Dreaded value question…

[FJBen]

I’ve been out of the 40 game for awhile but I’ve kept loose tabs on the 40 world. Spotted this one a few years ago but finally left a note.

The owner actually called me back and gave me some info, he’s owned since the late 90s. However some of his knowledge he is misinformed on I’m pretty sure.

So it’s a 1979. Which should mean 3.73s, 2F, 4spd. Gas tank in rear
No ac and he said Carter carb. That’s either non original or he’s just mistaken as he said I have a Holley format but want to keep it original.

He parked in 2020 because the clutch is out.

So in the pictures and talking to him:
Rust in rockers, wheel wells (Probabaly sill)
Needs battery
2 windows in hardtop are plexiglass
Weather stripping in doors shot
headliner gone

From the photos and what I would know from an fj40 sitting :
Tires, shot
Gas lines/carb if OEM need rebuilt
The whole engine is going to need once overed and refreshed and hopefully mice didn’t tear things up…hoses fluids belts

He said paint is original and just patina, but I think it is a repaint. The hood is white underneath it appears and the window hinge peeling seems strange.

He also thinks 79 is super rare because someone told him it’s a special year. That they only made the exact same model only that year , no options or anything like other years….

Anyways, before I say what he thinks it’s worth, I’m curious what Mud thinks. I haven’t gone and looked it over but I’m guessing there’s a lot more hiding.

1979, non-running sitting for 5 years with a bad clutch. Pros are it doesn’t look that crusty. He said he knows it’s a project but could be worth lots of money

Price?

 

[fjc-man]

Well it’s not South American but likely a money pit.

 

[EWheeler]

$3k.

 

[FJBen]

Well it’s not South American but likely a money pit.

I think they are all money pits

 

[FJBen]

$3k.

Are there really any $3k fj40s anymore that aren’t total rust buckets?

 

[TXMeatball]

Are there really any $3k fj40s anymore that aren’t total rust buckets?

Does this count? I had several people trying to get it and got my asking: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/895639913386882
Depends on the market. Non runners in Texas seem to average around 7k and are just sitting on marketplace. That one looks complete + factory drivetrain so def on the higher end.
$5k would be a good price. $7k would be fair. Anything more than that isn't worth it with the work needed IMO. You can get a nice driver for mid/high teens.

 

[charliemeyer007]

Buy the rig not the story. Special, well are they all?

 

[JohnnyC]

I would say 5-7 as well … he’s mostly thinking 10k+

Has factory ps? Could be a Carter or holly … back in the day it was considered an upgrade aftermarket

79’ was an odd year as was 75’… the model year started 1/79 … 74 and 78 were long production runs because of the major changes to the upcoming models… making the 75’ and 79’ models shorter runs

First year for the catalytic converter… square bezel … ambi door bottoms were rounded …. Gas tank under floor not in cab … sideways open fuel door … tool kit on rear fender … think the roll bar changed to gray

Could be the factory primer… it was a light gray around those years … their primer color use changed through the years

 

[cbmontgo]

It's amazing how much it costs to bring something like that back to drivable status, assuming the engine is actually good.

Sounds like it's one of those owners who thinks it's worth more than it really is.

$ 5 as-is, $ 7k if you can get it to run on starter fluid with no knocking.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

“I know what I got, no low baller” type. Throw a price to find the price.

 

[FJBen]

Thanks for the opinions. That was my guess as well, $5-7 depending on when I look at what else is going on. I’m sure there is way more wrong with it.

He said he could put it on Facebook for $10k and have people beating his door down for it….Someone offered $2k and he was offended.

