Advice! Im considering buying a 1980 Toyota Truck for $5000 (1 Viewer)

[Chachi254]

Hello all!

I’m a current FZJ80 owner and I’m in the process of acquiring a 1980 Toyota pickup from Oklahoma. I don’t know much about these trucks or the 3rd gen Toyota pickups in general and could use some advice and opinions about what I’m getting myself into! The seller is holding onto the pickup for me through next weekend and is telling people it’s sold while I get the cash together. He seems like a straight up dude.

Toyota

This is what I know:
- $5000 asking price
- 1980 Toyota Pickup 4x4
- 106k miles
- Nearly bone stock
- Repainted green over desert tan
- No rust
- Factory AC works but is weak
- No power steering
- Good tires
- All knobs, gauges, etc work
- No rust
- Body is straight aside from a few dings and scratches
- Clutch slips intermittently when towing
- Bolt-on bull bar
- Torn up seats with cover
- 4x4 works
- starts when Cold

I’m needing advice on:
1) whether the price is right
2) what questions to ask the seller
3) what to be aware of when test driving
4) can I make my money back?

 

[FJ 432]

Nice truck. My concerns would be the repaint and what did it cover up...or not. Records on maintenance but they are fun to drive and bullet proof.

I paid 10k last November for mine and it's a 1980 with 142k miles.

 

[Chachi254]

Nice truck. My concerns would be the repaint and what did it cover up...or not. Records on maintenance but they are fun to drive and bullet proof.

I paid 10k last November for mine and it's a 1980 with 142k miles.

What sort of shape was yours in when you bought it?

Anything obvious to look for on these? Thoughts on the price?

 

[Chachi254]

Here are more photos

 

[Pacer]

The rust is there, and it's tough to stop.
What's your plan for the truck?
Are the knuckles leaking, need rebuilding?
Does it come with stock wheels too?

Ashame about the repaint.

Ask for detail about the cab corners where the body mounts are...

 

[Chachi254]

The rust is there, and it's tough to stop.
What's your plan for the truck?
Are the knuckles leaking, need rebuilding?
Does it come with stock wheels too?

Ashame about the repaint.

Ask for detail about the cab corners where the body mounts are...

My plans are to clean it up and restore it, then drive it for a long time.

I'll ask about the knuckles, good thinking.

What do you mean about body-mounts?

 

[pappy]

View attachment 1758350

Anybody else having a problem with this picture?

 

[Chachi254]

View attachment 1758350

Anybody else having a problem with this picture?

What're you seeing that's making you weary?

 

[Pacer]

What're you seeing that's making you weary?

Looks like it's right hand drive

 

[pappy]

What're you seeing that's making you weary?

Dude, it's backwards/flipped.

Brake booster should be on the driver side. Fuel pump and fuel supply should be on the passenger side. Carb/intake should be on the passenger side. Distributor should be on the driver side. Battery should be on the passenger side. Should I keep going?

 

[Pacer]

View attachment 1758350

Anybody else having a problem with this picture?

Webber, no smog equipment....

 

[pappy]

Webber, no smog equipment....

I also see some bubba wiring.

 

[Pacer]

My plans are to clean it up and restore it, then drive it for a long time.

I'll ask about the knuckles, good thinking.

What do you mean about body-mounts?

Water sits under the mats/carpet/whatever and rots the cab corners, front and back, right where the body mounts attach.

 

[Chachi254]

Looks like it's right hand drive

I'm guessing the photo is just goofy, because the other photos show it as LHD. But I'll ask him.

Webber, no smog equipment....

Fortunately Nebraska doesn't have emissions or smog checks, so that's not a worry.

How easy is it to find replacement fenders/body parts for these?

 

[pappy]

Also, look at the brake reservoir. It's way low. Why? Better check the brakes.

 

[Pacer]

This was a $1500 truck till someone got wind of the Hipness of them.

 

[pappy]

How easy is it to find replacement fenders/body parts for these?

 

[Pacer]

I'm guessing the photo is just goofy, because the other photos show it as LHD. But I'll ask him.




Fortunately Nebraska doesn't have emissions or smog checks, so that's not a worry.

How easy is it to find replacement fenders/body parts for these?

Fenders, hood, grill are all available on the aftermarket.
The floors and bed sides are not!

 

[Chachi254]

Also, look at the brake reservoir. It's way low. Why? Better check the brakes.

Yeah, he said there's a brake line leak.

 

[Chachi254]

So what're the collective thoughts on value of this truck?