FJ43/45/47 Info wanted - thinking of importing

Location

United States

Hope I am not breaking the rules here.

I know where to find a bunch and I mean a bunch of FJ43s. Also the occasional FJ45 pickup and Troopie. I looked over some threads to see what value may be these days but it is all over the place.

FYI, these would be imported trucks, obviously. They would come from Latin America. I know how to find tons of them and have a guy on the ground to check them out. My guy is good with a very long history with Japanese 4wds, he and I have been close friends for 10yrs. We could even have engine compression's checked, drag magnets to check for bondo, ect ect. For the most part these would be un-restored trucks. The occasional vehicle may be ex-public works and similar, owned by a church, ect. I know where one 81 Troopie is right now that is ex-fire brigade.

First up, I can't get these trucks for dirt cheap. Less than USA values but not dirt cheap. Dirt cheap to me is $5,000 or less. I then have importation expenses which run $4-5k. I am not looking to get rich and I am not looking to make a pile of cash, I have a regular job. But yes I would want to make some money. The potential also exists to find Delta Mini-Cruisers which are very rare. I am a pretty good mechanic and am currently doing a frame off resto for a guy on a 1964 Nissan Patrol. So I could easily fix the trucks up a bit, install lift kits, whatever. I even have a real good body guy at my disposal so could do quality paint too. These trucks would come from the 3rd world and I am not looking at having any work done there. I would do the work myself if any was needed and it would be quality, including real nice paint. It is also possible for me to travel south and personally view and inspect the trucks.

I have thought about this on and off for over 10yrs when I first made the contacts outside the USA and traveled to the country I am looking at trucks in.

Any ways, is it worth my time? What is the current value of un-restored but solid FJ43's, 45's and 47's?

Does $15-20k for solid 43's sound fair? Around the same for the 45/47's too. The occasional really nice FJ40 comes up once in awhile also. The reason I ask if $15-20k is fair is because I know what I can buy the trucks for, what it costs me to import, what I might have to do to them, like new tires, ect. So I know what I would be in the trucks. I realize a lot of guys have brought in trucks from Costa Rica, other Central American countries and the Middle East. I realize I am not breaking any new ground here or offering some kind of special time capsule trucks. Just plain old solid Cruisers for a fair price is all I am thinking about. I don't care if so and so sold such and such truck for $50k+ which means I could do the same. That is not what I am thinking about doing. Rather, buy for xxxx amount, spend the $4-5k on importation and registration and then sell for a small profit, a profit that is fair to me and the buyer. Again I don't care if the trucks are worth $50grand, I am not looking to sell trucks at that kind of mark up, period. And in my opinion they are only worth that kind of cash if they have been restored correctly and it is fully documented

Comments, thoughts and opinions welcome.

Cheers

 

[Ambrew]

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but I can see the logic in targeting interested buyers.

I myself would be interested in a lhd diesel 45, and have been quietly looking for some time now. It seems that most trucks from SA are quickly made to look good before sale. I think there is a market for un molested trucks, as aus to usa has been doing. I have not dealt with them but do appreciate the up front nature of their business.

It all depends on what kind of profit you are expecting and total price. 20k is a lot for a beat up truck run on (potentially) bad fuel. I think 10-13k for a clean driver is fair if it's in close to original condition. My take on it is a 500$ profit is fair. Keep in mind that profit means after you have paid yourself a reasonable wage as an importer. I would pay more money if I had to do it all myself for a one off importation, for sure, but then I'm sure once your systems are in place it becomes easier and more efficient.

How do you plan to stand behind your products? And a website? Are you only going to import to the USA? What about oil analysis? Do you have a registered and/or bonded business?

I think there is room for what you plan to do, I would just be careful to figure out your break even point since it may be several cruisers down the road. Good luck, let me know if ever you have a diesel 45!

 

[SNLC]

Thanks for your input! I am not sure if this is the right place for this thread either but whatever.

