Looking for Dad's FJ40

[csand]

Hello,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I couldn't find anywhere else. I apologize if there's a better place to post this.

I made a post about this a little over a year ago, however since then my father has since passed and I have new motivation to find this truck. The last post was also poorly worded and didn't really come off how I intended it to.

Here's the story on the truck, from what I know and some stuff I've pieced together, some if it may not be 100% accurate: It was purchased off of his coworker in Columbus, Ohio, in summer 2007. He then moved down to Hilton Head, South Carolina where he brought the truck with him. In very late 2009, he moved back to Ohio, this time to Cincinnati, where he was forced to sell the truck in early 2011 on craigslist for I believe $4,000. He sold it because my Mom was tired of it always needing work and having two small kids (me & my sister) who could use the extra money & time that getting rid of the truck would bring. I don't know anything about the person who bought the truck other than my dad describing him as, "very persistent," when trying to buy the truck. The person who bought it may have had plans to turn it into an off-road rig too if I remember correctly.

About the truck: It was a 1977, original red FJ40 with the ambulance doors in the back, a newer FJ Cruiser spare tire cover (my Dad bought a silver 2006 FJ Cruiser when they first came out as well, I think that's where it came from), as well as aftermarket black wheels with a red stripe. It also had some random stuff spray painted back (grill was painted black as well) from the looks of it (rust prevention?) and maybe an aftermarket/homemade front bumper. Other than that, the truck was 100% stock with the original 2F engine and 3spd manual. The person my dad bought it off of (his coworker) was I think the first or second owner (?) and it was a farm truck with practically zero rust and was in really nice condition. I don't know how much my dad bought it for. I don't know the VIN, however I will include photos of the truck as well as the license plate from it's first stint in Ohio.

Any help, tips, or info is greatly appreciated.

 

[Chamba]

A '77 would have come with a 4 speed in North America, for what that's worth.

I hope you can find the 40. The cut out rear wheel wells and Saginaw power steering conversion should help jog someone's memory.

Does Ohio have a site where you can find VINs from the plate? You should be able to get that from the DMV in Ohio if you've got papers showing you're the executor of your dad's estate.

 

[csand]

A '77 would have come with a 4 speed in North America, for what that's worth.

I hope you can find the 40. The cut out rear wheel wells and Saginaw power steering conversion should help jog someone's memory.

Does Ohio have a site where you can find VINs from the plate? You should be able to get that from the DMV in Ohio if you've got papers showing you're the executor of your dad's estate.

Thanks for the correction, I know it didn't sound right when I typed that lol. Also thanks for pointing out the cut out wells and ps converson! That's a good catch I didn't notice.

As for the VIN, I really don't know if they do. And with the plate being from when he bought it in 2007, I don't really know if they'd bother keepin that in a database. If anyone knows of a website like that though, the plate from it's first stint in Ohio is EDQ 6493, and the possible plates from it's time in SC could be: ACZ 890 or DMR 844, I don't know which one of those it could be, hell it may be neither of them.

Thanks for the help!

 

[pb4ugo]

The OP should probably post in the Buckeye Birfield clubhouse section too.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I'd bet money that the information is in some data base, getting to it is a different story. You should offer a cash reward for the information say a crisp $100 big head Ben. That way some paper/button pushing clerk might dig it out on their coffee break instead of playing Angry Bird. Good luck.

 

[csand]

I'd bet money that the information is in some data base, getting to it is a different story. You should offer a cash reward for the information say a crisp $100 big head Ben. That way some paper/button pushing clerk might dig it out on their coffee break instead of playing Angry Bird. Good luck.

I hope it's out there somewhere and not in some junkyard or wrecked. If someone is able to give me at least the VIN or the location/owner of the truck with proof of it being correct, I would definitely consider giving them $100+ for the work they put in finding it.

 

[csand]

The OP should probably post in the Buckeye Birfield clubhouse section too.

I will do that! I'm actually living in Columbus right now so that'd be a good place to post. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[csand]

Hello,

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I couldn't find anywhere else. I apologize if there's a better place to post this.

I made a post about this a little over a year ago, however since then my father has since passed and I have new motivation to find this truck. The last post was also poorly worded and didn't really come off how I intended it to.

Here's the story on the truck, from what I know and some stuff I've pieced together, some if it may not be 100% accurate: It was purchased off of his coworker in Columbus, Ohio, in summer 2007. He then moved down to Hilton Head, South Carolina where he brought the truck with him. In very late 2009, he moved back to Ohio, this time to Cincinnati, where he was forced to sell the truck in early 2011 on craigslist for I believe $4,000. He sold it because my Mom was tired of it always needing work and having two small kids (me & my sister) who could use the extra money & time that getting rid of the truck would bring. I don't know anything about the person who bought the truck other than my dad describing him as, "very persistent," when trying to buy the truck. The person who bought it may have had plans to turn it into an off-road rig too if I remember correctly.

About the truck: It was a 1977, original red FJ40 with the ambulance doors in the back, a newer FJ Cruiser spare tire cover (my Dad bought a silver 2006 FJ Cruiser when they first came out as well, I think that's where it came from), as well as aftermarket black wheels with a red stripe. It also had some random stuff spray painted back (grill was painted black as well) from the looks of it (rust prevention?) and maybe an aftermarket/homemade front bumper. Other than that, the truck was 100% stock with the original 2F engine and 3spd manual. The person my dad bought it off of (his coworker) was I think the first or second owner (?) and it was a farm truck with practically zero rust and was in really nice condition. I don't know how much my dad bought it for. I don't know the VIN, however I will include photos of the truck as well as the license plate from it's first stint in Ohio.

Any help, tips, or info is greatly appreciated.

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BIG UPDATE!: I found the VIN! It's: FJ40-290399, and I've only been able to find one mention of it and it was actually on this forum, in 2016, where it looks like a dealer in Fort Wayne, Indiana was trying to sell it

 

[yotadude520]

BIG UPDATE!: I found the VIN! It's: FJ40-290399, and I've only been able to find one mention of it and it was actually on this forum, in 2016, where it looks like a dealer in Fort Wayne, Indiana was trying to sell it

Now that you've got a VIN, call a PI in Indiana and have them check DMV/State records.

I tracked down my old 4Runner with a PI and it was like $120 and they had me the owner's info in a week.

 

[csand]

Now that you've got a VIN, call a PI in Indiana and have them check DMV/State records.

I tracked down my old 4Runner with a PI and it was like $120 and they had me the owner's info in a week.

I'm definitely considering that now that I've got more info on it. Do you have any recommendations for where to look for reputable ones? I can confirm it was in Indiana as late as 2018, but it may be in another state by now.