Warning.........Here is the sad follow up to the story for the nice little SWB FJ45 I found in Yakima, WA. I arrived with a truck, dolly, $3500 in cash, coveralls, and inspection tools. I looked the truck over pretty close but something just was not right. Seller has been vague about color variances throughout truck and what seemed to be light filler (magnet tests) throughout the truck in odd areas. The more I looked the more that I realized this truck has been rolled. I found so many points under the front hood and under the dash with a mirror on an extension and a pen light. The closer I looked the more that I realized this thing has been rolled and rebuilt well. But still a rollover and something than I am not interested in. I casually confronted the seller about the excess filler in odd places and he was a freaking mute. He was shocked I think that I figured it out. I mean he saw the cash when I got out of my truck. He knew I was there to buy it.
Then he got mildly upset and said I would be getting a deal at $3500. By the way the bed was marginal and had rust through. He now tells me he is firm on $3500 and should have asked $4500. I calmly told him I was going to pass on it unless he sold it for around $1500 as it needs a new cab and top. I figured big deal I have the cab and top already at home, this could still work. If anyone wants to buy a rolled SWB FJ45 from 1965 they can call George Ream in Yakima, WA at 509-575-3914. I truly hope that someone can work this deal for a parts truck. Someone is doing a FJ45 registry and I think this email should go to them as a FYI. I think he is a dishonest man. His silence as I pointed out 9 things than pointed to a rollover was deafening.
I felt a bit dumb that I found this while I was at work in a suit. Being in a suit is my only excuse (weak) for not seeing the telltale signs of a rollover. He almost got me on this deal. I mean just correcting the cab being off would have been a nightmare. Please keep this post alive so more guy won't get the shaft from this dishonest seller. I know the kinder hearts will say that he did not know. Remember I was there three times total and asked enough questions to make a salesman cry. He has these lame responses like must have been the previous owner to all the odd things about the truck.
Best of Luck,
Aaron Riddle
Spokane, WA
Then he got mildly upset and said I would be getting a deal at $3500. By the way the bed was marginal and had rust through. He now tells me he is firm on $3500 and should have asked $4500. I calmly told him I was going to pass on it unless he sold it for around $1500 as it needs a new cab and top. I figured big deal I have the cab and top already at home, this could still work. If anyone wants to buy a rolled SWB FJ45 from 1965 they can call George Ream in Yakima, WA at 509-575-3914. I truly hope that someone can work this deal for a parts truck. Someone is doing a FJ45 registry and I think this email should go to them as a FYI. I think he is a dishonest man. His silence as I pointed out 9 things than pointed to a rollover was deafening.
I felt a bit dumb that I found this while I was at work in a suit. Being in a suit is my only excuse (weak) for not seeing the telltale signs of a rollover. He almost got me on this deal. I mean just correcting the cab being off would have been a nightmare. Please keep this post alive so more guy won't get the shaft from this dishonest seller. I know the kinder hearts will say that he did not know. Remember I was there three times total and asked enough questions to make a salesman cry. He has these lame responses like must have been the previous owner to all the odd things about the truck.
Best of Luck,
Aaron Riddle
Spokane, WA