I don't think it is doable for $10-13k. Import fees alone cost $4-5k and there is always un-expected fees that can come up when it hits the port. HLS and customs likes to tack on $800 x-rays and other junk like that. Plus I don't live anywhere near a port so it is a 2,000 mile road trip or pay to have it shipped to me. Then I have sales tax to get it titled and registered.

I have got the interest, some decent knowledge and know where to find decent to good trucks. But it is not worth the time and effort if I break even or worse lose money. Ya know there is a lot of un-expected costs that can come up. Inland shipping in country of origin, having to travel to the country to inspect and view the truck myself, ect ect. A few things might also have to be done to make a truck presentable, such as; new suspension, new tires, removing all the Latin junk (chrome, stickers, ect).

Any ways, I am out of touch with classic Cruisers and their value, the demand for them and all this kind of stuff. So figured some input from the community would help.

Cheers

 

[Scubadoc]

Unmolested and trustworthy would add a premium, maybe up to the $15-18k range, especially LHD diesels, IMHO.

I too am quietly looking for such a rig, preferably a BJ44.

You should search "Asdae" on this site for a lively discussion on the subject.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/bj42-fj43-bj44-fj45-fj45lv-hj47/759991-1976-frame-off-restored-fj45.html

 

[SNLC]

Unmolested and trustworthy would add a premium, maybe up to the $15-18k range, especially LHD diesels, IMHO.

I too am quietly looking for such a rig, preferably a BJ44.

You should search "Asdae" on this site for a lively discussion on the subject.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/bj42-fj43-bj44-fj45-fj45lv-hj47/759991-1976-frame-off-restored-fj45.html

Ha some serious ball busting going on in that thread. Probably justified. I read page one, will read the rest later.

I saw a Latin FJ45 diesel pickup on Ebay not to long ago when killing some time. It had that $40k+ price tag. I sent the seller a msg, saying, hey dude I know what these trucks cost, no way that is worth $40+ grand! You didn't even remove the Transformer stickers! He friggin nearly took my head off in his response!

FYI, if you think you can buy even fairly beat up trucks for $2500 in Latin America for the most part you are wrong. I spent a lot of time down there and looked at thousands of trucks and $2500 just isn't happening. $5000 is about where the beat up trucks start at and go up from there. Real nice trucks easily fetch $20k+ in Latin countries. I have seen quite a few in the $30grand range. Middle of the road trucks are somewhere between this.

I am not some Latino nor some slime ball ex-pat looking to support a life of leisure or get rich. I am actually a pretty hardcore enthusiast myself, just not so much with the old Cruisers. I kill a few hours a week looking at Latin websites with trucks for sale and see tons of junk ones. Once a month or so my buddy down south sends me pictures of a nice truck he found, he is also a big enthusiast. I would be spending my cash on them so would not be buying 80% or more of them out there cause they are junk. I would also be going south myself to inspect them for at least the first few. I am also not looking at trying to pawn something off as restored and or done up down south. If I was to offer it fixed up or restored it is me doing the work. I have been in Latin workshops plenty and trust me that is not what I am thinking about.

Cheers

 

[joekatana]

Hi Ian

As somebody that has lived down there I can totally understand you about not buying 80% of the trucks available.I am considering bringing some Euro treasures here and have the same questions about the possibility of loosing or gaining money doing this

Anyway I saw your builds in the past and as a die hard Land Cruiser guy I can recommend you to buy something that you like,that way if no one wants to pay your asking price you just build it for yourself and enjoy it.

There are a bunch of people talking about really wanting to buy a nice diesel Land Cruiser,reality however tells me that it stays with talking and dreaming for about 95% of them.

