60 series value help

[Crazy E]

hello guys, I'm new and this is my first post so take it easy! This appears to be the group that has the knowledge I seek regarding my first purchase of an FJ60 and I apologize if I am changing the subject. I am not new to purchasing classic cars but am new to determining the value of an FJ60. I've attached some pitctures as the car is in pretty darn great condition.

pros - 125k miles, NO RUST, original everything but wheels, strong motor with no leaks. Paint is fantastic but clear coat is disappearing.

cons - needs a dash replacement and maybe new carpet. headliner is flawless.

Curious what it's worth as prices seem to be rising quickly for clean FJ60s

THANK YOU!

 

[g-man]

Assuming it still has the original 4 speed and is untouched other than a half baked stereo and aftermarket wheel and oversized tires that don't really match or give it much help. And assuming the underside is the same condition as the body I'd say 8k, maybe 10k if the paint were better. Its nice to see an unmolested vehicle but unfortunately prob minimal upgrades or maint has been done. We need pics of the engine compartment and the undersides. Are the springs original and worn out? Still have all the smog equipment? Original and cracking vacuum lines? Has the t-case been rebuilt? Were the knuckles ever rebuilt? This same truck with an ARB front bumper and winch, OME lift, toyota 5 speed would fetch another 4 to 5k.

 

[Crazy E]

Assuming it still has the original 4 speed and is untouched other than a half baked stereo and aftermarket wheel and oversized tires that don't really match or give it much help. And assuming the underside is the same condition as the body I'd say 8k, maybe 10k if the paint were better. Its nice to see an unmolested vehicle but unfortunately prob minimal upgrades or maint has been done. We need pics of the engine compartment and the undersides. Are the springs original and worn out? Still have all the smog equipment? Original and cracking vacuum lines? Has the t-case been rebuilt? Were the knuckles ever rebuilt? This same truck with an ARB front bumper and winch, OME lift, toyota 5 speed would fetch another 4 to 5k.

I'm going to have to find out about the vacuum lines, as well as the t-case and knuckles rebuild. But there is no sag, has original smog equipment I believe, and the suspension feels tight as a drum to me. I would imagine maybe a new power steering pump with those over sized tires. I see about $3k of work (not including new clear coat) to make this fairly cherry. Has original bumpers we well. Thank you for the reply and all imput is helpful. What does someone have to spend to get a turnkey, low mileage FJ60?

 

[Shes Mad]

It’s a lot easier if you just say what they are asking, and we can go from there instead of playing guess the value

 

[Crazy E]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to play any games, rather get an uninfluenced opinion. But to answer your request, They are firm on $19,500. A friend of mind that builds a lot of these says that its much cleaner than the pics show and felt it would be worth $24K cleaned up and $28-$30k after interior is gone through (seats redone, new carpet and dash repaired/replaced) He estimated $3k, not including wheels/tires and paint clear coat.

 

[g-man]

Go here: FJ60 | FJ62 | BJ60 | HJ61

and study some of the sold 60's to see what is realistic.

 

[Crazy E]

Go here: FJ60 | FJ62 | BJ60 | HJ61

and study some of the sold 60's to see what is realistic.

I will look at that now. Thank you

 

[Shes Mad]

My 2cents-19,500 is pretty strong. Probably closer to that if you do everything you listed, short of the paint

 

[NCFJ]

@Crazy E you pose a valid question with no firm answer. The 60/62 market is really starting to expand outside the boundaries of "Cruiser Heads". My OPINION, that truck would sit on CL for months at that price in this part of the country, SE. That may be quite different in northern CA.

I'll assume the truck needs typical base line maintenance, I'd not pay more than $10K, if that for that truck. Keep in mind that I am a cheap Cruiser Head and accustomed to times when all the rage were 40s and folks wheeled 80s because they were cheap for what you got. The 60/62 series were an orphan step child in the middle that sold for peanuts. Mot any more.

