- Location
- United States
For Sale 45 in Abq
- Thread starter bugsnbikes
- Start date
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I met the seller and looked at this rig earlier today. He seemed like a nice. I did not take any pictures but if anyone is seriously looking at this 45 and has questions please feel free to contact me.
I was looking at it for someone else and they decided to pass. Rust being the biggest issue, some of which the previous owner tried to fix with poor fiberglass patches. Cab is going to need a fair amount of metal work. The frame has surface rust but looked solid. The bed floor has a lot of wholes in it and would need replaced. Like i said if anyone would like more information let me know.
I was looking at it for someone else and they decided to pass. Rust being the biggest issue, some of which the previous owner tried to fix with poor fiberglass patches. Cab is going to need a fair amount of metal work. The frame has surface rust but looked solid. The bed floor has a lot of wholes in it and would need replaced. Like i said if anyone would like more information let me know.
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I have been emailing the guy, he sent me some poctures. From the pictures I can see it needs a bed, and floor boards. He never showed cab corners inside and out.
We know it has rust, but now my question is, mechanically is shot too? What if it needs a clutch, what if the gear box is no good, want if the 4x4 does not work, what if the rear end is bad, what about brakes, what about engine? Starts,? Smokes ? Engine noises? What can you tell me from what you saw, and would you even consider buying this rig for 7 k . I appreciate your comments.
You're not ready for a land cruiser. All those things are expected. $7k is cheap. If you want to jump in a $7k rig and drive it around, you should be looking at a hilux/mini truck. If you want a running/driving fj45 pickup take your $7k, bet it at 5:1 odds, win, and then buy one.
A friend of mine just bought a 78 for 6k in Utah running with less rust. Has a flat bed but super nice. There is always someone out there with the right truck at the right price. You just have to look. I have a 79 fj45 in my farm in Colombia and a 69 fj40 . Had 2 fj45s here in the states both bought under 7 k. Not ready?
To answer some of the questions that came up.
The areas on the truck that have bad rust and need metal replaced are both rockers inside and out both cab corners, and the whole floor pan on the driver side of the cab; I could not see the whole passenger side floor pan because of the gas tank. Both sides of the lower cowl under the kick vents will need metal work. The cab top lower back passenger side has some rust through and the roof on the drivers side is rusted through but patched with fiberglass. The bed floor needs replaced. The tailgate has a fair amount of rust also.
The truck started with starting fluid after a few tries and sounded good. I did not drive it so I can speak to the rest of the drive train. All the dash switches worked.
Who ever does buy this truck should recognize it is a project and will need work and money to get it back on the road. Just my opinion, it depends on what the buyer wants to do with it.
Personally I wouldn't pay 7K for it but part of that is because I have two projects I am working at the moment. Value is subjective and is up to the buy to determine what it is worth to them.
The areas on the truck that have bad rust and need metal replaced are both rockers inside and out both cab corners, and the whole floor pan on the driver side of the cab; I could not see the whole passenger side floor pan because of the gas tank. Both sides of the lower cowl under the kick vents will need metal work. The cab top lower back passenger side has some rust through and the roof on the drivers side is rusted through but patched with fiberglass. The bed floor needs replaced. The tailgate has a fair amount of rust also.
The truck started with starting fluid after a few tries and sounded good. I did not drive it so I can speak to the rest of the drive train. All the dash switches worked.
Who ever does buy this truck should recognize it is a project and will need work and money to get it back on the road. Just my opinion, it depends on what the buyer wants to do with it.
Personally I wouldn't pay 7K for it but part of that is because I have two projects I am working at the moment. Value is subjective and is up to the buy to determine what it is worth to them.
What you have in Columbia has nothing to do with the market in the US. Toyota stopped importing FJ45s of any type before the end of 1967 in the US. Even when they did import them it was in low numbers. Anything other then these made their way here later. What shape they are in is a mixed bag. A 78 in good shape for $6K is rare find otherwise your hunt would be over and you would be driving one. If you follow the 4X series market in the US you would notice the last few years prices are raising. Just because you bought a couple 45s in the past for under $7K doesn't mean that prices are the same now. If I had a farm in Columbia I would be searching down there for my 45 then import it here. Needs any work which seems to be a big concern to you labor is much cheaper in South America.
Think we would all like to see some pictures of your friends super nice 78. Little rust and flat bed, RHD from Australia or LHD from South America/Central America? Flatbeds are not common in Canada or the Middle East, two most likely other places it would be from.
Thanks for givimh me the how to find a 45 ......for Dummies ...
By the way is Colombia with an O. For your education.
This video is from the previous owner and shows the degree of rust from the outside of the cab. I looked at this a couple years ago when it was for sale in Connecticut for $5,000. I wish I could have bought it but it is way beyond my skill level. I'm fairly certain there hasn't been anything done to it since this video was uploaded.
Also, this one shows the bent tailgate:
Also, this one shows the bent tailgate:
Where's that rolleyes emoticon?