Vendor 1978 FJ43 available for purchase $30,000

Location

United States

Truck is in Colombia. I do not own this truck yet.

I am working on my 9th truck down in Colombia since starting the business a year ago. This is a great candidate FJ43 and I would love to make it my 10th truck.

I am finishing a 1974 FJ43 in Heath Grey pre-sold to a client in Florida. Also working on my 1982 FJ43 that I am probably going to send to the auctions.

I just was offered this great 1978 FJ43 in red. I do NOT OWN it yet as I have too many trucks in process. However, the truck is available and at my shop in Colombia.

For $30,000 you get the truck in Tampa, FL with all import fees paid.... I drove the truck and my mechanic and body man looked it over (we turned away 3 FJ43s in one month so far so we only pick the nice ones)...

1978 FJ43 in red (need to confirm it is original color)... gas tank in the cabin...

Power steering looks to be original or atleast Toyota parts (steers perfect)
new AC (no heat)
new interior with nice custom vinyl floor mat system
power windows
floors have been repaired and then texture painted but looks straight and solid
body man believes it is a new tub
truck painted black underneath (also under the fenders in black)
paint is decent and shiny needs a polish. not perfect paint ( I can paint the truck in PPG paint if you like as an option)
4 speed H41 transmission and 4.11 gears
hubs are newer AVM (I will review them and replace them if needed. I now use AISIN hubs)
brakes 4 drums seemed fine
has a nice fiberglass top paint matched.
I will include a "surfrunner" open sided top that I am now doing ( I can do a full Toyota soft top or a pickup soft top as an option)
I do a full mechanical review of my trucks. New shocks, new exhaust, 5 new tires, brakes checked, 4x4 checked etc.
I would do 5 7.50 x 16 tires on those rims or we can do another option or discount

A $10,000 deposit to Volcan 4x4, LLC secures the truck. We can do a series of deposits with a hold
back until you take delivery.

I just did the grey FJ43 for a client. Deposit was early June and the truck should arrive Florida early August so figure 2 months or so. Price was $30,000. We did some paint work and new AC. Great truck.

This red truck does not need that much. To be perfect I would be tempted to repaint it. I am pretty close to firm price at $30,000.

 

[CHAS404]

I really should remove this post and will if i can figure it out. Then again maybe I should hog the limelight a bit as I bought my 5th FJ43 this year. I am pretty certain that my company will number one importer of FJ43s for 2014 with 5 FJ43 trucks imported and sold. The caveat I will put on that is 'restored and left hand drive'.

This 1978 FJ43 in the post I have passed on for now. It is missing the data plate which is not a huge issue just causes me hassle to import it and later register it in Florida.

I sold the red 81 FJ43 in the avatar along with the 74 FJ43 in Grey. Loved that truck. Here is the truck where
it won a little trophy at a local Florida event.

Right now working on a 1982 FJ43 in red. Going hard top plus some other options. I delayed the truck as I see the market going up for these at the auctions. We are doing an extensive repaint, all new interior and the mechanical overhaul that all the trucks get. Hoping for $60,000 but we will see. This truck is nearly frame off condition. The later models like the 82 are getting harder and harder to find. I must have turned away 5 of them. This one has original floors but has a replacement, strong 2F. Tires get changed and ofcourse gets a new exhaust.

 

[CHAS404]

The Marina Blue 1978 FJ43 is the most original truck I have bought so far (I have bought 10 this year). Seller sells two owner and only 82,000km or 51,000 miles but my mechanic really thinks it probably rolled over on the odometer and thus I am going to say 182,000 km or 113,000 miles. that is still very low for Land Cruiser. The condition supports that. It was repainted recently and nicely done but we are going over it more thoroughly and detailing the engine. Again rust free original floors and original motor this time. We are doing paint touch up and the truck gets a full soft top and 5 new 7.50 x 16 tires. I think this is going to be a heartbreaker at the auction (mostly for me if I sell as I love this color!). Again asking $60,000. A highly restored 1972 FJ43 just hit $110,000 at auction in California and while these trucks are not frame off trucks I want to see what the market will bring for them.

This blue one has the original jack and the tool kit too! Interior is mostly all original too. Radio delete plate.

We are going to do as little to it as we can in this case.

 

[CHAS404]

Back to reality I just bought this truck for a client for under $40,000. Under deposit. 1979 FJ43 in Olive with added disc brakes and 5 speed. This is a very good find via word of mouth and I believe the client is going to get a great deal. We should deliver this one by November. Love the color and can not wait to try the 5 speed out.

Again we put 30 days into this one including paint work, new interior and new AC among other things like mechanical review.

