FJ40 Half Cab ...To buy or not to buy ??? ...That is the question !!!

[GringoBob]

I stumbled upon this rare FJ40 Half Cab LC here in Costa Rica that I've taken a liking to.

It is close to rust free. It has a 3.0L 4 cyl. diesel w/ 4 speed tranny. Motor runs good. Nice wheels. Fully road legal (in Costa Rica ...and they are strict!)

It is missing the heating system (who needs heat in Costa Rica ?) headliner, door locks, radio and all controls in the center of the dash (are such things easy to find?) I don't believe the seats are original ...but they are functional. Who knows what the true mileage is.

I think it's an excellent candidate for a full restoration, or just to be fix up a bit and driven.

It can probably be bought for under $6,000 ...do you think that's a fair price ???

To buy or not to buy ??? ...That is the question !!!

Your thoughts/opinions please and thank-you !!!

 

[Mace]

That looks like a lot of fiberglass or bondo.

For under 6K the major question is would it be worth it to you??
It's not a "rare stock" cruiser. But a heavily modified one. But if it's what you want then go grab it

 

[tlc762]

Agree with Mace. Several things catch my eye as well... Whats up with the two leaf rear springs with coils on top of the axles? The rear of the tub is missing the lip around the top surface on both sides, also the rear doors/tailgate was filled in and the spare center mounted like a j**p CJ5. It also has 70 series front turn signals- not an uncommon mod in some places. But at least the bib is right side up.

 

[3_puppies]

That looks like a lot of fiberglass or bondo.

For under 6K the major question is would it be worth it to you??
It's not a "rare stock" cruiser. But a heavily modified one. But if it's what you want then go grab it

X2.....lots of mods and some not for the best. be cautious

 

[Rigger]

Insist on a new spare tire.

 

[chappohj47]

Look like Nissan patrol rims

 

[White Stripe]

Is that a legit fj45 hard top? I wouldn't pay more than 800 bucks for that. Its just a fj40 they tried to make into a weird pickup truck thing

 

[GringoBob]

WOW ! Not the response I expected !!! But ...I asked because I knew some of you could seriously evaluate what I was looking at !!!

In defense of the truck, I must say the fellow who welded up the back end and likely the interior of the tub (w/ diamond plate) did a heck of a nice job ...I checked out this truck w/ a friend and (after a lot of banging around) we were convinced there was very little to no bondo (or rust) anywhere ...we thought it was mostly original and in decent condition.

Bondo ...or no bondo ...evidently you guys think the truck has heavy mods done. And, you are likely correct !!! Then again, I think you would be impressed with the work. But, even if the work is good ...value is lost as we deviate from the original without any significant benefit.

As for tlc762's comment noting "the two leaf rear springs with coils on top of the axles." A great observation !!! I have no clue what that's about (I didn't even notice it !) but, it would probably be easy to restore to original. And, here in Costa Rica, people commonly add leaf springs to their 40 series LCs ...and maybe this guy added coils for the same effect.

Note that the majority of the LCs here in Costa Rica were made in Venezuela or Brazil and can be a bit different than the Japanese (and other) made vehicles in the USA. Attesting to that statement is the preponderance of diesel LCs here (very few gas vehicles in the 40 and 45 series.) I thought some of you guys would get excited about the diesel !!! But personally ...I prefer gas over diesel for torque and hp (though the Costa Ricans rever their diesels.)

In any case, I thank all of you for your input. You woke me up to a lot of things ! If I do buy this LC ...it will have to be for a piece less than the asking price.

Maybe I should just stick to my FZJ80s ...I like the leg room, hp, power steering, comfort , etc. that you generally won't find in a 40 series LC. (But, I wanted to try a 40 anyway !

THANKS to all !!!
Gringo Bob

 

[Shark56]

I like it.....but I also have a half top on a 40. Who cares if it not a stock original L.C. How many of us are actually driving around in an original without at least some mods. Who knows that might ride great with those coils. If not it would be easy enough to change.
Not a fan of the rims but otherwise I think it is cool looking.

 

[mtrdud]

I like it too. I used to see a half cab 40 around these parts years ago and really liked the way it looked. I also owned a half-cab Bronco. I would imagine that with a few changes it would be a good looking vehicle, like stock rims and adding a full pack of leaf springs, ect.. I also like the idea of a diesel. just my 2 cents worth.

 

[DTSkyCop]

Looks like the rear axle on the driver's side if too far forward in the opening for the wheel. Not centered in the opening... Not sure why, but that might be related to the suspension they tried to modify... Not normal and would be a concern for me...

Also, My 40 is FULLY Stock and an plan on keeping it that way... Enjoying it as intended from the Toyota Engineers...

 

[GringoBob]

Looks like the rear axle on the driver's side if too far forward in the opening for the wheel. Not centered in the opening... Not sure why, but that might be related to the suspension they tried to modify... Not normal and would be a concern for me...

Also, My 40 is FULLY Stock and an plan on keeping it that way... Enjoying it as intended from the Toyota Engineers...

You are absolutely correct and the 1st person to mention it. That was one of the things I did notice. The left rear wheel looks off center and, although hit's sitting on higher ground than the opposite wheel, it's closer to the top of the wheel well flare by an inch or so. So the wheel is off center or the suspension is sagging on the left rear ...or both ! But, I figured if I bought it I would have the the rear suspension corrected as a priority. Thanks !

 

[bj40green]

Note that the majority of the LCs here in Costa Rica were made in Venezuela or Brazil

Are you sure......? The factory in Brazil made the Bandeirante. To my knowledge there was never a Toyota plant in Venezuela.
All Toyota's are imported by Purdy Motor SA in San José directly from Japan.
Yours is not the only "modified" one.

Rudi

 

[GringoBob]

Glad you showed up bj40green. I knew there was a plant in Venezuela because I bought some new parts from there and made there for my FZJ80, which they built there through 2007 (...because I believe Toyota would not invest in producing a newer model there, they continued producing the FZJ80s.) "2008 – Last 80-Series vehicle was built in Venezuela which was the only country producing the vehicles after production ended in Japan in 1997" (from Wickipedia.)

From Wickipedia we have info that the J40 (called the Macho) was made in Cumana, Venezuela, as were the J60, the J70 (Machito, produced through 2008) and the J80 (produced through 2008.) Here's the info on the J40:

J40


Overview
Also called

• Toyota Bandeirante (Brazil)
• Toyota Macho (Venezuela)

Production 1960–1984
Assembly

• Toyota City, Japan
• Cumana, Venezuela

Body and chassis
Body style

• 2-door softtop
• 2-door hardtop
• 2-door pickup truck
• 4-door station wagon

"Toyota de Venezuela, C.A (TDV), Cumana, Sucre State. This Plant located in the northeast of Venezuela, produces Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hilux, Toyota Fortuner and Daihatsu Terios. Previously a large maker of Land Cruiser 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 series."


Soooo ...Purdy Motors? Good point. But, I suspect that importing only from Japan is not 100% true historically especially when Venezuela was a major producer of LCs. I will have to start checking out the local LCs and do my homework on that one. I suspect many of the newer J70s here are from Venezuela. Note that Purdy doesn't sell them even though they are still extremely popular here and are still available from Japan.

I looked into buying/importing J80s from Venezuela because you can buy them up to 11 years newer than 1997. You can find gorgeous, low mileage J80s produced in the 2000s (thru 2008.) But prospect of importing them at the current time seems a bit difficult ...and possibly dangerous. ...But, it's still on my mind. I looked at many ads for them and did note that the Venezuelan J80s (from what I saw) do not have factory roof racks (most have none at all.) So, since the majority of J80s in Costa Rica have roof racks ...they are likely not from Venezuela.

Anyhow, thanks for the photos. And, I'm beginning to suspect from such photos that the "tub" on these half cab FJ40s and 45s may be factory variants or factory custom orders. Seriously, the back end and tub on this one I'm looking at shows no sign of weld spots or fill, inside or out. It's just too darn good to be a Costa Rican mod !!! And, if it were possible to get such work done here, it would be expensive. And, you know that it's unlikely that any Costa Rican would have paid for such a mod. They would simply remove or replace a bad rear gate ...not pay for a seamless job of closing it up.

I think that if some of of these guys commenting could see/touch the back end of this truck ...they would at least be scratching their heads if not change their opinions.

Anyhow ...just my thoughts and observations. Thanks for the response !

Are you sure The factory in Brazil made the Bandeirante. To my knowledge there was never a Toyota plant in Venezuela.
All Toyota's are imported by Purdy Motor SA in San José directly from Japan.
Yours is not the only "modified" one.
View attachment 1431754 View attachment 1431755

View attachment 1431756 View attachment 1431757

View attachment 1431758

Rudi

 

[Cristobal]

Are you sure......? The factory in Brazil made the Bandeirante. To my knowledge there was never a Toyota plant in Venezuela.
All Toyota's are imported by Purdy Motor SA in San José directly from Japan.
Yours is not the only "modified" one.
View attachment 1431754 View attachment 1431755

View attachment 1431756 View attachment 1431757

View attachment 1431758

Rudi

Hey Rudy not here to contradict you but as far as I learned on my trip to your lovely Costa Rica that the 40 series were shipped in from Japan in huge boxes and assembled in Costa Rica. The Cruiser I bought has still got the factory paint on it and it has a sticker just above the bezel which reads ECASA which I have been told meant Ensambladora de Costa Rica (Costa Rica Assembly Plant) by a mechanic that worked in the Toyota dealership through the 70s. I'll try and find a picture of it and post it.
BTW those are some funky looking Cruisers! saw a coulple while I was there

Regards!
Cris

 

[bj40green]

@GringoBob Wow, you did a lot of research! I learned a lot from it.

I'm beginning to suspect from such photos that the "tub" on these half cab FJ40s and 45s may be factory variants or factory custom orders

This is discussed many times on this forum but nobody has proof that these half cabs are factory made or special orders.
BTW, not all the pics are from Costa Rica. Those tow trucks with the yellow logo are from the MOPT = traffic police.
Maybe there was a body shop who did a special order for the MOPT?????

@Cristobal Yep, you're right! See here: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Activities by Region | Latin America
Scroll down to "other countries" and September 1965.

Rudi

 

[GringoBob]

@GringoBob Wow, you did a lot of research! I learned a lot from it.



This is discussed many times on this forum but nobody has proof that these half cabs are factory made or special orders.
BTW, not all the pics are from Costa Rica. Those tow trucks with the yellow logo are from the MOPT = traffic police.
Maybe there was a body shop who did a special order for the MOPT?????

@Cristobal Yep, you're right! See here: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Activities by Region | Latin America
Scroll down to "other countries" and September 1965.

Rudi

Hey Rudi (& I hope Chris sees this) -
I sincerely doubt that a custom shop existed in CR some 40 years ago that could do this kind of worK !!! You would be hard pressed to find one now. I believe these 1/2 cab trucks are factory work.

But ...I have been wrong in this conversation already. Chris debunked my theory that some CR LCs were imported from Venezuela with his Toyota link. Now ...explain the logistics of importing Toyota Hilux (and/or other vehicles) from Venezuela to Mexico (and other SA countries) ...but importing all CR Toyotas from Japan at 10 times the distance and multiples of the labor cost. There must have been a reason ...but with the present info ...the logic escapes me !!!

I would really like to know the true history of these (bastard/stepchild) 1/2 cab Toyota trucks. They are relatively nice pieces of work !! ...And I would like to see them accepted as authentic Toyotas.

I f you find any new info in this regard, please contact me.

THANKS/GRACIAS
GringoBob

 

[bj40green]

@GringoBob Here is some nice reading stuff: -► Land cruiser fire tucks, did they ever make any

Have a beer and start reading this one: All Land Cruisers Manuals, Factory Lit, etc.
20 pages of brochures and flyers from all corners of the world and not one mentions a half cab.

Rudi

 

[GringoBob]

In

@GringoBob Here is some nice reading stuff: -► Land cruiser fire tucks, did they ever make any

Have a beer and start reading this one: All Land Cruisers Manuals, Factory Lit, etc.
20 pages of brochures and flyers from all corners of the world and not one mentions a half cab.

Rudi

Interesting stuff Rudi. There were lots of mods made to some of those LCs. I like some of those Outback fire trucks.

As for the LC 1/2 cab with continuous tuck bed (one piece body - Chevy el Camino style) it's quite obvious that most were based on the 40 series convertible. So, if they are modified convertibles, then where does the back half and top of the cab come from then ? ...Chopped off of other trucks ? And not one case of bad craftsmanship ? And, these are showing up on more than one continent ?

Why not just use a LC with 1/2 cab and separate truck bed to make your rescue/fire/tow vehicle rather than make a convertible into a hard top ??? My logic so far says these 1/2 cab were factory made vehicles. Or at least Toyota made tops and cab backs to convert the convertibles to 1/2 cab hard tops. I doubt they were chop jobs.

Interesting the 1/2 cab isn't shown in any of the Toyota literature. That may be because they were of extremely low volume production and sold to targeted commercial markets and not for general consumption. And maybe (and I bet against it) ...they were non-Toyota mods.

Anyhow, with the info I have ...that's my guess ! ...Maybe we will never know for sure !

Thanks !

 

[Cristobal]

@GringoBob Wow, you did a lot of research! I learned a lot from it.



This is discussed many times on this forum but nobody has proof that these half cabs are factory made or special orders.
BTW, not all the pics are from Costa Rica. Those tow trucks with the yellow logo are from the MOPT = traffic police.
Maybe there was a body shop who did a special order for the MOPT?????

@Cristobal Yep, you're right! See here: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION GLOBAL WEBSITE | 75 Years of TOYOTA | Activities by Region | Latin America
Scroll down to "other countries" and September 1965.

Rudi

Real interesting Rudi thanks for sharing!