Nice guy but has been told a lot about its value, and it definitely was worth more a few years ago before sitting. It’s going to take a lot to get it going

 

[cruisermatt]

Just to show how crazy the market on the FJ40 has become, fifteen years ago I bought this 1970 for $10,000.
View attachment 4170828
Bought from the original. Only real bad is in 1975 he installed a 2F removed brand for a V8 conversion. I took had a thread on the value. I was trying help the owner a WWII vet sell it. Opinion was $9K to $10K. I then had a for sale thread at $10K. With no buyers I just bought myself. Really wasn't looking another one but figure it was worth at least $10K. Four year earlier was the next highest amount paid. That was for $2,500 with only 4,502 miles on it.
View attachment 4170840
There is more to the story on this one.
Both original paint and rust free tubs, including the rear sill.
I do have one of the "rare" 79s. Both it for $2200. Minus a top and doors. Even with those it was still less than $2,500.
View attachment 4170848
View attachment 4170849
This just shows how crazy inflation has been in the last fifteen years.

Please don't quote this post as I will delete this later today. Just putting some perspective on where this hobby has gone.

You always post the same Cruisers and parts in the same pictures for the last fifteen years and I have never seen you post an actual project you did, a trip you took in one, or anything.
Maybe you don’t like where the hobby “is going” but I’d say just stashing a bunch of trucks in a warehouse certainly isn’t very much in the spirit of the Land Cruiser. Maybe go out and do something in one of them!

My $1500 1971 (purchased in 2021) and my $7000 1975 (purchased in 2024) on the way home from multi state road trip to a TLCA event this past April

 

[pb4ugo]

You can tell him, he could put $30k into it and he might get $30k out of it.

 

[Wasatch Jay]

Thanks for the opinions. That was my guess as well, $5-7 depending on when I look at what else is going on. I’m sure there is way more wrong with it.

He said he could put it on Facebook for $10k and have people beating his door down for it….Someone offered $2k and he was offended.

Nice guy but has been told a lot about its value, and it definitely was worth more a few years ago before sitting. It’s going to take a lot to get it going

IMHO, the condition of the doors, more specifically the bottom of the doors, is a crucial piece of information is setting a value. Something else to factor in is what are your objectives; daily driver or full restoration?

 

[FJBen]

IMHO, the condition of the doors, more specifically the bottom of the doors, is a crucial piece of information is setting a value. Something else to factor in is what are your objectives; daily driver or full restoration?

I’ll check the doors. Definitely not a daily driver or full resto. My BJ74 is on of my daily and traveler. This would just be a “fun” project.

This was my last 40 on 37s.

 

[brian]

They are worth alot when they're fixed up.

 

[Clutchee]

Ben, I would say 5k-8k

Thing is, like always cash talks, plus, agree with him about special but point out all issues….. then discuss cash price.

 

[Rocky_LC]

Encourage him to post it for $10K, and if it sells, good for him and you dodged a bullet…

If it doesn’t sell after a month or two you can come back with cash in hand, at half his price, or less.

If he still doesn’t want to sell it to you, then it doesn’t really matter because you never would’ve made a deal with him anyway, and this approach will save you aggravation.

I definitely wouldn’t pay seven grand for that truck.

There’s just too much to be done there, in both parts and labor.

But I think the the real bottom line is 3K or 5K or 7K will be only a small fraction of the total cost just to get this thing running & stopping…

Rocky

 

[cruiserguysc]

$3k.

No way this sells for $3k

Thanks for the opinions. That was my guess as well, $5-7 depending on when I look at what else is going on. I’m sure there is way more wrong with it.

He said he could put it on Facebook for $10k and have people beating his door down for it….Someone offered $2k and he was offended.

Nice guy but has been told a lot about its value, and it definitely was worth more a few years ago before sitting. It’s going to take a lot to get it going

$2k would offend me too

 

[pbgbottle]

The 1979-80 crusiers in Canada usually are full of rust including the frames. Check the frame also. Are those Warn locking hubs ? It is a complete looking truck go look and touch that thing. It might be decent. Change the clutch in an afternoon and go rip it around. If it’s a first 40 and you have no spare parts it might be a bad deal but if you have tons of spare parts it may be a good deal. For a first 40 I’d say buy a nicer one Spend the dough. This could be a money pit