Hello, I am looking at buying a 97 Landcruiser 40th Anniversary addition thats in pretty okay shape. Its been basically only used for yardwork and sitting for about ten years now. It does start and run well though. Im going to attach pictures and just need a little bit of help making an offer for the owner. Thank you!
Looking to Buy: Need Advice ASAP
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Also, it has about 250k miles. Thank yall again
Not much to go on here, so I'll say $5k. Then you need to plan on another $15k to deal with all of the deferred maintenance and worn out 30 year old parts, and that's with you doing the work. Old 80 series are not cheap.
That aligns almost exactly with what I paid for my 95 and also what I have spent restoring it. I would add that 75% of the parts I purchased were from Partsouq before the "deminimus" was abolished so my $15k would be closer to $25k today.
I’d say avoid that thing like the plague but I’m going to need the number of the owner of that vehicle for completely unrelated matters. Shoot for 5k if you have to go to 7k that thing looks like it will buff out. If it gets outside of your price range hit me up I might be interested. Good luck buddy!
CrabCake
SILVER Star
IH8RUST .... take a close look in the passenger footwell...looks like water has been laying in there for quite awhile with the stains on the carpet. The door threshold trim pops right off with 3 plastic push in clips underneath. You can usually pull the end up by the pillar with your fingers or a screwdriver to pop the first one and then move forward to the kick panel and pop it out to lift up that carpet.
I personally wouldn't touch anything with perforating rust in body panels at any price, but that's just me and being fortunate enough to be able to pay a bit more for the right rig. That said, even with paying somewhat of a premium for an extremely clean AZ rig that had a bunch of mods that I would want already, I ended up re-doing all of the suspension, rebuilt diffs, pretty major maintenances, etc., etc., etc.
And I agree on value based on the limited info...$5k and then $10-15k after purchase to baseline. It's easy enough to say it starts and runs fine and can drive around in a field, but once you get out on the road and realize that the tires are shot, bushings in what seem like 100 suspension links are toast, hoses are crumbling, etc....if you have wrenching skills and a decent set of tools, it's basically all do-able yourself at home if you feel capable. Also, keep budgeting in mind if you plan to lift or keep stock...lift = Mo $$ for sure if done correctly.
Not trying to be negative here as it is a decent looking "barn find" (aka "deferred maintenance") rig...just check on that rust under the carpet and make your informed decision from there...solid floors are a huge +++ on this one!
I personally wouldn't touch anything with perforating rust in body panels at any price, but that's just me and being fortunate enough to be able to pay a bit more for the right rig. That said, even with paying somewhat of a premium for an extremely clean AZ rig that had a bunch of mods that I would want already, I ended up re-doing all of the suspension, rebuilt diffs, pretty major maintenances, etc., etc., etc.
And I agree on value based on the limited info...$5k and then $10-15k after purchase to baseline. It's easy enough to say it starts and runs fine and can drive around in a field, but once you get out on the road and realize that the tires are shot, bushings in what seem like 100 suspension links are toast, hoses are crumbling, etc....if you have wrenching skills and a decent set of tools, it's basically all do-able yourself at home if you feel capable. Also, keep budgeting in mind if you plan to lift or keep stock...lift = Mo $$ for sure if done correctly.
Not trying to be negative here as it is a decent looking "barn find" (aka "deferred maintenance") rig...just check on that rust under the carpet and make your informed decision from there...solid floors are a huge +++ on this one!
@nbarnette212
Ditto: need to determine where the water/leaks into the cabin are coming from ie: windshield (gasket) leaks very common if the windshield has ever been replaced. Sunroof leaks also common, do a search in this forum for both those topics. Definitely look under the carpet (if you buy it the carpet needs to come out to be cleaned/dried) check everywhere closely for body rust. Is the heater core leaking (does it smell like coolant/anti-freeze inside the vehicle?).
Whatever you pay for it expect to spend a lot more to get it back in good shape. IMHO it may be a money pit, you won't know until you dig deeper. Cost depends to some degree who does the work and to what level to get it road worthy. Need to find someone who knows and works on them regularly and/or learn how to work on it yourself.
Best case scenario, you change the fluids and it runs like a top for the next five years (unlikely), and that is the trap, first time buyers are often blinded by the mystique of a Land Cruiser and before you know it they're looking at $20,000 worth of repairs. So you have to think worse case scenarios which could be that the head gasket has been leaking (internally) which allowed radiator coolant/water to mix with the oil and that's why it's been sitting for 10 years (with water in the engine oil). Then you'd need to rebuild/replace the engine.
