For Sale 1976 frame off restored FJ45

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Hi everyone,
I'm selling a 1976 FJ45 complete frame off restored. There is a picture of it below. I also wanted mention that if anyone would like references of previous customers, I will provide them.

Here is the Ebay listing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyo...Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a2fe8337d#ht_500wt_1064

red FJ45 024.webp
 
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thinking more along the lines of dirty cutoffs, wife beater shirt, bald head and goatee ... maybe get a tatoo of a burning cruiser across the forehead
 
crushers said:
ever thought of writing a book?
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Is that a polite way of saying STFU and stop posting epically proportioned BS?

In the event it came across that anything I said regarding Crusher's credentials or any other aspect of qualifications, it was in humor, only.

Just make sure Wayne has Internet and email access, so I can still show my arse with periodic dumb questions.

By the way. I thought this was Chat. My apologies.
 
no, you misunderstand ...
i was saying you are eloquent in speech and can use big words properly.

not meant to be taken as STFU at all ...
 
1978HJ45 said:
Be sure to pack your 1980's Leisure Suit and your Bermuda Shorts and black shoes and socks. You will be a real chick magnet. :D
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I think all 3 of you should come down...you would keep me laughing the whole time and we've never get anything done...lol
 
Asdae said:
I think all 3 of you should come down...you would keep me laughing the whole time and we've never get anything done...lol
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I am actually the super intelligent, child prodigy type and Wayne would best be described as that "special child" my mother said to nice to. :D
I hate traveling especially in airplanes.
 
special is as special does ... Forest Gump

i will admit, you are above the rest of us. ... sometimes.
 
which is where this thread should be moved
but then, do we really care if there is chat happening?
 
I will be shipping in FJ's from Colombia shortly and will share my experience after seeing over 12 FJ's and Bj's in about a 12 day period in Medellin, Colombia. I picked a yellow one owner FJ that I will be shipping into Florida soon for personal use for my brother and a possible test run to sell for profit.

I prefer Colombia (south america) over Costa Rica (central america) to hunt for clean FJ's because Colombia has 50 million population and two large cities (8 million and 4 million) full of affluent locals who have preserved and restored FJ's.

Did I see poorly restored FJ's on my trip? Yes. I saw new paint over rust. I saw Home Depot bolts and screws where automotive fasteners should have been used.

You have to remember that with low labor costs 'body off' restoration can mean nothing or can mean something. I would liken it to they guy who does the body off restoration in his garage. HOWEVER, on this forum I have seen guys do a body off in their garage that was excellent and then sold the FJ for $50k.

This is the dilemma we face when buying.

I think you would be surprised that out of the 12 I saw I saw one that was original shiny paint and very nice and mine that I picked that was original owner with a body off restoration that I find to be high quality.

I will let you all judge. It the end the main issue is to learn the differences in quality (whether USA or imported) and not to misrepresent. A $15k FJ may have indeed had a body off restoration but the quality is not going to be there. I picked this yellow one that I find to be pretty high quality and I will price it accordingly once I am ready to sell it.

Another thing that I learned is that my next one I believe I will contract with a local Colombian with 20 yrs experience working on these FJ's and then require a high quality (maybe not auction house resale $50k quality) frame off restoration and then pay him accordingly and photo document and inspect his work.

I am hoping that by using lower cost yet high quality local labor I can produce a high quality restored vehicle at a good price.

I am sure the folks here will be the BEST judge of whether that is possible or not! I will post a few photos below of the yellow one that I plan on buying and importing.
 
This is the 1976 Colombian model FJ40. Came in a Colombian spec with front drums (owner converted to discs), 2F and 3 speed. Also came with no USA emissions, front bench seat, no roll bar and longer rear benches. Hard doors with vents (nice) and OEM style soft top. Documented same family ownership since 1976 and stored covered since forever. Original panels never replaced and never wrecked (my body guy to confirm).

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Comments?

DSCN0512.webp


DSCN0492.webp
 
More photos Colombian FJ restored

Here are some photos. I don't like the over spray on the brake pedal. The underside is super super clean. The other ones had years and layers of gunk sprayed underneath.

Does that floor panel look original? it does to me. Per owner the seats are original coverings.

DSCN0493.webp

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DSCN0493.webp


DSCN0489.webp


DSCN0501.webp
 
it looks worthy of its own thread ...
very clean from what i have seen ...
what kind of money?
the 3 speed will turn some off
the lack of roll bar will too

but

for me, i couldn't care if it had a roll bar or a 3 spd. i like original.
 
