On the verge of buying a 1981 BJ40 in Costa Rica. Body off restore/paint was done two years ago. Diesel engine appears to have less than 70,000 miles. No rust anywhere. Everything is OEM. No bondo. Panels were replaced if any rust. Second owner is a senior citizen and has owned the vehicle for 22 years, and he worked for the first owner, so it's been in his purview since new. Everything is very clean. Original interior in very good shape, and seats have covers on them. New tires. No power steering or air conditioning. Don't think PS is necessary, but I might consider adding air if that's practical to do. Insight from anyone on this deal would be much appreciated. My idea is to keep it here in Costa Rica and if we ever sell our house here, I would consider shipping it to the States, assuming I can work my way through US emissions and tax issues. Again, any insight would be most appreciated.
Buying 1981 L.C. - A Good Year? And Any Other Insight? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter talegate
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- Thread starter
- #3
Sorry, I don't have photos...........yet. The gentleman is still pondering whether or not he wants to let his baby go. The photos, if I had them, would show a very clean, eye-catching unit going down the road. It's very, very clean and apparently well maintained. I was just hoping someone could share anything unique or useful about an '81 to look for, or anything about the BJ40 diesel to look for. It sure seems to run well and is very tight, from a steering standpoint. The placard on the firewall says "Plant Z12 Made in Japan", but I thought the later models were made in Brazil under the model of Banderante, or something like that, and had a Mercedez diesel engine. I'm hoping this one really did come from Japan and has a Toyota diesel. Again, sorry for having such sketchy info, but I was just trying to arm myself for negotiations with the seller. He and I have language issues since he only speaks Spanish, and I only speak English. We're discussing doing a trade for a Subaru Baja that brought from the States, but I think he's talking in the neighborhood of $13,500 if it's a cash deal. Bashed on the units I've looked at before, especially considering condition, this seems like a good buy.
78fj40mg
TLCA #23510
If it is as clean and rust free as you say it is, it is probably worth $13,500. 81 was a fine year for the 40 series Landcruiser although the South American Cruisers usually don't have all of the features that Land Cruisers in North America got.. for example, that Land Cruiser may not have a roll bar, front disc brakes, or a padded Dash.
- Thread starter
- #6
Got it. Actually, it does have a padded dash and front disk brakes (at least, I'm pretty sure about the brakes), but no roll bar. I was really taken with the low mileage, and the care it seems to have received over the years.
I wouldn't trust the mileage. Could be 170K or 270k. Get some photos of it for us.
- Thread starter
- #8
Got it. Actually, it does have a padded dash and front disk brakes (at least, I'm pretty sure about the brakes), but no roll bar. I was really taken with the low mileage, and the care it seems to have received over the years.
- Thread starter
- #9
I will get pictures. The odometer does not show that the leading digit has ever turned from zero, but I guess someone could have just unplugged the cable.
if it is the same as US 1981 models , it has a 6 digit odometer.
Ah. The newest one I looked at in Costa Rica was an 80 and it had a 5 digit odometer.
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
81 Should have split transfer case and hand brake on rear axle. How well do you know the 40 series? If you don't know them well I would have someone who does look it over. Rust repair and repaint some times is hiding things if you don't know what to look for.
not knowing central American rigs, would the park brake still be on the splitcase?
Living in the Past
SILVER Star
That's a good question. I know Australia got the hand brake on the split case if it was LWB. Believe because of drive shift length the brake moved to the axle on SWB.
- Thread starter
- #15
It does have a six digit odometer. I'm almost positive the miles/kilometers reflected are accurate. I'm still waiting for the gent to contact me back. I think he may be having some reservations of parting with something he's had for so long.
