Help Needed! - Blind Buying a Built 80 Series

[LCIC]

Newbie here, apologies in advance for posting incorrectly/in the wrong spot….

I’m currently in the market for an 80 series. I need to be able to daily it off the bat and would preferably like it to have already been built (at least enough to drive comfortably everyday). I’ve found this one (1997 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 series - FOR SALE - https://blackdogtraders.com/products/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-80-series-for-sale) from BlackDog Traders down in Dallas, TX. I’ve asked for some additional information as the description is rather limited. I’ll post here when it comes in. The initial quote given is $39,995.

Given that m I’ll most likely be buying this sight-unseen and shipping it up to New England, I was hoping someone(s) can help me with the following:

• Shop Reputation - Some initial research has shown their builds in a number of popular magazines and online outlets, but has anyone had any direct experience with them?
• Price - Is $39k a fair ask based on the work done and the current condition?
• Quality Control - Does anything from the pics/description look worrisome? Can anyone recommend a specialist or independent shop in the Dallas, TX area that could inspect the truck for me (paid, of course)?

 

[mingles]

I have no direct experience with the shop. A few observations though...

1. Most of the pictures are of the aftermarket bolt-on goodies. If they can't show you just as detailed undercarriage and engine compartment shots - that would be a red flag for me. "100% Rust free and perfect" mean different things to different people. Show me the pics.
2. I would want to see how the wiring for all the aftermarket lighting is installed. It may be fine, but it also may be a unsafe birds nest of wiring trouble you will need to have addressed.
3. The left side of the gauge cluster has burned out back lighting It looks like the stock bulbs were replaced with LED and if some burned out, others will probably follow. Not a big deal to fix, but for $40K I would expect the dash lights to work. Makes me wonder what other things may have been "overlooked".
4. It is a sharp looking truck. Only you can decide if that price is a good deal for you.

 

[White Stripe]

For 40k get a pre purchase inspection done by a professional.

 

[REKCUT]

@40 k I'd would fly down and look personally. I hate a repaint myself and I would want to see how that turned out. Not a single engine picture. I would also think at that price a winch, sliders and rear bumper would be included. Not just lights and a cheap roof rack.

 

[REKCUT]

Also the one good pic of seat has the leather coming out of the power seat controls. No way I would consider this truck without a personal inspection

 

[Comet]

Tag, not it. Gut feeling, not any help. I would avoid if not able to inspect personally, drive, and get a pre purchase inspection. 3 inch lift invites drive line issues based on past mud statements (not everyone, most though).

 

[FMC80]

This is a no-brainer; it's a hard pass for me. They quote you $40K for what seems to be a decent truck but they added what? A bunch of Walmart, Made in China merch on it?

I don't know the reputation of the shop but it seems to me like they are trying to appeal to the less informed buyer and hoping for a quick sale from someone with more money than brains.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Agreed with all the above.
No where near enough info to drop 40k on a pretty truck.

I understand not wanting to deal with PM and building up a truck, and paying a premium of so this is actually done.
If this is important to you make sure there's substance to the rest of the truck, and it's not just spit and polish on the surface

 

[Francis K]

@40 k I'd would fly down and look personally. I hate a repaint myself and I would want to see how that turned out. Not a single engine picture. I would also think at that price a winch, sliders and rear bumper would be included. Not just lights and a cheap roof rack.

This was my first reaction as well. I don’t see 40k there, it doesn’t have any big money upgrades and the miles aren’t low enough for 40k. 40k buys you one hell of an 80, that isn’t it…

 

[Perfected]

This is a no-brainer; it's a hard pass for me. They quote you $40K for what seems to be a decent truck but they added what? A bunch of Walmart, Made in China merch on it?

I don't know the reputation of the shop but it seems to me like they are trying to appeal to the less informed buyer and hoping for a quick sale from someone with more money than brains.

Agreed, check out some of the other 80s for sale on there. They purposely have very misleading angles and leave out tons of interior shots. Its very obvious they are hiding stuff on each and every rig they are selling.

They just tack on cheap aftermarket items and then increase the price to 40 grand. Yikes.

 

[DominicanFZJ80]

Hard pass at $40K. Reasons already covered above.
If I can't put eyes on the engine bay and undercarriage it's a no purchase situation.
My rig came from Idaho and the dealer had pictures of all the imperfections, any other shots I requested, they happily took and sent over.
Ask and see what they provide, yet at $40k this 80 is not justified.