I had my very nice and clean 76 FJ40 with 3B diesel here a couple of months ago for sale and ZERO RESPONSE at 14500$,put it on EBAY and Craigslist and sold it to the first guy that actually bothered to come here and see it.It even started out as a bidding war on the first day at Ebay but sold it localy to someone that saw it on Ebay and was smart enough to check Craigslist for a fast way to contact me

Have my 79 HJ45 Troopy here for sale now for 4500$ and besides 1 trade offer nothing.......it sold on Craigslist yesterday

So that is 2 of the highly coveted diesels I put for sale here and got no intrest,they are not that easy to sell.If you can get your hands on diesel engines for a reasonable price that is a whole different story,they sell like pancakes

Just bring what you like yourself and it will be fun.......even if it doesn't sell

Just my 2 cents

Joe

 

[addicted56]

I have brought a couple FJ43's in myself. I am similar to you in that I wanted to do it as an enthusiast and bring in cheaper vehicles that people could restore or actually afford on the forum. Not the 70K vehicles you see selling in the last couple of years. Sadly people who have money want something that is done and people that don't are just dreamers at best. While the base prices for junk vehicles are high the inverse is true down there and the very nice vehicles are relatively cheap compared to what you are getting or would be getting here in the states. So the business case is hard to make for lower end vehicles.

I don't know where the recent uptick in interest came from but I haven't had anyone contact me about an FJ43 since well before my deployment and now it looks like I might be bringing in a couple more FJ43's in the next few months for people genuinely interested.

I am surprised that people have not mentioned nor shown much interest in is the addition of 1988 and later trucks that we can now import. The 7X series trucks are prevalent in SA countries as well, but I think after you add the importation costs you just can't justify it to most people as they are not that collectible yet. But in the US it is still very hard to find a LHD 7X series vehicle and then one that is actually not rusty or gasoline. Add that the truck is also very prevalent down there (as long as you don't want a stock bed) you have a lot of options within the next 3 years to bring in very unique vehicles with great option lists. So it all just depends on what people want and most importantly what people are willing to pay. To second I have never had much luck selling any vehicles on here. Ebay and Craig lists has done it the first time every time. Which was sad for someone who tried to bring them in for the enthusiast base that cried for them here.

I think the last biggest problem is people don't understand what it really costs to import cars from South America. The additional inspections, taxes, inland travel, and not having the ability to ship RORO significantly adds to the cost of the cars travel.

 

[SNLC]

Thanks for your comments and info guys, appreciated.

It is kind of funny but 10yrs ago I made a post or two similar to this one. I got a lot of interest and a number of pm's. At that time, it just wasn't a good time for me. So I let the idea die. At that time the cat wasn't out of the bag yet. Seems a lot may have changed in the last 10yrs.

I also have not sold a truck on Mud. Last Cruiser I sold I sold on KSL to a guy in SLC. He was pretty damn happy with the truck and I delivered it to him. I restored the frame before delivery along with some other things. In fact the 6 months leading up to the sale I dropped over $5k into the truck. It had it's issues which I didn't hide but was one sweet and very fun to drive Cruiser. The dude who bought it was a total Cruiserhead, telling me stories about his days of joy 20yrs ago in Cruisers. But ya, he wasn't on Mud.

They 70s are certainly something I could do. Along with some 60s and in a few years 80s too.

Good advice Joe, since I am an enthusiast what you say and suggest does make sense. I have never owned a 40-series but sure wouldn't mind owning and fixing one up. They are cool trucks and I have always like them.

Cheers

 

[REDrum]

From Costa Rica (CR) I bring into the US old Series Land Rovers, and will share that it is a labor of love. I have coffee importing business already established in CR, and my wife lives there 4 months a year. So I know many of the challenges, but new seem to be created monthly....

If your are in central america, anyway, and can establish a cost effective process for bring vehicles back, profit range is 2K to to break even on each. Last one I brought in was held up for 3 weeks in customs and cost me 150 for x-ray.

Being more of a LC guy, I am always on the look-out for BJ40s and BJ45s I could bring back, but I can never make the numbers work. LCs have been going up over the past 5 years in CR, just has they have in US. But petrol bring 20% less than diesel. That said, I'm looking at a BJ45 on Friday....

As for unmolested? LOL... if a truck has been in Central America for 30 years, its been molested for 30 years, but running.

Pura Vida

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Not that he needs it or that it's worth anthing, but Ian has been around the forums for a long time and like the majority of us, has a serious addiction to off road trucks. He usually builds some top shelf rides and has opened his house up to Overland travelers.

