Buying a land Cruiser (1 Viewer)

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No problem FWaltersnewbie, I've got the perfect solution for you! Just buy mine. :) Where in MD are you? My 40 series and I used to live in Baltimore!
Missed me by a couple days--I bought @RustyNailJustin 's rig that he posted a week or so ago. (Is yours actually for sale?--I'm actually planning to paint it Royal Blue once it's ready for that and call her the TARDIS (Dr Who fans will understand)
I'm in Odenton now, but originally from Baltimore.
 
That's a sweet rig--is a bit beyond my price range anyway, but beautiful and sounds like you've had some great times with it!
 
Did the same thing. Bought our vets wifes cruiser, never drove it, took her word for it, knew who serviced it and bought it over the phone. Actually it was kinda cool. Most of the surprises were inexpensive ones. Kinda like Christmas morning!


I was very ignorant in hind sight too. Oh well, will just have to fix it over time. I think mine has a little bit of engine wear that I have to deal with soon.
 
I'm assuming this is where I'd post.

I'm wanting just a fun clean 40 to drive around local. Here's what I'm looking at and want opinions

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Screenshot_20181004-122217_Facebook.webp


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Screenshot_20181004-122225_Facebook.webp


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I really lucked out buying my first 4X4.

At the time, late 1973, I wasn't particular in what the make was I just wanted a four wheel drive.
I had been around a couple of Jeeps and a scout but when it came to four-by's I was basically a noob in the first degree.

I was 26 years old had just moved to Eureka Ca. with a wife and kid and no credit when I started looking for a vehicle.
I looked at Jeeps, internationals, blazers etc. and as soon as a credit check was run the salesman would politely show me the door.
After a month of looking I had come to the conclusion that a 4X4 of any kind was not in my future then by chance I was passing a used car lot and there sat what would soon become my FJ40.

I had never given thought of a Toyota but hey, it had four wheel drive.
Walked in the office with that wife and kid I mentioned and asked the salesman about the 40.
After a short conversation I asked if I could take it for a drive and to my house to look it over real good.
He said sure just don't take it out to Samoa beach and go four-wheeling as he threw me the keys.
I took it home and crawled all over that rig.

The clock showed forty nine thousand and some change and the only modifications I could discern was the easy-rider gun racks.
So after taking a compression check, don't remember the exact numbers but they were very good, went back to the dealer and said I'll take it.
The salesman said fine, lets run a credit check and I said I'll be seeing ya.
He questioned me on that and after I explained the situation and we talked some more he said how bout I co-sign for you?

That took me back but agreed then when I saw what the price would be after financing I was ready to walk but my wife said go for it.
Well I bought that FJ40 and immediately took it out to Samoa beach where I got stuck good and proper.
I have had my 1970 Land Cruiser for a little over 44 years now and PO'ed the siht out of it and in that time owned, driven and worked on other makes of 4X4's but liked none as well as my FJ40.

I don't think I could have made a better choice even if I had known what I was doing.
 
I really lucked out buying my first 4X4.

At the time, late 1973, I wasn't particular in what the make was I just wanted a four wheel drive.
I had been around a couple of Jeeps and a scout but when it came to four-by's I was basically a noob in the first degree.

I was 26 years old had just moved to Eureka Ca. with a wife and kid and no credit when I started looking for a vehicle.
I looked at Jeeps, internationals, blazers etc. and as soon as a credit check was run the salesman would politely show me the door.
After a month of looking I had come to the conclusion that a 4X4 of any kind was not in my future then by chance I was passing a used car lot and there sat what would soon become my FJ40.

I had never given thought of a Toyota but hey, it had four wheel drive.
Walked in the office with that wife and kid I mentioned and asked the salesman about the 40.
After a short conversation I asked if I could take it for a drive and to my house to look it over real good.
He said sure just don't take it out to Samoa beach and go four-wheeling as he threw me the keys.
I took it home and crawled all over that rig.

The clock showed forty nine thousand and some change and the only modifications I could discern was the easy-rider gun racks.
So after taking a compression check, don't remember the exact numbers but they were very good, went back to the dealer and said I'll take it.
The salesman said fine, lets run a credit check and I said I'll be seeing ya.
He questioned me on that and after I explained the situation and we talked some more he said how bout I co-sign for you?