 

[CHAS404]

Couple more photos of the red 82 FJ43 that will go to the auctions. All original floors that we put a lot of time into (well Carlos did! Thanks to Carlos). I pulled the tan seats out as they were too high for me and I did not like the look. We reinvested into this truck and found the original bench seats. The interior will be charcoal closer to original Toyota elephant hide.

I think this truck is going to surprise some people. I think we have it back to where it should be. It is getting alot of options too including roll hoop (one roll bar to allow securing the front seat belts and tightens up the ride a bit. It has a custom 2 inch lift with 32 inch tires ( I am pulling the runway ATs and going with an MT ). A small heat and AC unit and a decent stereo. Has the hard top. A 'surfrunner' open soft top and getting a special soft top laid out like a pickup truck. These will be future options for future trucks.

Cant wait to FINISH it as it has been delayed too too long.

 

[camiloaa]

60k for a non frame of restoration? uhhhmmm I am going to start selling these....

 

[Gun Runner 5]

Back to reality I just bought this truck for a client for under $40,000. Under deposit. 1979 FJ43 in Olive with added disc brakes and 5 speed. This is a very good find via word of mouth and I believe the client is going to get a great deal. We should deliver this one by November. Love the color and can not wait to try the 5 speed out.

Again we put 30 days into this one including paint work, new interior and new AC among other things like mechanical review.

View attachment 937787

If it's going to a fellow Mudder you should ask him to share his experiences with the Cruiser after it's delivered.

 

[CHAS404]

Never sold a truck to a Mudder. Would love to. Most just comment on my pricing (negatively) while I work away. I have sold 5 trucks so far and 3 of them went to a Los Angeles, California dealer who wants to buy more. My 1979 Nissan Patrol was picked by Hemming's staff as their Pick of the Day. It went on to sell in the $30,000 range making it the highest priced Nissan Patrol ever sold to date in the USA.

I just delivered this beautiful 1974 FJ43 to my first retail client. Truck was overhauled to her specifications and delivered to her within 75 days. No complaints as of yet. Truck was $30,000. Very nice frame on restoration/ overhaul that took about 30 days. Truck got new AC. All new paint inside and outside. She took it on a 300 mile trip after buying it in 95 degree heat with AC running (I confess I was a nervous Nelly!). Arrived no issues. I would argue that for $30,000 in the Land Cruiser world having a ONE of a kind FJ43 in one of a kind Heath Grey represents a value. Very proud of that truck.

 

[CHAS404]

$60,000 for an extensively restored 1982 FJ43 with options I believe is within range. A nice but unrestored 1980 FJ43 just sold at Mecum for $38,000. Frame off sales have gone from $80,000 to now recently $110,000. When this truck hits the market it will the only one on the market anyhow.

I am finishing my second frame off on a 1961 FJ40 but it will probably be my last frame off for a while.

As I learn the business I really personally prefer starting with a higher quality truck then comprehensively restoring it to the best quality we can do without tearing it completely apart. I believe the trucks drive better in the end and retain more of their character.

Obviously there are business reasons as we can do a frame on in about 60 days or so versus a frame off in 120 days.

This 1982 FJ43 is my first attempt to see how far we can push the quality on a frame ON.

Please note we disassembled the truck nearly completely with the exception of the main tub/ rear tub and did not pull the motor. All parts painted in a paint booth by a painter with over 25 years experience. All products are PPG. May switch to Dupont. All the mechanical thoroughly overhauled (no rebuilt motor).

It is a learning process indeed but this truck is going to turn out well.

 

[CHAS404]

Truck is getting CLOSE to finished. This truck ships with AC/heat full painted hard top, that surfrunner open sided soft top and a special pickup soft top. There is also a surprise option coming too. Truck has custom 2 inch lift and rides fantastic on 32 inch tires. I need to switch those great riding but non name brand tires probably to Mickey Thompson AT probably. I want to do MT for looks but the truck rides so well on the new lift and 5 inch longer wheelbase from the FJ43. We had the 16 x 7 inch hilux wheels custom made with original Toyota 15 inch centers and repro hubcaps.

The later model FJ43s are becoming higher priced, more scarce and lower quality overall. I turned away atleast 3 other ones after buying this one. Thus I decided to reinvest into this truck and go higher market with it.

FYI I am working 7 days a week between two countries. It is 90 degrees in the shade down here and the paperwork issues are beyond frustration. This is no different than any other business start up if it were that easy everyone would be doing it. I hope once I get 2014 under my belt it will indeed get easier/smoother.

The good thing is I enjoy this work and hope to meet my goals. Hope to do 10 to 15 trucks in 2014.

I appreciate all comments whether positive or critical. It gives me an outlet to post and people like to see the different trucks that we have down here.