'67 FJ40: is this a good deal or not?

[scottm]

Local woman is selling her grandpa's FJ40. Her mom inherited it, sounds like mom has died and they're liquidating her estate.

It's got 30k on it, was only driven on grandpa's property up north in the summers. Looks repainted in the pics. Asking $5k. I'll go take a look if it sounds like a deal, after this blizzard passes. It's a bit of a drive.

I know nothing about classic LCs, may not be able to secure funding in our very uncertain financial situation. But I've got the bug, can't help myself. If I can assure my sweetie I can sell it without a loss if we fall off this cliff, I'll have a better chance of making it happen. Families are living in cars around here, I'm very nervous about doing anything like this.

 

[DSRTRDR]

looks to be in good shape and unmolested

are those red things seat belts ?

the sagging rear can easily be addressed with slightly longer shackles

be prepared for drum brakes....

if I was into OEM/resto, I would say price is close to reasonable

 

[scottm]

Thanks. I'm always hoping to come across that incredible deal I can't lose on. Isn't everyone? My bro-in-law was offered a woody last year for $20k, was getting offers over $100k within a week and had no intention of selling it.

I'll pass on this if it's not likely to be worth significantly more than the asking price, not a good time to be gambling on cars.

 

[D'Animal]

Too much paint on that rig to tell you what it is worth.

 

[DSRTRDR]

... if it's not likely to be worth significantly more than the asking price.....

ah so, you wanted to flip it

 

[scottm]

ah so, you wanted to flip it

You'd have to pry my fingers off it if I got it in my garage, same as my bro-in-law who still owns that woody. But, as I said, things are tenuous for us in the automotive biz. Foreclosed houses in my neighborhood, families living in their cars. My shop is pretty much out of work, but the owner keeps telling me I'm safe...scary. I've got kids. If it was in my garage right now I'd be thinking about what I could get for it if I had to, but I wouldn't have it for sale.

So, no flipping, but no purchasing unless it's a deal I can undo fairly easily if I no longer have a house to park it at. If I lose my job I lose my company car, an FJ40 for a DD in the winter?

 

[Hobbs]

If I found a 'Cruiser with 30k on the clock, I would take a really good look at it. Low mileage 'Cruisers are almost non-existent.

 

[yotaforce1]

Go for it...

So, no flipping, but no purchasing unless it's a deal I can undo fairly easily if I no longer have a house to park it at. If I lose my job I lose my company car, an FJ40 for a DD in the winter?[/quote]

yeah a 40'd do that easy. and the deal isn't amazing like your brother in law's but it is pretty goo for what i can tell on the pics.

if that thing has potential to be a DD right now it's a better deal than the one i was looking at.
1971 TOYOTALANDCRUISER LAND CRUISER. ORIG. OWNER !!

 

[saltrig]

The odometer could easily have reset after the first 100k. A car only used for 30k over 40 years, unless it was kept "out back" in the weather, wouldn't have needed that paint job. IMHO I'd hold off until you're in a better place financially. Anyone here will tell you these rigs are the farthest things from strictly sound investments--they tend to gobble up money not return 5% annually. If it was going for $800 or even $1000 I'd say go for it--deal of a lifetime. But 5k is a hunk of change your family might really need soon and tying it up in granddad's 40-year-old, farm mule with a suspect paint job might not be the best decision. The asking price may be reasonable but, no, it's not likely to be worth jackpot-more than that.

 

[Pete]

Too much paint on that rig to tell you what it is worth.

I have to agree. It looks like it could be an Earl Scheib (is he still around?) paint job where someone masked the windows and shot it all including the white fiberglass cap, the headlight surround, and even the front cross member. Worse yet, from the looks of the interior the exterior paint was not the original color. I can imagine what the door jambs look like. I don't think it's worth $5K myself. I'd also be leery of rust hidden by the paint-over so I'd inspect it very, very closely before making an offer.

I'd also be real suspicious of the 30K mileage, even if it was only driven on the old man's property unless he had pretty small property. The rig is over 40 years old so that figures out to something less than 750 miles per year.

I think it could be a good deal on a "classic" Cruiser but I would check it out very, very carefully. You're also right to be a little wary of turning something like this very quickly if you got in a bind and needed the funds. I also doubt you'll find a bank eager to loan you much on a rig that's probably too old to be in their "book".

 

[saltrig]

Not to mention it looks like gramps clobbered something with that passenger side bumper so the rig wasn't exactly being pampered.

 

[scottm]

Back like a bad penny, no price on it this time, appears it might've moved 20 miles.

 

[scottm]

Now that I look at the previous pics, I think that's the same garage. Anyone know what the part in (parenthesis) means?

 

[65swb45]

The thing that's REALLY TRIPPIN ME is that those look to be ORIGINAL TIRES!

Although I have a couple of sets of them, and have installed them for show, I have NEVER seen a rig up for sale with a set on them. Truly rare in that respect.

You will absolutely be 'stuck' with that rig at 5k IMO.

Best

Mark A.

 

[nick]

E-Bay
item 320340555861

 

[scottm]

E-Bay
item 320340555861

Thanks for finding that, kinda clears things up. When my job was more secure I might've jumped at that. Local Craigslist is filling with classics and project cars people are trying to unload. Hopefully this finds a good home.

 

[1979fj40]

Up to 5600. now and reserve not met. eBay Motors: Toyota : Land Cruiser (item 320340555861 end time Feb-21-09 19:04:19 PST)

 

[Dusty 66]

Defantly a repaint ,

Original Tires hub caps & seat covers, and the OEM RED seat belts!

 

[bsmith123]

springs

I am thinking you'd have to work her pretty hard to get those springs sagging like that in 30k miles. soooooo 130k? 230k?

IMHO the things that the owner might think are working for it ---like low mileage claims and the shiny paint are actually working against it

Still there could be a honest body hidden under that paint but you could only tell in person

Unless I saw the restore pics with it down to metal I'd rather have faded paint and a little honest rust showing

The nice thing is that it seems pretty complete for a restore

I like the duct tape on the seat --

If you knew the owner and the background then different story---You might leap at it then!

 

[Mr. Toad]

Someone beat you to the buy-and-flip. If those miles were original, 5k was a steal even in these times.

Edit: I did not look at the Ebay post or any pics that were not posted in the thread.