Does anyone have that number? I saw a MUD thread that listed WORLD WIDE approx. numbers but wondering if anyone had a list of how many were imported into the United States by year. Thanks for any info.
How many pigs imported
- Thread starter fjfjfj
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I've seen the question posed many times, but never any kind of solid answer. Digging back through my FJ55 list email I found a thread stating that 5000 of the ~105,000 produced '67-'80 were sold in the JDM. The rest were exported -
Tucker
Tucker
- Thread starter
- #3
Interesting. Jon Ward says only 250 FJ55's were imported into the United States in 1979. I wonder where he got his info. I read that yesterday.
It may sound like it's a small number, but it wouldn't surprise me if it's accurate. It wasn't exactly like Mr. T was marketing the 55. You had to know you wanted one then go look for it.
The dealer I went to when I bought my '76 didn't have one on the lot. He did locate one in Indianapolis -- it was the spring of '77 by then -- so it had been sitting on the lot there for some time. When I went to look at it, it was buried at the back of the lot. It was only the second time I'd ever seen one other than in print. It was love right away...
I always found it strange that Toyota put so little effort into the 55 in the US. There was very little competition at the time. The Jeep Wagoneer was clunky. IH had quite making their full-size 4x4 wagon in a couple of years before. Neither had a real good QC rep. Chevy had the Suburban, but even in 4x4 dress, the long wheelbase didn't help it offroad.
In contrast, the 55 was nimble and...dare I say it?...svelte, compared to the other offerings.
What it didn't have was power steering or (I could care less) an auto tranny.
In 79 no power steering or auto in a family wagon would have been a death blow. Everybody had a better equipped wagon that was cheaper and not nearly as ugly. I love my pig, but it is an ugly vehicle. Way worse than a scout, blazer, bronco or waggy. It was slow, had no v8 option and still got worse mileage than any other wagon. They also had well deserved reputations for rusting out before you could finish paying for it. 250 might be right for 79. Between 68 and 78 many thousands were sold however. Not great big numbers, but they aren't that rare. I can put my hands on 7 of them within 10 miles of where I sit.
Last edited:
This is not classifieds ...
Last edited by a moderator:
This is not classifieds ...
Last edited by a moderator:
I would have to say that the 50 series is somewhat of a rare breed and yes I have owned an 1964 FJ45LV. For a vehicle that was marketed and sold in the United States like the 50 series was Toyota only made about 104,000 FJ55 and FJ56 wagons. Some came factory with tailgates and some came from the factory with ambulance doors. Ambulance doors where sold on the world market meaning they everyone but the USA was able to put their hands on them. It was not a kit or some thing put on at the body shop at the dealers. And you did not have to special order it that way. Maybe in some markets you might have but they were standard issue. There was no diesel 50 series. Yes I know tons of people talk about how they read about or saw a diesel 55 or 56 but there was no production runs with a diesel. In I believe 1976 or 1977 Toyota tested a wagon with the B series four cylinder diesel. But it was not a production truck ever. I used to have all the information on the production runs for every 50 series made. I forwarded that information to a few people. That was years ago and over time it has been lost. I did find one of the original Japanese sources of my info but that person has never been very cooperative even with someone in his own country. Being you can find a 55 in the USA or CAN just shows how well they were put together. But also just because you have some in your area does not mean it is that way across the USA. The truck was popular on the West Coast and within Colorado and a few other places. Anyway bark if you must but the 55 is rare and every day people wreck and part them out. That one less pig. Trying to compare an FJ55LV with an FJ45LV in rarity here in the USA just a joke. One was sold here and the other was grey market. I am sure there might be a few that had been special ordered. Ive certainly come across my share of FJ45LV's here in the States. It certainly isn't as rare as my old LJ20LV.
In 1979 the number of 50 series tapered off because the 60 was coming. 1980 there were only a hand full of 50 series made none of which came to the States that I remember. I mean we are talking like 15 or 20 trucks made. Most likely just to get rid of frames on the factory floor.
In 1979 the number of 50 series tapered off because the 60 was coming. 1980 there were only a hand full of 50 series made none of which came to the States that I remember. I mean we are talking like 15 or 20 trucks made. Most likely just to get rid of frames on the factory floor.
I know of 1 '79 close by with PS, no a/c.
watching craigslist, all year piggies show up except 79. there was that 1 in Spokane last month that was a 79, I think.
seems more early 70's show up for sale in my state.
watching craigslist, all year piggies show up except 79. there was that 1 in Spokane last month that was a 79, I think.
seems more early 70's show up for sale in my state.
