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For Sale 1976 frame off restored FJ45
- Thread starter Asdae
- Start date
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ass most of my customers have found, once you start into a refurbishment ... where do you stop? where do you want to start cutting corners to meet the budget?
i do hope you succeed as i have customers for really, really clean 40s and 70s.
i do hope you succeed as i have customers for really, really clean 40s and 70s.
Delancy. I disagree to some extent.
In the end true it is about mechanical and body quality. However, if a future buyer has the idea that all of these vehicles have been run for commercial use for their entire lives and given a local spit and shine 'restoration' then obviously it makes it hard to sell them.
I have found a one family owner vehicle in Medellin that has been cared for nearly 4 decades. It proves the point I am trying to make (atleast I hope it does. i am sending a body man to review it now). It is not a $50k barret jackson vehicle. I am hoping it is a $25k to $30k vehicle with a good story and history.
More candidates from affluent owners = better quality product to choose from.
As far as misperception regarding Colombia the change is already happening as more people discover the country for both business and tourism.
Costa Rica is proof of this as it is a very popular destination for US travelers. It is simply further ahead of Colombia in that regard.
In the end true it is about mechanical and body quality. However, if a future buyer has the idea that all of these vehicles have been run for commercial use for their entire lives and given a local spit and shine 'restoration' then obviously it makes it hard to sell them.
I have found a one family owner vehicle in Medellin that has been cared for nearly 4 decades. It proves the point I am trying to make (atleast I hope it does. i am sending a body man to review it now). It is not a $50k barret jackson vehicle. I am hoping it is a $25k to $30k vehicle with a good story and history.
More candidates from affluent owners = better quality product to choose from.
As far as misperception regarding Colombia the change is already happening as more people discover the country for both business and tourism.
Costa Rica is proof of this as it is a very popular destination for US travelers. It is simply further ahead of Colombia in that regard.
Crusher. Do people know about the 70s in the US?
They are personally my favorite. While not as classic as the 40s being 6 foot 3 I really fit better in a 70. They also have the more modern hwy drivetrain etc.
They are available in Colombia but we need to wait just a bit as the 1990s hit the 25 year export mark. The locals LOVE the 70s and thus the local resale value is still high.
They are personally my favorite. While not as classic as the 40s being 6 foot 3 I really fit better in a 70. They also have the more modern hwy drivetrain etc.
They are available in Colombia but we need to wait just a bit as the 1990s hit the 25 year export mark. The locals LOVE the 70s and thus the local resale value is still high.
I love the 70s
I personally prefer these especially when we can import the later 4.5 liter 212 hp models!
they are much loved in Colombia and called carevacas (cow face) or narcojeeps (oh well what was I saying about changing the perception of Colombia????).
They were much loved by Escobar's men bec of their power going up the mountain roads.
There are many well cared for ones in Colombia. More so even than the 40s.
I found a guy that can do the custom soft tops.
I personally prefer these especially when we can import the later 4.5 liter 212 hp models!
they are much loved in Colombia and called carevacas (cow face) or narcojeeps (oh well what was I saying about changing the perception of Colombia????).
They were much loved by Escobar's men bec of their power going up the mountain roads.
There are many well cared for ones in Colombia. More so even than the 40s.
I found a guy that can do the custom soft tops.
well, yes, there is a nitch market for the 70s in the US, i am in Canada
the 70 series (up to 1990) share the exact same drivetrain as the old 42 series. leafs, diff gearing (and most parts) engine choices, tranny, t/case ... almost same dimensions .... basically a 42 with different sheet metal (the 70 did get rid of the POS center pivot box in the steering).
the 70 series started in 1985 and are available for export to the US already.
i think the biggest hurdle for you and Angel will be the cost of vehicles in central and south america. i have been shopping and once you find a really clean unit there, the purchasing cost, plus shipping and profit really restricts the potential buyers to those with deeper pockets.
and heaven forbid you ever buy a LJ or KZJ unit.
the 70 series (up to 1990) share the exact same drivetrain as the old 42 series. leafs, diff gearing (and most parts) engine choices, tranny, t/case ... almost same dimensions .... basically a 42 with different sheet metal (the 70 did get rid of the POS center pivot box in the steering).