That took me back but agreed then when I saw what the price would be after financing I was ready to walk but my wife said go for it.
Well I bought that FJ40 and immediately took it out to Samoa beach where I got stuck good and proper.
I have had my 1970 Land Cruiser for a little over 44 years now and PO'ed the siht out of it and in that time owned, driven and worked on other makes of 4X4's but liked none as well as my FJ40.

I don't think I could have made a better choice even if I had known what I was doing.


Obviously the co-signer had no issues. Do you remember what you paid for it back then ?
 
I really lucked out buying my first 4X4.

At the time, late 1973, I wasn't particular in what the make was I just wanted a four wheel drive.
I had been around a couple of Jeeps and a scout but when it came to four-by's I was basically a noob in the first degree.

I was 26 years old had just moved to Eureka Ca. with a wife and kid and no credit when I started looking for a vehicle.
I looked at Jeeps, internationals, blazers etc. and as soon as a credit check was run the salesman would politely show me the door.
After a month of looking I had come to the conclusion that a 4X4 of any kind was not in my future then by chance I was passing a used car lot and there sat what would soon become my FJ40.

I had never given thought of a Toyota but hey, it had four wheel drive.
Walked in the office with that wife and kid I mentioned and asked the salesman about the 40.
After a short conversation I asked if I could take it for a drive and to my house to look it over real good.
He said sure just don't take it out to Samoa beach and go four-wheeling as he threw me the keys.
I took it home and crawled all over that rig.

The clock showed forty nine thousand and some change and the only modifications I could discern was the easy-rider gun racks.
So after taking a compression check, don't remember the exact numbers but they were very good, went back to the dealer and said I'll take it.
The salesman said fine, lets run a credit check and I said I'll be seeing ya.
He questioned me on that and after I explained the situation and we talked some more he said how bout I co-sign for you?

That took me back but agreed then when I saw what the price would be after financing I was ready to walk but my wife said go for it.
Well I bought that FJ40 and immediately took it out to Samoa beach where I got stuck good and proper.
I have had my 1970 Land Cruiser for a little over 44 years now and PO'ed the siht out of it and in that time owned, driven and worked on other makes of 4X4's but liked none as well as my FJ40.

I don't think I could have made a better choice even if I had known what I was doing.

I got lucky too, a 1992 Model 77 with a 22r engine in it. My father bought it for my brother and I to learn how to drive a standard. It wasn't long until I fell in love with it. Unfortunately, I'm not able to drive it until 2021, when the loan expires at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum :)
He's sitting on display right now, and his name is Biscuit. My dad and I made the trek to Salt Lake City from Arlington last summer. Every day I miss that truck, and it is a hell of a lot more confident on the road than my current daily driver: 2003 Honda CRV w/ 5 speed manual AWD. As soon as I get him back, I'll sell the CRV. I honestly can't be grateful enough that my dad happened to stumble on a 70 series in the remarkable condition that it was. It was supposed to be rejected from importation because the 22r wasn't the original. Perhaps that makes me one of luckiest college kids out there!

My dad wrote up the whole story and put it on MUD for those out there who love their 70s:

 
Obviously the co-signer had no issues. Do you remember what you paid for it back then ?

They wanted $2700 for the Cruiser and interest was something like 25% over I think five years so it was going to come to a little over $5K.
I was going to walk but my wife said go for it.
We managed to pay it off in about half the allotted time and saved about $1500 so wound up getting the Cruiser for $3700.
I had bought a new motorcycle in 1969 and learned about prepayment prepayment penalties then.
I payed the bike off early thinking I was going to save $250 and after the penalty wound up saving only $125 so when we bought the Toy we made sure there were no penalties.
 
They wanted $2700 for the Cruiser and interest was something like 25% over I think five years so it was going to come to a little over $5K.
I was going to walk but my wife said go for it.
We managed to pay it off in about half the allotted time and saved about $1500 so wound up getting the Cruiser for $3700.
I had bought a new motorcycle in 1969 and learned about prepayment prepayment penalties then.
I payed the bike off early thinking I was going to save $250 and after the penalty wound up saving only $125 so when we bought the Toy we made sure there were no penalties.
That is quite something! Hard to believe they would sell such a machine at that price. I guess they didn't know what they had until it was gone. I'm hoping to get my first bike too in a few years. Something like a used Kawasaki Vulcan 650 with ABS is what I think would be a good choice. What bike did you get back in '69?
 
If only you could buy something new off-the-lot like an FJ40 now for this price!
FJ40 Inflation.webp
 

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