Also my OPINION, the 60/62 has caught on in the mainstream classic auto market. I believe that it will follow the direction the rest of the main stream market is going, Resto Mods. People want old cars and trucks that run and drive like modern vehicles. The market is wide open for 60/62 that fill the bill. There is a market for true restorations as well. Point being, most trucks on the market now are candidates for one or the other, very few out there are "done" . Paying top dollar now for a "survivor" would be a bad investment. Once again OPINION

 

[erse]

Everything @NCFJ said is spot on except maybe a he is a little low on the value .

Subject to a 150 more pics showing good rust free condition and a clean engine bay I would figure the value around 14k. As @Shes Mad points out the asking price is more akin with a vehicle that had been rehabbed a little.

Are you buying it to use or to fix and flip? Depending on your perspective value can be colored different ways

 

[John Staton]

Having bought one about a year ago (82, 150K, rebuilt engine, stock, good paint) for 13K...I would say it would probably be worth something in the 14-15K. Now you are in Ca so that changes things by a few thousand in most cases. Not an awesome deal deal by any means at $19K...probably at the hipster price already. I would think you could do better. Dont be scared to buy a few states away and have it shipped. You could get one in similar condition for $13K and have it shipped to you for $600, throw a H55 in it and have a 5 speed for what you are looking to pay for that one.

 

[Crazy E]

@NCFJ, @Ersa and @John Staton,

Thank you all so much for the input. What I was originally looking for was a FJ40 that was “Resto mod ” if I’m understanding the term correctly. I’m looking for a vehicle that I drive on special occasions and is a head turner and conversation piece. I used to have a 72’ FJ 40 and would like another one, but now I’m in a position to spend more than $900! I made contact with a buddy of mine regarding help finding a clean FJ, and he mentioned that he had a friend that was selling a 60 that had the best body he’d seen in a long time and that prices in these were skyrocketing. So I got distracted!
Again, THANK YOU all so much for the education. I do have a loaded question about the “resto mod”. Does that mean that updates/upgrades such as V8 engine swaps in 40’s make them undesirable? I just want to “park” my money in my garage and enjoy a toy rather than earn 1/2 of one present in interest LOL. Before I get blasted maybe I should move over to the 40 series forum and continue my education there.

Eric

 

[Willard]

Was this every repainted. From my recollection the FJ60 has a single stage paint meaning no clear coat. So if your clear coat is pealing, then maybe it was repainted at some pint.

 

[BlackCat]

Not to keep posting pics of my truck, but I just bought one about a month ago. It’s an 83, 122k, one recent driver quality repaint in its original color. The seats are perfect (even the drivers) the carpet is new, the head liner is new, etc. Totally original down to the factory radio. Arizona truck. It needs tires, the springs are flat, and the dash is cracked, but I haven’t seen one in AZ that didn’t have a cracked dash. I paid $8k for it, it appraised at $20k.

 

[Gretsch]

Every time I see one of these valuation posts I always think the same thing. I don't think it can be understated here that seeing a low mileage truck like this almost guarantees nothing has been done to it. They continue to run so owners have no need to do anything with them and typically don't. The cost of replacing old hoses and vacuum lines will surprise you in itself. $19,500 is out of sight for something like this IMO and like @NCFJ says it will probably sit on CL for months at that price, even being in Cali. Better deals can be had I assure you. No doubt the seller browsed Ebay and CL and saw the money folks were asking. As an example my '84 came in around half of what they are asking here, with a rear main replacement, new clutch, clutch master, all new AC system, rebuilt carb, etc. Mine had slightly higher miles but things had been done to the truck I did not have to fool with and for half the price. Mine might not be as good as this one but its pretty close. Slide over to AZ or Nevada and see whats there.

I know the trend for 60 series pricing is going higher and higher but its going that way because of the idea that these are rare to find in the condition shown in the photos, and that some folks actually pay that sort of money for them. A quick browse through the classifieds here would show you there are more economical options available. The reality is while 60 series are super cool, they are super limited and you will pay all that money for a vehicle that is underpowered and slow, will require tons of time, money, and effort on your part I don't care what condition its in now, I promise you if you do right by the truck, you will put even more money into it after the sale. Not trying to hammer on the 60 series at all. Just being real.

