BJ-45? What are they worth?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Jay-

Jay-

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Threads
108
Messages
509
Location
Norcal, not on fire but it was darn close.
Location
United States
Im looking at picking up two BJ-45's LWB trucks complete with tail gate and no visible rust well cared for Cruisers and one BJ-40 to keep for my self.

They will have power steering and new breaks, rebuilt repacked wheels with correct hub caps and original wheel diameter and be road safe, good running condition new mufflers and interior when needed.

Pretty much everything but new paint so a person would have a truck you could drive to any cruiser run and not think twice.

Im not doing any major repairs as the vehicles im after are on the road at rural farms. m just saying if they need new wheels or breaks or shocks they will have it and resemble a factory year BJ.

I know this is a shot in the dark that I get this info with out a picture and I looked on ebay but nothing in the past 90 days listing for BJ-45s.

They will come with a valid Florida title but im wondering is this...

Are they still popular and after its all said and done the guy building it wants between $13,000 to $16,000 for a complete before restoration clean nice BJ-45 Truck with original factory wheels and tailgate (LWB) (I expect the BJ-40 would be much less)

Or does the LWB kill the deal? The country im in never got SWB but I could stand out side and spot BJ-40s all day long.

Thanks and I am serious about importing 4 diesel Cruisers if I can get this research.

Thanks and I know its a long shot with out pictures but I could not find the prices on Ebay.

I really appreciate the price check on this as its been my dream to import/Export vintage Cruisers for a very long time.
 
If everything was done to bring them back to stock including updating the brakes, repacking the wheels, etc, just not painting them...I could see them between $13-$16k. The LWB are pretty hard to find so that adds to the price I think.

Stephen
 
O there not RHD. Im in Central America and its the same drive.
(actually they usually drive in the center of the road coming right at you kind of scary actually)

No pictures because im still trying to get them, I see them every day and usually the old farmers sell them all the time.

Thanks the advice sounds great, $9 ~ $16K

Ill get some pictures I hope soon.
 
€6K to €10K in France/Belgium

The classifieds in France regularly see BJ45s turn up. The range there is usually between €6K and €10K. Prices generally there seem to be a bit higher than what we see in the states, and definitely above what you generally see in Oz.

http://www.autokas.com/?cm=40&tri=4
 
Jay- said:
O there not RHD. Im in Central America and its the same drive.
(actually they usually drive in the center of the road coming right at you kind of scary actually)

No pictures because im still trying to get them, I see them every day and usually the old farmers sell them all the time.

Thanks the advice sounds great, $9 ~ $16K

Ill get some pictures I hope soon.
Click to expand...

can i go agead and get in line for one?
 
Are they CKD's? Completely Knocked Down. A lot of Central American Cruisers did not come with heaters, disc brakes, dash pads, or even 4 speeds. I bet since they are BJ45's, they will have 4 speeds but maybe not disc brakes. For some reason, Central America did not get the same advancements as the US and other parts of the world got.

Also, be careful. "Restored" means something different in Latin America. Usually means "slap a lot of bondo on it and give it a respray". Looks good from about 10ft for awhile, until the bondo falls off. I had a 45 pickup that looked great until it was introduced to freezing weather, 1st time in its life. Bondo literally spider-webbed over night.

And, the BJ's you are referring to probably have the "B" or "2B" diesels. Not that desirable in my opinion. I would rather start with a good clean 45 with no engine and put my own diesel in it, like a 13BT, 1HZ, or even a 3B. Of course I would go with a 5 speed.

So, in my opinion, $13K-16K seems a little high, especially if they are CKD's, earlier B diesels and came from farms. I have been all over Central America and the farmers usually hammer the s*** out of their trucks. They are work trucks and that is what they do. Each to their own, but I would not spend that kind of money for one, unless they are really nice. But of course, I am cheap and I like my Cruisers as cheap as possible.
Good luck.
 
Thanks Grease Cruiser...

I did window shop today for the cutest BJ-40 you ever did see.
I imagine its "for sell" but the dealer toy. Driving back tomorrow for more info.

The trucks might have hidden rust but over all there GOOD.

What tools can I use to check for bondo? The ol tapping with a quoter or something more advanced now?

Thanks.
 
Jay- said:
Thanks Grease Cruiser...

I did window shop today for the cutest BJ-40 you ever did see.
I imagine its "for sell" but the dealer toy. Driving back tomorrow for more info.

The trucks might have hidden rust but over all there GOOD.

What tools can I use to check for bondo? The ol tapping with a quoter or something more advanced now?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Now-a-days, they make a little tool that measures the magnetic pull on steel. By reading the gauge, you can see if there is anything inhibiting the magnetic field. It really does not tell you how thick it is, but just that there is something there. Not sure where you could find one down south?
 
Hmm, I think I gave up. Everyone is trying to double charge and it appears the only ones for sell are hammered. Two years ago I almost got a FJ-45 Gas for $2500 no rust, no PS. But I got my FJ-62 thinking I could always pick up an FJ-45. Now the local gringos are hammering the market (because they sell nice perfect working rigs and locals see that and try to get $13,000 for their near dead truck) Last night a guy had the balls to ask $7500 for his old tired 1966 BJ-40. I guess if im lucky Ill pay $5k for a nice BJ-40 for my self and end the import export idea.
 
I just stopped importing trucks myself from AU. Seems most people that want a troopy either already own one or can't afford it. Mine used to sell before they arrived and now they sit a while. Don't take my word for it but just kicking in my 2 cents. The RHD definitely was a factor in all the sales.
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe any of the 45 models came with disc brakes. Mines a 1982 vintage from South Africa, drums all around, manual steering, and even a semi-floating rear end.
I think it was just deemed 'un-truck like' to give such technological marvels as ease of steering and discs to a work truck?
 
Aussie 45's had drums all around for all years. 4:11 gears and the floating rear end.

Scratch my last post. I just bought a 1981 HJ47 troopy on Saturday in AU. It'll get here around Oct 1. Gonna keep that one for me. Has a rear locker already. Needs work but nothing a rustoleum rattle can and some budweiser can't fix.....


If you buy them one at a time and drive them with a for sale sign on it that would work. Allows you to have your cake and eat it too. Post them on Craig's list. Do it as an excuse to drive some cool cruisers and occasionally make some $$$. I can't commit to one cruiser so this works well for me to drive them for a while till something else shows up in my driveway. ADD, TV generation, all that crap.....

Don't plan on retiring off of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom