Fj40 market

[franklin40]

one thing you mentioned was keeping the 6 cylinder to keep it original. that’s never a bad thing but just keep in mind what else has been done to it and what you want to do to it. if you’re going to do a bunch or resto mods then originality doesn’t really matter. a stock rust free 40 is going to be hard to find without shelling out a lot of money because they’re worth a lot.

if you want to drive it and wheel it and lift it and etc etc etc as they tend to go then a sbc is a nice touch as parts are cheap and crazy easy to find. they also have power to run highway speeds comfortably. my 2f (while i only owned it while it was dying ) felt like it was going to explode at that speed. a well tuned properly running 2f would still be a sweet engine though.

my 2 cents

 

[Pismobum71]

Looking to pick up a 40.
I don't want a rust bucket.
Just looking for a driver to be used fairly regularly around my neighborhood.
Ideally inline 6 and not a column shift.
Am I being dumb not considering SBC?

I don't need a top but it would be nice to have.
Not many average cars, its either crap or nice.

What's a reasonable budget for what I am looking for?

Just picked up an above average 73 with original 6 cylinder and 3 speed. Lot of suspension and brake upgrades and no top for 16k. Deals are out there if you wait. Been looking for years for the right one. Seen many others recently in similar condition for 3 - 5k more.

 

[Mark Jennings]

Just picked up an above average 73 with original 6 cylinder and 3 speed. Lot of suspension and brake upgrades and no top for 16k. Deals are out there if you wait. Been looking for years for the right one. Seen many others recently in similar condition for 3 - 5k more.

Pictures! We want pictures!

 

[Pismobum71]

Pictures! We want pictures!

Pictures! We want pictures!

 

[sogncab]

I paid $12k for this 3 years ago.

It only needed everything and some sheet metal repair. Which still needs to happen.

The real question is, have you driven one? They drive like complete garbage if you're used to a new X5.

 

[knuckle47]

The real question is, have you driven one? They drive like complete garbage if you're used to a new X5.

This is a gold nugget of information that gets lost so easily every time you look at one…but you get in and drive it anyway

 

[sogncab]

This is a gold nugget of information that gets lost so easily every time you look at one…but you get in and drive it anyway

It always makes me wonder when somebody blows $200k+ on one of the high end builds, if they're actually happy with what they receive. Some go in knowing what they're getting. I bet most don't.

Most people just aren't used to old crap. If you're accommodated to something really posh and modern, well....

Most people don't daily an FJ40 either.

 

[Living in the Past]

Second to the last cost $10K in 2011. Probably the cleanest of the four. The others right to left were $1,700 in 1974, $2,200 in 1997 and $2,500 in 2007. I did spend another $250 for a hard top and doors on the one for $2,200. It also has a little rust on the rear corners, not enough to replace the sill and cut fender rear wells.

The one from 2001 I really didn't want. Tried to help a WWII vet out. Was for sale on Mud with no buyers. I had the cash and the vet needed the money.

 

[knuckle47]

When I was 21, the FJ40 was my daily driver and only car for years. Over the past 50 years I have always been attracted to old stuff. 80%of my motorcycles were 50-75 years old, my Ford 8N is a 1947 and they all ran like new. That was the surprise to so many. How do you keep up on that old thing?

 

[Mark Jennings]

I like the old stuff, it’s a challenge to to keep them available as a daily driver. I remember the 70’s and 80’s..,,had to do something to that older ‘second car’ every weekend to get to work on Monday. Now there is no challenge. Get in, push the ‘start button’ and service every 5000. I have 5 cars and a motorcycle available…..but I spend almost all of my car maintenance hours on the FJ40….and the 74 ‘other’ car.

 

[knuckle47]

my routine in the Chevy pickup… brake and push the button, turn off the auto-start, turn on the heated seat, turn on the heated steering wheel. That auto-stop thing can’t be starter friendly…

If I had to change a starter in the Chevy, I’d be pissed… changing the starter in the FJ40 is just making an improvement and makes me happy

 

[Bella1992]

I daily my 40. I also have a 45 with an LS. I love them both and they’re both completely different. The quiet silky smooth of my original 67 straight six is unbelievable. It’s like a Lexus! Super super smooth I love idling around in the desert at 1500 RPMs Off-road. Took it out with some buddies, they had their 80 series, and at the end of the day I let them drive the 40. They were shocked at the smoothness. They assumed it was not smooth because they saw me bouncing around on the leaf springs, but the motor itself is pretty smooth.

Drive them both. Pick your favorite. If it’s just a toy, it doesn’t really matter!

 

[Bella1992]

 

[Bella1992]

 

[brian]

Most people don't daily an FJ40 either.

Well, they're the ones missing out on a good time.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

The real question is, have you driven one? They drive like complete garbage if you're used to a new X5.

This is a gold nugget of information that gets lost so easily every time you look at one…but you get in and drive it anyway

Also MPG is garbage. But I like to think of it as SPG aka Smiles Per Gallon. For me it has excellent SPG.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

It always makes me wonder when somebody blows $200k+ on one of the high end builds, if they're actually happy with what they receive. Some go in knowing what they're getting. I bet most don't.

Most people just aren't used to old crap. If you're accommodated to something really posh and modern, well....

Most people don't daily an FJ40 either.

Well, they're the ones missing out on a good time.

I daily mine. I am fortunate enough to live on a small island where I never have to go more than 55. and mostly I am rocking 25mph.

 

[brian]

I daily mine. I am fortunate enough to live on a small island where I never have to go more than 55. and mostly I am rocking 25mph.

I also dailly mine.
It can see 150 miles a day. And it spends a fair amount of time doing 70-75mph. Mpgs? On a good day can be 14-16.
Most days the SPGs are unmeasureable.

 

[sogncab]

Well, they're the ones missing out on a good time.

Sorta. Until it's 4 lanes wide in the middle of the city, 70 mph, windy, a rough road and you're going through a curve.

That's not a ton of fun.

My 40 gets the best mileage out of anything I own though.

 

[1911]

I daily drive mine, but work from home, so some days no miles at all. But it always makes me happy to drive it anywhere/any time. It helps remind me to not be in a hurry all the time.