Are you buying it to use or to fix and flip? Depending on your perspective value can be colored different ways

This is an important question with regards to how to approach valuation.

Don't let the lure of a perfect rust free FJ60 dictate what you will pay. I promise there are many more just like this out there.

 

[Crazy E]

well, seeing the @BlackCat FJ60 posted sure helps the argument. That red is beautiful! And yes, thats a great question regarding use. I'm buying it to USE, "lightly". My goal is not to flip, but to know that if i had to sell, I wouldn't lose my A$$. As for fixing, I don't feel like having to make huge repairs right out of the gate, however, I do love wrenching on older vehicle, they make me feel like a good mechanic lol. Simple maintinance on an older vehicle that I can drive on sundays would be awesome. You guys are making me answer all the right questions and appreciate it.

 

[NCFJ]

"Resto Mod" basically combines qualities of a true Restoration with Modifications that make it a better driver in today's traffic stream. The Mods can be from mild to wild and include suspension modifications, brake and steering upgrades, bigger wheels and tires, power train up grades or full swaps, interior and paint. The end goal is a vehicle that is dependable enough to be a DD. In short, people do not want to park them in the barn, they want to drive their classics. Across the automotive board people are having Resto Mods built by the thousands today. Land Cruisers are a very small niche among them.


The big draw back for most with these trucks is lack of power and antiquated smog systems. I think that the guy that puts a full package together putting something like a Holley Sniper EFI, intake and exhaust manifolds, high power distributor and required related gear for the 6 will have a well worn path beat to his door. A well built 62 with that set up and a 5 speed would be a dream truck.

 

[erse]

If you want a decent intro to the 60 series buy this one

For Sale - 1982 FJ60 dubbed Buster Brown

Well documented repairs/maintenance and possibly half the price of the one you were looking at. If you haven't owned a 60 before I would try to get in at a lower price point than the blue one. You may or may not love it and honestly I don't think you would lose money on this one. The blue one I'm not so sure

 

[tstockto]

I would totally buy Buster Brown if it wasn't desmogged. Living in the people's republic of california makes that a problem. OP location shows norcal so I would assume that's a no-go for him as well.

Lots of opinions here, and I'd mostly agree that 19.5 is high for this. But probably not that high.

As someone who is about a year into owning their first land cruiser (1989 FJ62 w/ 280k miles), I'll throw my 3 cents in: There's no fool proof way to value these trucks. None of them are alike in condition after 30+ years. And even a fully documented truck still will have issues. Prior to purchasing, I had the truck I purchased "inspected" by a supposed reputable cruiser specialist shop... not even close to what I've had to do to bring it back to acceptable driving condition. It is exceptionally easy to spend $10k fixing all the neglected things on a "clean rust-free" truck. I have receipts to prove that.

All that said, I don't regret over-paying for my truck. I definitely couldn't sell it for what I have into it right now, but that was never the idea. The family has fun with it and I have something to distract me from the rat race.

If i were in the market today for a "clean" FJ60/62, I'd just add $10k to whatever the selling price of the truck is and ask myself if I'm OK with spending that much. if yes, and you're not looking to flip, go for it.

 

[NCFJ]

Something about the 60/62 series, they are a victim of their own success in a way. In line with the LC tradition the 60/62 are over built tanks of the era. Four door SUV on a heavy truck frame with leaf springs and 4X4. Early models with a manual 4 speed and later with an automatic. The latter appealing to soccer moms of the day. The problem, they were so well built a great many had minimal maintenance over the years. "The thing just kept on going so the family kept it".

Think of when they were built, in the 80s, EPA regulations were going wild and manufacturers where doing all sorts of weird things to meet new regs. The results were de tuned trucks lacking in power, like every other car and light truck on the market.

In many cases, a combination of both is what you are buying. Overall, very few have been brought back, either restored or modified to full daily driver reliability. It's happening at shops and private garages all over the country but the supply of trucks that are turn key and ready to go for 10 plus years are few and far between.