the 70 series started in 1985 and are available for export to the US already.
i think the biggest hurdle for you and Angel will be the cost of vehicles in central and south america. i have been shopping and once you find a really clean unit there, the purchasing cost, plus shipping and profit really restricts the potential buyers to those with deeper pockets.
and heaven forbid you ever buy a LJ or KZJ unit.
gasser 70s don't sell that well ...
this is one of mine:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/bj70-hzj73-hzj75/587125-1987-bj70-soft-top-31-000-km.html
this is one of mine:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/bj70-hzj73-hzj75/587125-1987-bj70-soft-top-31-000-km.html
yes i saw that about the 70 model. not many americans know about them thus not a big resale market. and in colombia the 40s are going out of style for local market while the 70s with big tires etc are still attractive. Colombia does not have too many diesels either.
I want to say I saw a few 1986 models but they were indeed asking maybe $8k to $10k or so.
the market for now is FJ40 and the Colombian model FJ43 which to me is super cool. All the FJ45 pick ups I have seen have been used with stake beds for commercial use.
I think Angel (asdae) may be able to find more diesels and more personal use FJ45s in CR.
oh. same seems true for the FJ55 which I love but i dont see high resale. plus rare anyhow in colombia.
By the time you add shipping and costs to run around and find one in my mind you have to be in the higher resale about $20K or so.
Plus i want to send the better ones so that word of mouth can spread.
Asdae is right though in this regard... There is a sea of LHD FJs/BJs down there to choose from.
I think more options for the landcruiser community is better than less.
The devil is in the details.
I hope I can just get my first one in and see what you all think.
I want to say I saw a few 1986 models but they were indeed asking maybe $8k to $10k or so.
the market for now is FJ40 and the Colombian model FJ43 which to me is super cool. All the FJ45 pick ups I have seen have been used with stake beds for commercial use.
I think Angel (asdae) may be able to find more diesels and more personal use FJ45s in CR.
oh. same seems true for the FJ55 which I love but i dont see high resale. plus rare anyhow in colombia.
By the time you add shipping and costs to run around and find one in my mind you have to be in the higher resale about $20K or so.
Plus i want to send the better ones so that word of mouth can spread.
Asdae is right though in this regard... There is a sea of LHD FJs/BJs down there to choose from.
I think more options for the landcruiser community is better than less.
The devil is in the details.
I hope I can just get my first one in and see what you all think.
I would be more than happy to prove my point but will hypothesize, in lieu of a structured experiment.
If 100 Americans were asked what their first word associated thoughts were, regarding the terms "Medellin coffee hauler", or merely "Medellin" itself, it would be safe to say that "beautiful, wealthy Colombian city" or even "Colombian city" would be the response of 10, maybe 20% tops.
Unfortunate, but irrelevant to your interest.
Unrestored Cruisers that's condition is accurately represented will be the key to success, in my opinion.
It's RHD otherwise I'd have already have hit you up, even though I have entirely too much on my plate already.
I'm one of the few that don't want a diesel.
Not Americans that need to know.
Only us.
Now we're talking.
Pigs are rare here because most have rusted into the earth they were abandoned on.
Restoration is a huge PITA because there are literally no components available, nor aftermarket support.
The higher quality restorations or unrestored have been seeing higher sale prices, but it's only beloved by a smaller crowd.
That said, there was a recent eBay sale that blew me a way and the rarity of restorable 55s leads me to believe that they're going to exponentially more valuable as time goes on.
the more rare, the more they are worth ... to the right person. you just have to be willing to wait for that right person to come along.
it was the difficulty of getting parts that made me sell my 55 years ago. i love the ugly look, the basic human comfort that was supplied (none), the echo sounding interior ... then i found my first 4 door 77/78 and realized this is a 55 once it shed it cacoon shell.
it was the difficulty of getting parts that made me sell my 55 years ago. i love the ugly look, the basic human comfort that was supplied (none), the echo sounding interior ... then i found my first 4 door 77/78 and realized this is a 55 once it shed it cacoon shell.
then i found my first 4 door 77/78 and realized this is a 55 once it shed it cacoon shell.
I can only hope there's enough time to complete the Three Little Pigs before those are legit here.
...."Who in the US wants to buy a broken down coffee hauler?" .......