 

[jht3]

not enough info to really make an informed decision.

i don't know that shop to take their word for it. nowhere near enough photos to fully document the state of the under carriage or engine bay. no info on what maintenance it has seen. no compression or leak down data on the engine. now they might be able to provide all that to a serious buyer. at their asking, i would expect them to have either done themselves or have recent documentation for ALL the maintenance. i wouldn't want to find ANY original hoses or even a whiff of a fluid leak. have they installed any sound deadening or other labor intensive work?

based on what i think is the current market, that's a 15-20k truck for a decently maintained vehicle, without all the bolt ons. do you see another 20k they've put in? i don't. maybe they have, but i don't SEE it. as it sits maybe 20-25k? my truck near twin in on BaT right now at 18k with one day left.

keep looking. i know the struggle on passing what may be THE truck. you have the bankroll to be patient and find the right truck. this one MIGHT be it, but everyone's gut is saying it isn't.

 

[manofthewoods]

Newbie here, apologies in advance for posting incorrectly/in the wrong spot….

I’m currently in the market for an 80 series. I need to be able to daily it off the bat and would preferably like it to have already been built (at least enough to drive comfortably everyday). I’ve found this one (1997 Toyota Land Cruiser 80 series - FOR SALE - https://blackdogtraders.com/products/1997-toyota-land-cruiser-80-series-for-sale) from BlackDog Traders down in Dallas, TX. I’ve asked for some additional information as the description is rather limited. I’ll post here when it comes in. The initial quote given is $39,995.

Given that m I’ll most likely be buying this sight-unseen and shipping it up to New England, I was hoping someone(s) can help me with the following:

• Shop Reputation - Some initial research has shown their builds in a number of popular magazines and online outlets, but has anyone had any direct experience with them?
• Price - Is $39k a fair ask based on the work done and the current condition?
• Quality Control - Does anything from the pics/description look worrisome? Can anyone recommend a specialist or independent shop in the Dallas, TX area that could inspect the truck for me (paid, of course)?

Everyone is different, only rigs I'd buy blind would be parts trucks. For a wee bit south of forty big ones

 

[dpeshkin]

Service records, and there should be many, are very telling about the quality of a LC. Lack of records is even more telling.

 

[simple]

a fool and his money are soon parted.....

considering a $40k "built" truck and then shipping it? no wonder these "custom" shops keep getting customers. so many people with money out there shopping for an image. Then again $40k isn't much. Dudes drop way more than that on motorcycles that have all the bells and whistles and both can't ride them nor can the bike make a corner without breaking something. Built trucks like these likely will do the same thing, blow a headgasket on the second drive for the new owner and they are SOL because all the money is spent on tires and bumpers and the shop left the motor alone because they don't even employ a competent mechanic.

 

[mingles]

I think we are preaching to the choir . The OP hasn't been on here since a few minutes after he posted the original question last night.

Hopefully he will check in and digest a lot of the good advice in these responses. Or not...

 

[thatcabledude]

Picture what you could build with 40k.

 

[bhsdriller]

flashy pics to draw people in, looks like it worked

 

[Dave 2000]

I am from the UK although now living in Spain. I have been involved with cars all my life and could have sat in a clean office drinking tea and sold cars and made money however, I was born with a conscience, something I have never seen in a car dealer! One day I will have little choice but to sell my 80 and if you look at my long running thread Builds - My LC 80 thread. - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/my-lc-80-thread.365673/ you will read not only every modification I have made but when it was serviced including mileage. The day I have to advertise it I will refer them to my thread as it is way more accurate and honest than any service record you find telling of work/mods done, whoever purchases my truck will know what they are buying if they 100 km's up the road or 10,000 km's away!

Everything said above is from experienced buyers and owners of these trucks, and their knowledge invariably comes from hands on experience (the best type), and I know that for every car I have seen (not just 80's) the seller has a completely different understanding of the word 'immaculate' than mine, and for every really nice 80 out there for sale there will be another 50 that are garbage......but they are all 'immaculate'!

Ask for:

Log book or whatever you call it over your side of the pond, at least you may be able to check out the registration and chassis number, I assume there will be a company that can check that out?

Yearly inspection certificates to help verify the mileage.
Service records.
Repair records.

Photographs from inside and out and underneath with the car on a ramp with as many angles you can get, and see if you get a glimpse of over spray/rust/broken bolts where parts have been replaced, for the money being asked this should not be too much of a bother for the dealer if the car is really worth it.

Remember a cheap respray is just that...cheap but, it covers a lot of ills for a few months, and photographs will not show a hand full of body filler in a dent, so a magnet is your friend here, Only after you feel your eyes are not ruling your wallet pay for the inspection, at the price being asked I could buy a house here!

All this negative karma...................it comes from experience!

Regards

Dave

 

[ERG80]

If I had the money this is the only cruiser I would drop $40k on sight unseen. He knows how to build a rig with quality parts. Miles are a little higher but I’d bet it’s better serviced.

For Sale - Houston - Mint, fully built 1997 FZJ80 CE triple locked - not a bit of rust...

Sadly or luckily I've got a rare chance on dream build...... I swore I'd never sell this 80, as it's the cleanest I've seen yet and has been lovingly built .... but...... fate tossed a new project on my radar. Hoping that a mud member will be interested - this is my 6th 80 build, along with...

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