So again. This one was the best one I found out of 12. I am not an expert body or paint guy but i am a car enthusiast. I am hoping it is worth what I will have invested in it plus the shipping etc to make a profit.

The owner had all this work done. All I can say is he is an affluent Colombian business man and this was his father's car and is his baby. He wanted to keep it original and in great condition.

I am hoping that going forward I can find ones like this one and also buy clean original ones that need work and then hire a body shop guy to do the work to my standards. I will document the process to then help me sell the product to you picky gringos!

I found out very quickly that the half restored ones are not worth even looking at. I guess at a good price many people are happy with them to offroad or tool around at the beach. I personally don't really see how this works out business wise by the time you add the shipping costs. There seem to be plenty of OK FJ's in the USA for around $15k. (OK meaning fine not great).

I am probably going to be in the $20k to $30k range with the ones I want to ship.

In the end it is all about the condition (and hopefully also about original ownership in the case of this one).
 
I really was anxious about the 3 spd bec I had another one that had more modern mechanicals (it was a 1981) i think but this one was so much nicer and one family owned. I can actually install a 4 spd and want the commentary. I think in the end it is a bad idea. I don't want to hide that this lady is a Colombian beauty. That is what makes her unique!

I need to be $25k to $30k on this one. I really wanted to bring in a high quality one to start out and build excitement and generate a good reputation. I have regular non car guy friends that I wanted to show it off to and it seems to be working. I also have been in Colombia for four years and it is important to me to show that the people there really do love these vehicles and care for them.

I will post a thread soon but right now I have been quietly getting feedback on what changes to make. I think i have decided to keep it as stock as possible and focus on some of the small details that I really want get perfect.

In the future also I hope to be a source for those beautiful tops. I met an older gentlemen that makes them in his shop in Colombia. They have a hard time getting the metal bows too but the quality of the fabric beats anything that I have seen online.

The top on this one is about 85% perfect. I was tempted to change it but it is really nice.
 
So the plan is to have the Colombian mechanic go through her and touch up some engine detail and minor paint blemish issues. Thanks to a forum member here I am getting an old school dual shaft head unit and keeping the dash uncut. I plan to put five 31 inch AT tires on it and new shocks. The original suspension is clean and level. Oh. I need to get those original rims sanded and repainted as they are not as perfect perfect as they look.

Here in tampa bay i have a small toyota land cruiser specialist that will go through it too.

we will see. if no one wants it when we are done my brother and I plan to use it and learn more about these vehicles.
 
Affluent locals?

CHAS404 said:
I will be shipping in FJ's from Colombia shortly and will share my experience after seeing over 12 FJ's and Bj's in about a 12 day period in Medellin, Colombia. I picked a yellow one owner FJ that I will be shipping into Florida soon for personal use for my brother and a possible test run to sell for profit.

I prefer Colombia (south america) over Costa Rica (central america) to hunt for clean FJ's because Colombia has 50 million population and two large cities (8 million and 4 million) full of affluent locals who have preserved and restored FJ's.

Did I see poorly restored FJ's on my trip? Yes. I saw new paint over rust. I saw Home Depot bolts and screws where automotive fasteners should have been used.

You have to remember that with low labor costs 'body off' restoration can mean nothing or can mean something. I would liken it to they guy who does the body off restoration in his garage. HOWEVER, on this forum I have seen guys do a body off in their garage that was excellent and then sold the FJ for $50k.

This is the dilemma we face when buying.

I think you would be surprised that out of the 12 I saw I saw one that was original shiny paint and very nice and mine that I picked that was original owner with a body off restoration that I find to be high quality.

I will let you all judge. It the end the main issue is to learn the differences in quality (whether USA or imported) and not to misrepresent. A $15k FJ may have indeed had a body off restoration but the quality is not going to be there. I picked this yellow one that I find to be pretty high quality and I will price it accordingly once I am ready to sell it.

Another thing that I learned is that my next one I believe I will contract with a local Colombian with 20 yrs experience working on these FJ's and then require a high quality (maybe not auction house resale $50k quality) frame off restoration and then pay him accordingly and photo document and inspect his work.

I am hoping that by using lower cost yet high quality local labor I can produce a high quality restored vehicle at a good price.

I am sure the folks here will be the BEST judge of whether that is possible or not! I will post a few photos below of the yellow one that I plan on buying and importing.
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I appreciate you trying to further your business interests, everyone needs to eat. However, I wouldn't make Costa Rica sound like a poor country compared to Columbia. Yes it has a bigger population, but Columbia is poorer than Costa Rica. At $7,700 average yearly income for Columbia, I doubt there is a lot of affluent people running around. Costa Rica's is $9,900.
 
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