You might be better served to start your own thread. This one is veering off into some uncharted territory and is basically unfair to the person who started the thread.
My .02 worth.
You might be better served to start your own thread. This one is veering off into some uncharted territory and is basically unfair to the person who started the thread.
My .02 worth.
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Delancy I will agree with your assessment that out of 100 americans maybe 90 will judge Medellin and Colombia with thoughts of stereotypical drug movies and Escobar.
FYI those 90 would be wrong in their assessment. Escobar has been dead for over 25 years.
The TRUTH is Medellin is a beautiful and growing city in a country with a 5% GDP.
The city just closed out its Feria season (including classic car parade) and has been voted 2013 most innovative city in the world for its improvements.
There are more luxury condos going up than in Miami.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/po...ia-medellin-named-world-most-innovative-city/
FYI those 90 would be wrong in their assessment. Escobar has been dead for over 25 years.
The TRUTH is Medellin is a beautiful and growing city in a country with a 5% GDP.
The city just closed out its Feria season (including classic car parade) and has been voted 2013 most innovative city in the world for its improvements.
There are more luxury condos going up than in Miami.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/po...ia-medellin-named-world-most-innovative-city/
i don't judge countries by media reputation, i judge countries by their people.
the media shows US to be a bully country, i meet the Yanks and i find them (mostly) very down to earth and friendly ... maybe a bit materialistic but still good people.
the media shows Canadians to be meek and mild ... sadly this is very true.
the media shows US to be a bully country, i meet the Yanks and i find them (mostly) very down to earth and friendly ... maybe a bit materialistic but still good people.
the media shows Canadians to be meek and mild ... sadly this is very true.
http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/01/20/travel/i-just-got-back-from-medellin.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
I guess I am alone in this but I believe that overcoming stereotypes in quality etc aids the sales of a product.
If tourists are not afraid to travel to CR any more and are starting to travel to Colombia then tourism flourishes.
People walk into a their local grocery store and buy the "colombian coffee" at a premium every day. I see no reason why that will not be so for Colombian FJs.
The vehicles are already being exported out of CR and Colombia already. I think that by overcoming some of the barriers and misperceptions adds value to the buyer's experience and offers the buyers more choices.
Buyers on this forum are already looking to far away states to find the FJ that they want in the original color that they want and struggling with ebay and photos etc.
Purchasing in CR or Colombia is no different. I hope to overcome those barriers if this works out.
I appreciate all the commentary.
I guess I am alone in this but I believe that overcoming stereotypes in quality etc aids the sales of a product.
If tourists are not afraid to travel to CR any more and are starting to travel to Colombia then tourism flourishes.
People walk into a their local grocery store and buy the "colombian coffee" at a premium every day. I see no reason why that will not be so for Colombian FJs.
The vehicles are already being exported out of CR and Colombia already. I think that by overcoming some of the barriers and misperceptions adds value to the buyer's experience and offers the buyers more choices.
Buyers on this forum are already looking to far away states to find the FJ that they want in the original color that they want and struggling with ebay and photos etc.
Purchasing in CR or Colombia is no different. I hope to overcome those barriers if this works out.
I appreciate all the commentary.
I think I have beaten this hijacked thread to death! thanks all for comments. I will post a new thread of my own in a few days. Good luck to Angel?/Asdae shipping out some CR cruisers.
Perception at 9/10ths is law.....in public opinion.
No need to convince anyone, for your purposes of importation.
Sincerest apologies to the OP, whom I wish great success on endeavors.
When will this be moved to Chat, where it belongs?
Two points on this subject.
First, do you know anything about the stereotypes overcame by the producer of the very vehicle you're selling?
The geopolitical climate at the time that Toyota's were being introduced into the USA were not conducive for sales of any Japanese product and those same stereotypes are still present, though not based in that era, sixty eight years later.
Two. The product sells itself and you've a captive audience if the fit and finish is marketable and what the US market can sustain.
Colombia produces coffee.
Colombia did not produce the Land Cruiser, therefore the comparison to the value of the "Colombian Coffee" has little merit beyond a buyer's statement as to the source.
You may have a greater pool to choose from, that I can only speculate, but there's no inherent quality difference based on geographical regions, alone.