So as most of you know, I recently moved to Charlotte and started a new job. It just so happens that my mgr (David) has been looking for a 40 for a few years and has been on his way to buy multiple times, only to have trucks sold while en route. I mentioned that he needed to get his stuff posted up here b/c you guys are great at finding 40s (Pappy), so he wrote out a list....a pretty darn extensive one at that and I KNOW you guys love details.....and I wanted to get it out there so everyone has their eyes peeled. He is ready to go, money in hand. He met George (@joyRidaz) out at a Cars and Coffee event so some of you may already have heard his name, but here's the info he gave me. Great guy....hoping to get him in a 40.
I have tried to buy probably 5 FJ40s now over the past 5-6 years with some being sold out from under me as I was driving to it 500 miles away, others ending up being scams, one trying to raise price by $5k when I arrived, etc. It’s been a tough process in the past, so I’m looking to find one and would treat it right…
I have tried to buy probably 5 FJ40s now over the past 5-6 years with some being sold out from under me as I was driving to it 500 miles away, others ending up being scams, one trying to raise price by $5k when I arrived, etc. It’s been a tough process in the past, so I’m looking to find one and would treat it right…
- As this is my first FJ40, would like a project truck that I could fix up and improve but not something that would be completely overwhelming or take 6mths+ to even get it running (like a frame-off full restoration that is a rusted tub without an engine)
- ’78 most preferable, then ‘79-‘83, then newest year available before that (would prefer discs vs. drums, 4spd vs. 3spd, 2F vs. F, etc.)
- Has hard top and doors (prefer ambulance doors)
- Not overly modified (not looking for a mudder on 44”s with the body cut and diamond plate everywhere, interior trashed with camo dash/body cut for stereo/speakers, would prefer a 2F engine if possible but would take a conversion)
- Price range would be $5k-$20k all-in (getting towards $20k truck would have to be in absolute great shape/restored and immediately driveable and basically pristine – have been looking mostly in the $7-12k range but would go a little higher if something was in better shape b/c I want to be careful of not just the purchase price but amount I’d also need to spend to restore it)
- Getting picky at this point, but like olive or beige best, then mustard yellow, then other colors (not as big a fan of white, red, or other colors and not sure how horrible it is to paint a non-original color)
- ’81 white mostly original with hardtop/softtop, with new wheels/tires needed, new muffler, power steering fix, some surface rust/body issues and repaint to other color, frame in ok shape - $7,000
- ’78 beige 2nd owner, all original, seats need repaired, transmission service needed, repaint needed - $8,000
- ’78 olive needed wheels/hubcaps, badging, front lights fixed, minor rust restoration, new seats, minor mechanical issues, included tons of extra parts like the hardtop, doors, etc. that could be leveraged - $9000
- ’79 truck not all original but modifications tastefully done – on 31”s-32”s with reasonable lift, painted a nice unofficial Toyota grey color, suspension, shocks, transmission, power steering modernized but done well, v8 engine swap but done well, etc. and owner probably had put $20k into it so would have been a fun weekend FJ that I could drive immediately even if not as valuable as a full restore - $13,000
- ’73 green with disc brake, transmission, and engine upgrade already converted, body/rust already restored, wheels/tires already replaced, in absolute great shape and almost a daily driver - $15,000
- ’80-’83 white in Lowe’s parking lot just needed repainted to original Toyota color and some aftermarket baubles removed but otherwise perfect – left my contact info but no call back
- ’78 in Avenue parking garage that looks just like your “pappy” FJ, same color, in perfect restored shape
- ’70 soft top, body/frame with significant rust, major engine work needed to get it to run - $6,000
- ’75 with interior modified poorly, aftermarket roll cage installed poorly, custom engine swap done poorly, tons of parts needed to be sourced, frame and body cut for mudding, diamond plate and chrome baubles added everywhere - $10,000
- ’78 in good shape for $11,000 but would probably need another $15k