I'm a Cruiserhead and constantly on the lookout for any kind of Cruiser, I've only seen a dozen or so running/driving 55s. I agree that once you have the sickness they tend to find you, but I wouldn't say they are common by any means. I know of 3-4 in central Texas, only one of those was randomly spotted driving down the freeway. I've probably seen as many 70-series, and that is a vehicle that was never brought here (have actually randomly spotted more).
IIRC the FJ45LV was brought in '62-'67, so it's not a "gray market" vehicle ... though still quite rare (I've only seen 2-3 in person).
Tucker
IIRC the FJ45LV was brought in '62-'67, so it's not a "gray market" vehicle ... though still quite rare (I've only seen 2-3 in person).
Tucker
I"ve owned five 55s over the last five years, including my restomod daily driver. Ranging from 1969-1976, they were acquired here in CO and in AZ. My last "spare" is sold and paid for, just need to get it off to the Denver-area buyer. Two others went to CA. The fifth one gave its all for my project and the Moviestar resto discussed on this board. I know of 8-9 others here in western Colorado, not counting the extensive stash at Classic Cuisers in Salida, and there are several others on the other side of the mountains from Ft. Collins to Colorado Springs.
heck, i have five of them in my driveway.
of course, i also have seen two large stashes of 45lvs, so i guess, i'm just attracted to large lots of rare rigs
of course, i also have seen two large stashes of 45lvs, so i guess, i'm just attracted to large lots of rare rigs
LV is rare and priced accordingly. It's older, was made in far less numbers and cost more than a Porsche when new.
I see 55s on Craig's list with some regularity. At least a couple of times a year. They aren't common, but they aren't in the same league as 25s or 45s of any flavor.
And I don't live in Colorado or California. There's not too many old toyotas left in Chicago.
If anybody wants to get an idea start a thread like the ones in the 45 section.gather up all the trucks you can find on mud, start a list, then invite folks to submit more. I'll be happy to stickey it.
I see 55s on Craig's list with some regularity. At least a couple of times a year. They aren't common, but they aren't in the same league as 25s or 45s of any flavor.
And I don't live in Colorado or California. There's not too many old toyotas left in Chicago.
If anybody wants to get an idea start a thread like the ones in the 45 section.gather up all the trucks you can find on mud, start a list, then invite folks to submit more. I'll be happy to stickey it.
I hear you brother I really do, I just think its a moot point to try and further use an FJ45 and FJ55 against another to argue who is the most rare. Who really cares? The 50 series shares zero parts with any other cruiser other then the drivetrain. But then this forum isn't about the 45LV it is about the 50 series. lol
Lets look at how many FJ45LV's get parted out, wrecked, chopped up, etc… now compare that would how many FJ55's here in the USA go through the same process. How many new pigs do we see each week placed on the chopping block for parts and then crushed? I have owned several 55's over the years. Even now I have a wagon in the garage that is still waiting for me to cut, make new panels, and weld for the single cab truck project. But I still can't cut it because its a decent tub and plus my dad who has to do my welding these days because Im not allowed around a welder, lol, has been trying to talk me out of cutting the wagon up for this project.
So how many were imported…. I can only give a couple of guesses on the numbers because I no longer have that information to look through. About 45 to 47 percent of all FJ55's with tailgates where sent to North America. If my memory serves me right. And these days I just can't remember if that percentage is vehicles sent to North America and split between Canada and the United States, or if that is the actual percentage sent to the USA. So from 1968 to 1980 that would be a ball park figure of about 47,000 FJ55's with tailgates. So is that 47K to the USA or to the USA/CAN and maybe even MEX? Even if it were split the USA would get the lions share of the sales. Each year there were less then 9,000 50 series made tapering off at the last two years (78-79). The beginning and end productions are the rarest of pigs.
Think about it… For many of us old timers, or folks that are hardcore Pig farmers…. How many Pigs have you parted out over the past ten years? Wrecked?
How many Pigs have you parted out? Maybe seen at a salvage yard? And again not sure why this needs to be some kind of pissing contest when it comes to how rare something is. Get over it.
I was an FJ45LV owner as well. Big deal. Im not into FJ45LV's I am into FJ55 and FJ56 LV's. Almost never fails though as soon as someone ask how rare an FJ55 is some one has to open their mouths and say something about it not being rare in accordance to the galaxy domain laws of the FJ45LV. 
If you don't believe me then do a search. I still have plenty of people thinking my truck is a Land Rover. And I have even been asked at Toyota dealerships what year my Rover was. Also I have no problems believing their are more then half those left that were imported into the States. Build a good product and it is going to last.
So long as you keep it away from salt...
fixed it for you
no salt here in colorado and mag chloride has only been a decade or so, but lots of pigs in areas where mag chloride isn't used are rusted away