Big question: why was it parked for 10 years, was it some mechanical issue?
Come back to the forum if you pick it up.
Ditto: need to determine where the water/leaks into the cabin are coming from ie: windshield (gasket) leaks very common if the windshield has ever been replaced. Sunroof leaks also common, do a search in this forum for both those topics. Definitely look under the carpet (if you buy it the carpet needs to come out to be cleaned/dried) check everywhere closely for body rust. Is the heater core leaking (does it smell like coolant/anti-freeze inside the vehicle?).
Whatever you pay for it expect to spend a lot more to get it back in good shape. IMHO it may be a money pit, you won't know until you dig deeper. Cost depends to some degree who does the work and to what level to get it road worthy. Need to find someone who knows and works on them regularly and/or learn how to work on it yourself.
Best case scenario, you change the fluids and it runs like a top for the next five years (unlikely), and that is the trap, first time buyers are often blinded by the mystique of a Land Cruiser and before you know it they're looking at $20,000 worth of repairs. So you have to think worse case scenarios which could be that the head gasket has been leaking (internally) which allowed radiator coolant/water to mix with the oil and that's why it's been sitting for 10 years (with water in the engine oil). Then you'd need to rebuild/replace the engine.
Big question: why was it parked for 10 years, was it some mechanical issue?
Come back to the forum if you pick it up.
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$5K is good price to get into the game. $20k more and you’ll have a 2.5” lifted truck on 33s. It should start and run fine and blow cold air. If you want to look fresh and new you need to spend closer to $40k. If it’s rusted. It’s not worth it.
DirtDauberGarage
SILVER Star
Now I know what "pretty okay shape" looks like! 
All jokes aside, $5,000 could be a "pretty okay" price for the vehicle, but be prepared to invest in significant maintenance and potential rust in the floorboards. If a vehicle has been allowed to deteriorate to this extent, it’s almost certain that routine maintenance has been neglected. For those unfamiliar with 80 Series Land Cruisers, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with common issues such as heater hoses, head gasket issues, and leaking knuckles. Acquiring such a project will require a lot of work. Since it’s a 40th Anniversary Edition—especially if it has triple-locking differentials—it’s definitely a vehicle worth saving.
I would definitely plan to add another $4-5k to catch up on maintenance and address other issues to make it safe and reliable.
All jokes aside, $5,000 could be a "pretty okay" price for the vehicle, but be prepared to invest in significant maintenance and potential rust in the floorboards. If a vehicle has been allowed to deteriorate to this extent, it’s almost certain that routine maintenance has been neglected. For those unfamiliar with 80 Series Land Cruisers, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with common issues such as heater hoses, head gasket issues, and leaking knuckles. Acquiring such a project will require a lot of work. Since it’s a 40th Anniversary Edition—especially if it has triple-locking differentials—it’s definitely a vehicle worth saving.
I would definitely plan to add another $4-5k to catch up on maintenance and address other issues to make it safe and reliable.
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Yardwork?
Interesting that someone bought an expensive front bumper at some point but otherwise apparently neglected it. How about a few more photos, including under the hood. Any maintenance history?
Interesting that someone bought an expensive front bumper at some point but otherwise apparently neglected it. How about a few more photos, including under the hood. Any maintenance history?
I'm with Mr crabby cakes. IH8RUST
I'd view that soggy carpet soup with extreme suspicion!
It didn't take a 5 minutes rain shower to create that water stain up the side of the tunnel.
Also, nothing underneath screams "I've been well looked after".
For a while now, a bunch of regulars in here have been saying allow $5k to catch up on all the deferred maintenance, and replacement of dry rotted rubber parts, hoses, bushes etc
It's a very valid point about the increase in cost of parts due to all the winning
I'd view that soggy carpet soup with extreme suspicion!
It didn't take a 5 minutes rain shower to create that water stain up the side of the tunnel.
Also, nothing underneath screams "I've been well looked after".
For a while now, a bunch of regulars in here have been saying allow $5k to catch up on all the deferred maintenance, and replacement of dry rotted rubber parts, hoses, bushes etc
It's a very valid point about the increase in cost of parts due to all the winning