Complete FJ25 Body with Soft Top Frame

[hskasimir]

Location

United States

I have a complete FJ25 body, rust free with a soft top frame that I would like to sell. The problem is, it's down here in Argentina, province of Cordoba, where I live. I was thinking about restoring it but I already have a HJ45 project that will take a lot of time and work. Unfortunately the current government makes it very hard for us to get parts from foreign countries and getting used engines imported is completely prohibited. So just having a body is very little to start with...
However, for somebody else this body might be of great value... I have no idea how much one could ask for something like this and neither do I know how much shipping would be... I will do some research and post some pictures soon. Just wanted to see whether there's some interest.

 

[Living in the Past]

Post the VIN as well as pictures. Some of the 25s in South America are a couple of years older then what was imported to the US. Those had a few different things which might peak someones interest. I'm sure there are a few good frames with titles floating around the US.

 

[JohnnyC]

Yes vin and pictures

 

[hskasimir]

Here are some shots of the body, fenders, apron and seats. I forgot to take a picture of the hood. I can assure you, however, that it's in equal shape. Apart from a little bit of surface rust, all parts are pristine... not a single dent or rust hole. Even the floor boards are immaculate...
As far as the VIN number is concerned, the metal decal that contains it is gone... only the 4 holes left where the rivets used to be. This doesn't surprise me. Here in Argentina normally the chassis number AND the engine number are registered in the vehicle's papers. A body usually is not expected to have a VIN or any other kind of number. Since there weren't any papers to begin with, I suspect the former owner got rid of the VIN decal so as not to run into any problems during the shipping of the body to my destination when the truck that carried it was stopped on its way - which it probably was more than once. If the police had found out that this was one of the few vehicles that had its VIN attached to the body not the chassis, they would have asked for the papers and would have immediately impounded it if the truck driver had been unable to produce them...
I have just now sent an email to the former owner to see whether he cam still produce a VIN number.
I have bought this body, believing it belonged to a FJ40 (as it was advertised), to use the front part up to the firewall in a restoration project of a '78 HJ45. Only when it arrived here some 1500 miles later from the southwestern part of Argentina did I realize that it belonged to a FJ25. Naturally, regarding its condition and completeness, I was more than hesitant to chop it apart. By coincidence I found a usable FJ45 cabin and box to complete the rolling chassis and mechanics that I already had a few months later. Ever since then the FJ25 body has been sitting there, which is a crying shame. I first considered starting a second restoration project, since the previous owner of this body told me that he also still had the chassis and axles. Upon further investigation, however, due to the very strict rules here, it was clear to me that I would never ever get papers for this vehicle. This sounds a bit strange for someone who comes from the States or Europe but this is, as I was told by many independent voices, just the way things are down here. I still considered just using it here on my piece of land and in the village, for which I wouldn't need any papers, but the fact that there was no engine, gearbox or transfer case - which are extremely hard to come by - led me to decide against it.

 

[hskasimir]

Herre are a few more pics...

 

[hskasimir]

Somehow I can't load up any more pictures. If anyone is interested, please contact me and I'll mail them to you. Thanks.

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

I think they were interested in the VIN so that they could pinpoint the year (and we could enter it in our FJ25 data). I can rule out it's being a 1960 as it has the three hole front fender mount. So it's a 1959 or earlier. More pictures may be able to narrow the year down a bit. I can post them for you. If you are interested in the number it would be on the right front frame rail of the chassis, the first digit of the frame number is the year of production.

I agree on the condition but as far as value, to ship it to the States probably wouldn't be worth it since there are rust free tubs available here. But you may find a buyer from another country. On the generous side a clean 25 tub might go for $1,000-1,500 here, but it's hard to tell as they usually sell as more complete vehicles with other rare parts. Best bet would probably be to find someone local who wanted the old "look" on a newer frame and drivetrain.

I bet if you packaged up that yard and combined the 25 Tub, two 45 LPB beds, and Willys wagon in a container, you could do pretty well here.

 

[Living in the Past]

As far as the VIN number is concerned, the metal decal that contains it is gone... only the 4 holes left where the rivets used to be.

Here in the US market the VIN plate under the hood was not held on rivets but nuts and screws then later just sheet metal screws. Wasn't until the78 rivets were used.

I think they were interested in the VIN so that they could pinpoint the year (and we could enter it in our FJ25 data). I can rule out it's being a 1960 as it has the three hole front fender mount. So it's a 1959 or earlier. More pictures may be able to narrow the year down a bit. I can post them for you. If you are interested in the number it would be on the right front frame rail of the chassis, the first digit of the frame number is the year of production.

I agree on the condition but as far as value, to ship it to the States probably wouldn't be worth it since there are rust free tubs available here. But you may find a buyer from another country. On the generous side a clean 25 tub might go for $1,000-1,500 here, but it's hard to tell as they usually sell as more complete vehicles with other rare parts. Best bet would probably be to find someone local who wanted the old "look" on a newer frame and drivetrain.

I bet if you packaged up that yard and combined the 25 Tub, two 45 LPB beds, and Willys wagon in a container, you could do pretty well here.

The lack of vents in the cowl probably date pre 58? I have never seen a soft top bow setup like that before. The pictures from the 1956 FJ25s in Peru all had the canvas on. The one that showed up later didn't have bows. But I believe it also had a single swing open door on the back. Maybe this is a 57? Value is hard to say. While the bows are different and rare just by the problem getting canvas for the more common bows not sure this helps or hurts value. Your talking a complet one off canvas top. I picked up a early FJ40 soft top tub that included front seats, windshield frame and gas tank for a $1,000 back in 2008. People weren't beating door the door to get it. Not sure how much you could get but shipping is going to be the hard part. Curious the lack of a frame and running gear if it would be less hassle to import as just parts and not a vehicle.

 

[hskasimir]

Land Cruisers were never officially imported here, or at least not until recently. I'm pretty sure this had to do with the fact that Kaiser Industries were producing CJ5s and Gladiators down here and they were trying to keep the competition out. In all the neighboring countries 40 series trucks are pretty common, here they're extremely rare. I doubt there"s more than 30-50 trucks in the entire country. It just drives me mad not to be able to do something with this body. The law prohibits the import of used spare parts, let alone engines. Otherwise I would go to Chile or Bolivia, load my truck with an engine gearbox and whatever else I need, bring it back and get to work. I would just rather see it being turned into a nice original vehicle. I just felt helpless about the situation and you never know... Thanks for your help, guys