Hey guys. Batand new to the forum and this is my first post. My dad bought a 1977 fj40 in 1982. I was 5. It was his daily driver for several years. I learned to do oil changes general maintenance, clutch jobs, brakes, you name it, over the years. When I turned 16 she became mine. At 19, blame it on horomones and stupidity, I sold it. It took about 4 or 5 years to realize I made a mistake and regretted it ever since. I had a pretty good idea of where the guy I sold to lived. I kept my eye out in back yards and open garage doors for twenty years.
Recently I put a post on FB looking for info and if any one knew the guy I sold it to. After many months of chasing rabbits and talking with people I found him. Only then to find he had let it sit in his driveway after a move up until July 2016. He was moving and needs to get rid of some vehicles because of a lack of parking at his new residence.
So here is where it gets sad. He put a for sale sign in a ford ranger and a guy pulled in to look at it. After haggering a while they agreed on a price, but the only way the owner would honor that price was if the buyer agreed to take the fj as well. According to the owner he balked and didn't want it. It was full of rust and hadn't been started in decades. Reluctantly he agreed and had a roll back come get it.
Through much more interviewing, investigating, and interrogating I found the new owner. This was oct 16. So when I talked to the guy I had to tell him it was mine at one time and had tracked it down to him. So the story shifts gears and he lets me know that he had tried for 6 mos to get the original owner to sell it to him. He told me how rare they were and how hard it was to find parts but that it was also in terrible condition. I tried to schedule an appt to come see it and he's been busy with this and that. He told me he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with it yet. Meaning should he try and restore and really up his profit or sell it to me as is and pocket whatever I am willing to give.
Just from looking at the pictures I can tell it does have some cancer in the rear fenders and the rocker panels. It still has the original 2f with most likely the same oil in it as when it left my driveway 20 yrs ago. No top, no doors front or rear. He hasn't even tried to start it.
I can sit and pout about the fact that had I gotten to the original owner I could have gotten a much better deal and how this guy got it for free basically. However he has it now and I understand that he wants to make some money. He would never put a price on it nor commit to selling it but he did mention $4500 randomly.
The reason for this post is to see what it would be worth as is and what I should expect to pay for it and be fair for both buyer and seller.
The old picture is me sitting on the bumper with my dad. The other pics are in its current state and are about 3wks old from the date of this post.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
Recently I put a post on FB looking for info and if any one knew the guy I sold it to. After many months of chasing rabbits and talking with people I found him. Only then to find he had let it sit in his driveway after a move up until July 2016. He was moving and needs to get rid of some vehicles because of a lack of parking at his new residence.
So here is where it gets sad. He put a for sale sign in a ford ranger and a guy pulled in to look at it. After haggering a while they agreed on a price, but the only way the owner would honor that price was if the buyer agreed to take the fj as well. According to the owner he balked and didn't want it. It was full of rust and hadn't been started in decades. Reluctantly he agreed and had a roll back come get it.
Through much more interviewing, investigating, and interrogating I found the new owner. This was oct 16. So when I talked to the guy I had to tell him it was mine at one time and had tracked it down to him. So the story shifts gears and he lets me know that he had tried for 6 mos to get the original owner to sell it to him. He told me how rare they were and how hard it was to find parts but that it was also in terrible condition. I tried to schedule an appt to come see it and he's been busy with this and that. He told me he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with it yet. Meaning should he try and restore and really up his profit or sell it to me as is and pocket whatever I am willing to give.
Just from looking at the pictures I can tell it does have some cancer in the rear fenders and the rocker panels. It still has the original 2f with most likely the same oil in it as when it left my driveway 20 yrs ago. No top, no doors front or rear. He hasn't even tried to start it.
I can sit and pout about the fact that had I gotten to the original owner I could have gotten a much better deal and how this guy got it for free basically. However he has it now and I understand that he wants to make some money. He would never put a price on it nor commit to selling it but he did mention $4500 randomly.
The reason for this post is to see what it would be worth as is and what I should expect to pay for it and be fair for both buyer and seller.
The old picture is me sitting on the bumper with my dad. The other pics are in its current state and are about 3wks old from the date of this post.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice.
