Am I totally nuts, or just plain stupid?

[78crzr]

I drove a 1985 FJ60 this afternoon with 33,xxx original miles, and a brand new 2F with 4000 miles on it. The PO had it at a 2nd home in Santa Fe and rarely drove it. Engine ran into bearing problems as a result of sitting, and the current owner had to replace the engine shortly after he bought it. Replaced by Toyota here in Houston, to the tune of $7700.00 - saw the receipt. He had it sanded down to the metal and repainted, for which I saw a receipt for $8,000.00 (sounds damn high, but true). The interior is as clean as my 05 Tahoe with not a flaw in it anywhere. All emissions intact, cooling fan, etc. Drove nicer than any other I've ever driven. It is, for lack of a better description, a time capsule 60. Now for the insane part...Am I nuts for considering paying $15,500 for it? He has $33,000 in it with the purchase price he paid and rebuilds, repaint, tires, shocks, 30,000 mile service, etc., and receipts to prove it. Even if he paid what it was really worth when he bought it, probably $5,000 with the eventual bad motor, he would still have $23,000 in it. My justification is, what else can you buy with 4,000 miles on a brand new toyota motor, 33,000 miles on everything else, that will last another 250,000 miles for $15,500?

Opinions? - and I'm being brave here.....

I was about to pull the trigger on a 103K 1997 80 before driving this. Keep in mind, It will be a DD for my wife and kids for a year or two.

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

not nuts, I say go for it. This is a unique truck, and will be a pleasure to own.
Just imagine doing the work yourself. You are talking a year at least, a LOT of money!
J

 

[miletwo]

Nuts? That you're still contemplating this and haven't written the check yet!

DOOD>>> DON'T DELAY!

 

[MDH33]

Do it! Compared to "restored" FJ40's selling for 20 - 30 grand, a mint FJ60 with low miles is totally worth 15 grand IMHO.

 

[BigGun J]

I recently bought a 60 for 4K with 180k on the clock, its on the tired side but was the cleanest I saw in a 6mo period. By the time I am done with the disease, suspention, H55, 4.11's ARB rear locker, motor rebuild, wheels powdercoated & tires I will be in it $$$$ "that list is just a start and is not necessarly in the correct order" Not to mention all the related maintenance, fluid items. If I had 15K up front I would jump. I only had 5K and need to do the rest a little at a time.
Then again, if it aint broken or needs lots of work I generally don't buy it. Go Figure?

Good Luck.

Jim

 

[FJ60_cruiser]

I totally agree with you, you're not nuts you just love cruisers and know how cool will be to have a brand new 60!!!! I dream that every day, wish i could own a 60 with only 33k miles on it. god i can't imagine a 60 that clean!!!.

i'll say go for it and enjoy it every moment you drive it

 

[djawahir]

That's the one I saw on Ebay....seems a little weird to me...but, if it checks out good, go for it.

 

[Derrick Willis]

I would do it.

 

[loeky]

i saw this truck on ebay as well.

my suggestion would be to have a secondary toyota shop take a look at and verify the situation before buying. if it's all good, the seller will be thrilled to have this done and prove its condition.

 

[jsimmons]

why are you buying it for 15500 when it sold for 20500 on ebay
whats the story on that?

 

[78crzr]

i saw this truck on ebay as well.

my suggestion would be to have a secondary toyota shop take a look at and verify the situation before buying. if it's all good, the seller will be thrilled to have this done and prove its condition.

I asked the question this afternoon, and he agreed immediately. I was undecided about whether or not to do it, but was impressed by the owner not missing a beat on answering. Don McGill Toyota in Houston did all of the engine work and 30K service, so I could either take it back there or to another dealer for another opinion. I feel pretty good about the condition being substantiated, as the mileage on the service ticket reads approx. 4000 miles less than is currently on the odometer. The service ticket shows the breakdown of the engine rebuild costs totaling $7700.00. The engine feels a lot stronger than my '78 40 did with 140K on the clock...go figure.

 

[78crzr]

why are you buying it for 15500 when it sold for 20500 on ebay
whats the story on that?

Evidently the other buyer didn't have the funds to make it happen..

 

[78crzr]

That's the one I saw on Ebay....seems a little weird to me...but, if it checks out good, go for it.

I had some questions about it too. I've been trading e-mails with him for most of the week, and his story seemed to add up, so I decided to see it for myself. I'm sold....and the wife gave the green light tonight for it as as her DD. More evidence that I married the right woman...willing to drive a 60 with a tractor motor and a 4 speed in Houston traffic. Gotta love it....

I'm just hoping it is safe for the family to run around in without air bags. We're replacing a 2002 Jetta, but even with front and side curtain air bags I'm not sure it is much safer than the 60 given the small size and tight cabin. I think the 60 would fare better in most cases.

 

[Kavik]

Buy it! But make a NO FOOD IN THE CAR rule for the kids...

 

[landcruiserjunky]

Or no kids in the car...

 

[78crzr]

What do you guys think about the safety aspect?

 

[VTCruiser]

60 are inherently pretty safe due to their size, but that's no replacment for modern technology. Its definitely somthing to think about.

 

[dogboy2]

What do you guys think about the safety aspect?

These trucks should be reclassified by the DOT as "tanks"

No seriously, they are quite a substantial chunk of steel. Now as for big hunk 'o metal theory vs. modern safety equipment, well...... there is no denying that air bags work very well and coupled with modern chassis designs that are intentionally built to absorb impact energy as they deform, these two factors alone greatly improve survivability in a crash.

On the other hand, redneck logic + physics = Vegas odds that you'll be O.K.. It goes something like this: big chunk 'o steel lifted with big tires + burly steel bumpers front/rear (read ARB bull bar/Kaymar or equivalent) + beefy steel sliders which protrude from side of vehicle a few inches = a VERY solid mass that has a passenger compartment that is significantly higher than the average vehicle on the road, placing the impact zones right about where all of that aftermarket steel has been strategically bolted to the beast.

Now there isn't any scientific data to support this backwoods theory but given the photographic evidence witnessed to date, I'd have to say you would stand a fighting chance unless of course the vehicle that happens to hit you is similarly equiped and (heaven forbid)....BIGGER :hillbilly

Take a look at these and be your own best judge:
http://www.man-a-fre.com/parts_accessories/ARB Deluxe Non Winch Mount Bull Bars.htm
http://www.planetincognita.com/crash_photographs.htm

-dogboy- '87 FJ60

 

[dogboy2]

oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I don't even flinch at the thought of strapping my two little ones into our beast....

for what it's worth,
-db-

 

[riverliver]

Go For It Brother..........but I Did See A 45 On Ebay Too....she Wanted $5500 For It....new Motor And Suspension. I Think They Are Very Cool!