That's atypical of the people that come onto 'Mud and try to make a quick buck with zero knowledge of Land Cruiser's.

Ian, I sold both my diesel RHD HJ45 (A one owner truck out of Brisbane with no rust) and my 1984 (Last Year) Troopy with factory added AC on 'Mud. I guess my prices were low, but I thought they were realistic. They both sold below $15K. The truck sold within an hour of making the post. The Troopy never even made it to a thread.

I'd be interested in a late model, LHD diesel 45, but having owned the two listed above that were cherry, $15k would be the upper end of my budget.

Just my two centavos...

 

[Bowie]

importing

RMP&O etal:
I currently work in SA and live in Houston. I was doing some field work in northern Madagascar in the 90's and flipped a 40. After my knees stopped shaking, I was perfectly fine. I had a support vehicle (another 40) that flipped my vehicle back onto its wheels and we moved on. I have loved these vehicles ever since. I am currently looking at importing 1 or 2 into Houston (for fun mostly, as a complete enthusiast). I am going to equip my kids in them. It sounds like you have checked out the importation cost and procedure thoroughly. I am just starting the research. Any help would be appreciated. I am still not clear on the procedure for importing a vehicle (FJ43) that was not sold in the US. Or was it? Would it be considered a non-conforming vehicle, thus requiring a petition? This adds to the risk of not being accepted. After calling EPA, it sounds like they are under discretion of the Customs officer. IOW, it seems that a customs guy with a hangover could cost you dearly. It may be that importing an FJ40 or an FJ 43 is no-big deal? Any prior experience?
Thanks for any help from you or anybody else, in advance

 

[REDrum]

It may be that importing an FJ40 or an FJ 43 is no-big deal? Any prior experience?

Its only no big deal if you have done before. (and that goes pretty much everything in life...)

That said, I'm not going to prescribe what needs to be done, but its not too cumbersome; and you need to own the first time process. And don't want to be responsible if my experience/method is no longer valid. I strongly advise using a customs broker at each end. My experience in CR getting clearance to ship a truck out requires more effort than getting it into US. "tipping" helps. Once in the US, if truck is >25 years old, its pretty much just a completed CBP3299 and you are good to go. However every state could require other documents.

I know this is a LC forum, but, in your travels, if you see any Defenders, don't get any ideas. There have been so many illegally imported to Us over the past 3 years (false VINs) that pretty much all are guilty until proven inocent. And I have heard being help up for months in customs and hundreds in special fees.

 

[SNLC]

Redrum is right....

I imported a truck from Australia to the USA in the summer of 2012. I also imported a truck from NZ to the USA in 2003. Way different process in 2012. Here is a short list of what it took in 2012....

-brokerage + export fees in Aus.
-inland transport in Aus.
-cleaning/pressure wash fees in Aus.
-the actual boat ride.
-broker customs fees in the USA.
-taxes and an expensive X-ray required by customs.
-fees for hiring a company to remove my container from the port, unload it and put the container back in the port. Containers can not be unloaded in the port and only certain licensed company's can go in the port and retrieve the containers.
-inland transport from the port to me, I am in the rockies which is a long ways from the port.

On that one that shipper had forgot to get the vin # off the truck. I think it was with the documents on the ship for the truck but otherwise we didn't have it. Well, you need this before it hits the port. So the shipper had to contact the boat while it was in port in Singapore to get the vin which was a big pain in the ass.

All up, not cheap. Which is why I am not importing anything unless it is worth the effort.

Cheers

By the way, when I did it in 2003, it was cheap and easy. I picked the truck up myself in the port. Cleared the papers myself at the office in the port and drove into the port myself and loaded it on my trailer. HLS has changed all that and you can no longer do it this way.

