 though (even though it is a 63).
vintag.webp
 

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