Help Needed! - Blind Buying a Built 80 Series (1 Viewer)

[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)?

 

[scottryana]

$20k truck in my opinion.

 

[dpeshkin]

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.

I got that vibe too with the glossy pictures. Also, what's with the name Black Dog?

 

[JohnnyFish]

I got that vibe too with the glossy pictures. Also, what's with the name Black Dog?

I asked them about that at the Lone Star Roundup last March. IIRC they literally named the business "Black Dog Traders" when they decided to be coffee entrepreneurs, then they decided Land Cruisers would be more fun.

"100% HAND-BUILT - 1,500 HOURS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP"
Pretending to be Jonathan Ward without all the work.

 

[dpeshkin]

I asked them about that at the Lone Star Roundup last March. IIRC they literally named the business "Black Dog Traders" when they decided to be coffee entrepreneurs, then they decided Land Cruisers would be more fun.

"100% HAND-BUILT - 1,500 HOURS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP"
Pretending to be Jonathan Ward without all the work.

Sounds like a natural transition.

 

[LCIC]

Huge thanks to everyone who hopped on this thread. Can't believe the outpouring of help and info here, what a hell of a community.

Definitely won't be going fwd with this rig. I had an off feeling to start but everyone here confirmed that.

I'm going to do some more research and spend some more time on this forum.

Thanks again!

 

[MickeyB]

Sounds like a natural transition.

Not to just completely bash on these guys, but was looking at thier site and some of the shirts and hats looked pretty good. Then I saw they wanted $50.00 a hat. So after that looks like they are out to just overcharge people.

 

[dpeshkin]

Not to just completely bash on these guys, but was looking at thier site and some of the shirts and hats looked pretty good. Then I saw they wanted $50.00 a hat. So after that looks like they are out to just overcharge people.

Damn, even their clothing line is out of my price range...

 

[rc51kid]

Wow, 40K. For that price i would go a different rough. I would not trust some one elses baseline and maintenance on a 25 year old truck if i could. Considering that you are willing to travel and your budget this is what i would do. I would look for the cleanest lowest mileage truck regardless of off road goodies in a low rust area. Then i would have it shipped to a QUALITY shop near where the truck is. In the southeast ACC does great work but you also have places like Slee in CO or Onur in the north. Have them dig in DEEP and for real baseline with OEM. All fluids, entire coolant system, entire brake system and suspension system, axles and so on. Then spec it out exactly how you want. A lot of the parts that wear out are things that you need to replace for a "build" anyway like suspension and tires.

I would look for, mostly in this order, NO RUST, straight body, good shifting transmission and good compression in the motor. The rest can be fixed. If you find a good starting point for say 15K and hand it over to Slee or ACC, 20K worth of maintenance and mods will build a amazing truck exactly how you want it with no surprises or issues. Built by the experts not someone else.

Dont get sucked in by goodies, especially with your budget which indicates you have the capability to add these after the purchase. The reality is that most of use build these truck in the wrong way. We buy suspension componenets and then realize we made a "problem". Then we get something else to address that, then change something else making another issue. If you you hand a truck to Slee and say put 35"s and the right lift on it they will do it right from the get go, turn key.