fj40 price guide?

[Fast Eddy]

Point/counterpoint regarding prices going up.

My original rig I was talking about 10 years ago, that I got for $10k, didn't get any bids on ebay with an opening 10k price. I ended the auction just before it ended because it went most of the way with no pics.

It's back up there now, with a realistic 12.5k opening big and no reserve. If it doesn't sell for that I'll send it out for a resto.

I think the patina is worth $$. Apparently not much.

 

[1969FJ]

I looked for 7 years before I bought my first FJ40. I easily looked at a few hundred over the years and I had some criteria my purchase needed to meet so it did make finding the right one take a bit longer. I wanted a rig that had spent its entire life in the desert regions where little to no humidity was. Had gone through a partial restoration of major parts, was as close to original in all aspects, and had little to no rust. That's why it took me 7 years to find one but sure enough I did.

Here is what I found as a general price range over 7 years of looking:

<$1K
Parts car, not salvageable, missing engine, drive train, etc.

$2-$5K
Possibly running or not, rusted or rotted out body tub, frame damage, good candidate for a trail rig only or a complete frame off restoration

$5k-$7K
Running, rough condition, needs a some work, parts missing.

$8k -$12K
Minor rust, derivable condition, not missing any major parts

$13K - $30K
Pretty Good to great condition, all original, daily driver condition, zero to minor surface rust

$40K- $60K
Frame off restoration, absolutely no rust, original paint, kept in a garage and sung to sleep every night, etc...

$60K - $120K
Show room quality resto - better than new

This is a much more realistic scale. Look at some of the build threads on this forum. There are guys here who have $80K just in parts and labor on their builds just to break even.

Shoot, I just learned the other day there are restored original FJ40 Steering wheels being sold for $2,500...just for the steering wheel.

You do have to remember , labor and parts really does not translate to current value. If one has to rely on shop rates to restore, the profit could be lost. If you look at Hagerty, GOOD averages 28,500. GREAT probably would be Excellent, and average 46,800. As anything, timing is everything and the right buyer.

 

[FJ4013]

You do have to remember , labor and parts really does not translate to current value. If one has to rely on shop rates to restore, the profit could be lost. If you look at Hagerty, GOOD averages 28,500. GREAT probably would be Excellent, and average 46,800. As anything, timing is everything and the right buyer.

I disagree. What you are saying is you place no value on the workmanship and quality of an individual. By your logic I should be able to go to a $120/hr shop and argue their rates are too high because their experience with FJ40s is irrelevant and has no greater value than the shop down the street who is half their rate at $60/hr who never works on FJ40s.

This thread is full of members ripping up POs who did crappy work. Everyone talks about doing work the "right way" but when anyone here comes to this board to get a valuation the irony is the same members discount the value of a rig with comments like "labor and parts don't ad value". Not busting your balls here just making an observation of some of the hypocritical statements I see here from time to time about value.

If you want a rig that is 100% original then that rig is going to be worth substantially more versus the rig that has 100% knock off cheap Chinese parts. You think an OEM carb in perfect condition for $1,000 is not more valuable than a $150 EMPI Weber knock off carb? The OEM carb in perfect condition definitely adds value versus the knock off.

Having experienced shops work on rigs who know what they are doing ads value versus the guy who mucks up and does things wrong. If we were talking about new more modern cars I would agree 100%.

 

[The FJ Company]

Just how many FJ40's are coming from abroad ? I still believe USA spec. vehicles will command a status different than from abroad.

Hard to say... if you follow the auctions, it's a big number. Just looking at RM Sothebys' in Auburn this weekend, you'll see 7 going to auction: https://insight.classic.com/search/?q=land cruiser All recent imports with minor levels of restoration.

USA spec will continue to be relevant to some, but when you have a bunch of crap distorting the market, it's hard for buyers to make sense of it all. It will take time.

... I agree the 40 Market may have some adjustments and sometimes a dip, but overall the demand and attention that these trucks are bringing is increasing and I believe will continue to increase. These trucks will bring the crowd and most people love a nice 40 and can see themselves going out into the wilderness and enjoying the trip. ...

Fully agree with this. We think the impact on pricing from the imported, non-restored or lightly restored trucks, will be short lived. Those economics will dry up soon and buyers will get smarter.

 

[1969FJ]

I disagree. What you are saying is you place no value on the workmanship and quality of an individual. By your logic I should be able to go to a $120/hr shop and argue their rates are too high because their experience with FJ40s is irrelevant and has no greater value than the shop down the street who is half their rate at $60/hr who never works on FJ40s.

This thread is full of members ripping up POs who did crappy work. Everyone talks about doing work the "right way" but when anyone here comes to this board to get a valuation the irony is the same members discount the value of a rig with comments like "labor and parts don't ad value". Not busting your balls here just making an observation of some of the hypocritical statements I see here from time to time about value.

If you want a rig that is 100% original then that rig is going to be worth substantially more versus the rig that has 100% knock off cheap Chinese parts. You think an OEM carb in perfect condition for $1,000 is not more valuable than a $150 EMPI Weber knock off carb? The OEM carb in perfect condition definitely adds value versus the knock off.

Having experienced shops work on rigs who know what they are doing ads value versus the guy who mucks up and does things wrong. If we were talking about new more modern cars I would agree 100%.

You mis understood my post. I agree with you. What I was trying to convey is that if someone buys a vehicle for say 14,000 dollars, and pays a restorer 100.00 per hour, also add best parts possible, chances are he will have a restored vehicle in which he paid maybe 50-80 K total. Now, will he recover that in a sale, maybe. But his gain would be small if at all. Also, people like myself who do most of my own labor, never really factor that in. I have a lot of time in my vehicle that since I never paid myself, it does not count. Labor rates are out of this world and the only labor I pan out is machine shop and plating, which I cannot do as well.
I also completely agree with you on OEM parts. So, we are on the same ground, I probably was not specific enough.

 

[FJ4013]

Duplicate post

 

[TCEd]

Then there's this approach : There's an ass for every seat.

 

[Indygbd]

Hard to say... if you follow the auctions, it's a big number. Just looking at RM Sothebys' in Auburn this weekend, you'll see 7 going to auction: https://insight.classic.com/search/?q=land cruiser All recent imports with minor levels of restoration.

USA spec will continue to be relevant to some, but when you have a bunch of crap distorting the market, it's hard for buyers to make sense of it all. It will take time.



Fully agree with this. We think the impact on pricing from the imported, non-restored or lightly restored trucks, will be short lived. Those economics will dry up soon and buyers will get smarter.

Well said... I was there. Almost all were crap. Everyone was an import with terrible quality and pieced together with different years and models , ect...

 

[srobinson789]

So, I’ve read through this string and want y’all’s current thoughts on a 69 MIssissippi FJ. It doesn’t have any rust, has hard top and doors but need painting. Has i6 with 3 on the tree. Obviously not correct wheels, seats, rollbar. These are the only 2 pics I have so I know it’s hard. Runs and drives. Everything works. What do you guys think? I can buy it for $8000. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks a lot.

 

[dlzadl]

With only three pics and from a distance hard to tell. But if it has the original F motor, the 3 on the tree, and in fact everything works, lights, blinkers, brake lights, brakes, heater, 4 wheel drive hi and lo and engages and disengages, no significant oil leaks, and truly not a lot of rust then 8k is a great price with the doors and hard top included. in fact you probably better jump