FJ40 Vin plate authentic? (1 Viewer)

[FJ rookie]

Hello everyone, I am new to FJ's and looking at buying one. Here is a picture of the vin plate. It does not appear to match the year month system I have found online. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Seller claims 1980 model - non US

 

[Living in the Past]

By the VIN this looks to be a kit and not a complete vehicle shipped from Japan. I know a number of countries required this. Venezuela I know was one in South America.
FJ40LVK might mean a kit by the K. U after the - probably means a three speed transmission.

 

[FJ rookie]

Thank you!

 

[South Texas 97]

Unidad is Spanish if that means anything

 

[jblatz]

There are several examples where CKD (complete knock-down) vehicles have a 'unit' designation on the VIN plate and that same number is also stamped into the firewall nearby. From New Zealand:

 

[Living in the Past]

Unidad is Spanish if that means anything

Usually those letters are to describe certain these about about a vehicle is equipped and market it was imported to at the end. First letter on complete vehicles is the transmission. U being a three K a four speed and M a five speed. The 9XXXXX at the end of the VIN were kit vehicles can't confuse them with complete vehicles out of Japan because the number never got anywhere near that high.

 

[Living in the Past]

@OGBeno probably has information that could date the serial number at the end end of the VIN.

 

[FJ rookie]

By the VIN this looks to be a kit and not a complete vehicle shipped from Japan. I know a number of countries required this. Venezuela I know was one in South America.
FJ40LVK might mean a kit by the K. U after the - probably means a three speed transmission.

4 Speed transmission is currently in the vehicle. Which I prefer. From what I can see the Fj was imported into Miami, so South America would make sense

 

[bhsdriller]

4 Speed transmission is currently in the vehicle. Which I prefer. From what I can see the Fj was imported into Miami, so South America would make sense

First red flag lol
Beware of the imports

Now we need more pics and details

 

[FJ rookie]

First red flag lol
Beware of the imports

Now we need more pics and details

Google FJ40919736. Has previously sold at Mecum and now up for auction at Barrett-Jackson.

 

[bhsdriller]

Looks like they tried to sell it on Bring a Trailer as well

1980 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

Bid for the chance to own a 1980 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #102,075.

bringatrailer.com

1980 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER FJ40 - Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

Sold* at Las Vegas 2021 - Lot #426 1980 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER FJ40

www.barrett-jackson.com

1980 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser at Denver 2018 as S87 - Mecum Auctions

1980 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser crossing the auction block at Denver 2018 as S87.

www.mecum.com

 

[FJ rookie]

Looks like they tried to sell it on Bring a Trailer as well

1980 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40

Bid for the chance to own a 1980 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #102,075.

bringatrailer.com

1980 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER FJ40 - Barrett-Jackson Auction Company - World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions

Sold* at Las Vegas 2021 - Lot #426 1980 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER FJ40

www.barrett-jackson.com

1980 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser at Denver 2018 as S87 - Mecum Auctions

1980 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser crossing the auction block at Denver 2018 as S87.

www.mecum.com

yep, not saying I am going to pay the pervious sales price. Just trying to avoid any "known" issues in advance. I am not scared of rebuilding the motor if needed.

 

[cruiserdan]

The leading "9" in 919736 is Venezuelan assembly from a CKD.

 

[brian]

yep, not saying I am going to pay the pervious sales price. Just trying to avoid any "known" issues in advance. I am not scared of rebuilding the motor if needed.

these south of the border cruisers, have a lottt of known issues

 

[Living in the Past]

Does this have a one piece transfer case or split transfer case? By the glovebox door looks to be 8/80+ which is the same time the split case started.

Sold in 2021 for over $50K. For sale again. May have sold another time in 2021. For someone new to the 40 series a non US import, sold a few times in a few years and in the $50 range it would be a hard pass. Someone I knew I could trust who knows the 40 series would have to do a personal inspection before I would think of buying this one.


One of the auction pictures shows the Dana rear axle which were on Venezuela kit 40 series from around this time

 

[cruiserdan]

One of the auction pictures shows the Dana rear axle which were on Venezuela kit 40 series from around this time

Yup, nailed it.

When it comes to "nice" South American trucks, thick lipstick pops into my mind right off the bat.