 

[Bowie]

Thanks for the input. I am researching the cost of custom brokers now. I have some connections to the Port of Houston, but I don't think that is going to help. Shipping from Colombia is roughly 1900/vehicle. The way it is going the fees for a Broker could be that much as well. The Government info on a vehicles over 25 years old (exempt) seems easy. But I am unwilling to risk importing an FJ43 (not sold in the US) until it is at least 90%.
Anyway thanks for the responses. I will let you all know what happens.

 

[The Red Camel]

I would ship from australia myself. Total shipping is $3200. Get a truck for $6000 to $7000 grand.


So say $10,000 you got yourself a truck.

 

[SNLC]

Thanks for the input. I am researching the cost of custom brokers now. I have some connections to the Port of Houston, but I don't think that is going to help. Shipping from Colombia is roughly 1900/vehicle. The way it is going the fees for a Broker could be that much as well. The Government info on a vehicles over 25 years old (exempt) seems easy. But I am unwilling to risk importing an FJ43 (not sold in the US) until it is at least 90%.
Anyway thanks for the responses. I will let you all know what happens.

No probs at all if it is 25yrs old. Fill out the right papers is all. Lot's of info on the forum about this.

FYI, the one I did in 2012 had the wrong vin # on the import docs! That could have been a big problem but luckily was not caught. The vin plate was kind of tucked away and not easily seen even in it's stock location. Doesn't matter to me since I took what I wanted from the truck and then cut the rest of it up and recycled it.

The truck in 2003 I never got a title, they don't use a title in NZ. I titled the truck legally in Wyoming by being a property owner. I worked with DMV on this and they advised me the process and route to go which I did and it is a legal truck with a 5-digit vin # on the title!

I would ship from australia myself. Total shipping is $3200. Get a truck for $6000 to $7000 grand.


So say $10,000 you got yourself a truck.

That is what my boat ride from Aus. in 2012 cost, I had a 20ft container all to myself. None of the other fees are included in that $3000ish boat ride from Brisbane to Long Beach. I have heard of cheaper but that is about what it cost me.

Colombia is LHD and much cheaper to ship up here. Import duties/expenses will be the same, I would count on an X-ray if it comes from Colombia, cost $500-600+! Depends on the port you come in I guess and how lazy or assish the customs/HLS guys want to be.

Cheers

 

[AUStoUSA]

That is what my boat ride from Aus. in 2012 cost, I had a 20ft container all to myself. None of the other fees are included in that $3000ish boat ride from Brisbane to Long Beach. I have heard of cheaper but that is about what it cost me.

$3,200 - $3,600 depending on the port of departure. All inclusive port to depot including unpack, clearance etc. Only additional fee is US Govt. Duty at 2.5%

Cheers!

 

[Mazate]

Hello I like to buy the land cruiser can you please send me you cell.# because iam very serious in buy TLC fj45 thank yoy ask for Sergi.

 

[Pumpkin Troopy]

I would ship from australia myself. Total shipping is $3200. Get a truck for $6000 to $7000 grand.


So say $10,000 you got yourself a truck.

If you use RORO you should get change if you ship form Sydney or Brisbane..

The issue is that Aussie's are so scared of dealing with dudes in the US. In addition i had one sit for 6 weeks when I was told it was picked up.

I had another get held in customs.. I know the AUStoUSA guys do a lot but by my calculations they are making 30 points +.. I have only done 3 in the last two years but if you read up and follow govt instructions it can be very easy.

Most of the ones I have bought are Sub $2500

The issue is getting the car to the port in Aust, and getting it registered as Australia does not have titles.

If you are in certain states this us easy, I walked out of the office in Tennesse with plates the day after in cleared customs in Los Angeles ..

But currently I am hearing that California has blocked the registration process.

If you have not done it I think you should buy a restored one..

there is a guy out of California that I use for parts that has a few troopies all painted and restored for what you guys are talking about bringin in LHD cars for..

Check the listing here (Shep Man or Sheps he had a FJ45LV for sale this week)

 

[AUStoUSA]

I know the AUStoUSA guys do a lot but by my calculations they are making 30 points +.

I lived in the USA for 13 years and I am not familiar with the term "points" are you suggesting we are making $30, $300 or $3,000?