I have been obsessed with FJ40s since I was a kid. My dad bought a 68 when I was in high school from some college kid for $800. I wanted that truck so bad, and a few years ago he told me I was welcome to it if I wanted it (knowing I would not lug it and all of its rust from VA to CA).
After seeing the crazyness that has been going on with the price of FJs I have decided this next year will be the year that I will buy one. If I dont do it know I dont know that I will ever be able to afford one. I need to put aside a little more money, but I think in the next couple months I should have around $20k set aside for one. I have a garage and plenty of tools, and own a 1970 Porsche 914 that I do most of the work on, so I know my way around an old car (and am so looking forward to a vehicle I can crawl under without and hour of jacking it up and putting it on ramps / jack stands)
I am familiar with all the basics, and have been reading up on version differences and what to look for when buying one. Luckily I live in CA so there are a lot of pretty ones around.
Here is what I think am looking for something to cruise CA-1 and camp throughout North Cal. I want something I can drive for a couple days straight without worrying about, but nothing I am going to put more than 5k on per year, and it will live most of its life in my garage.
- My first priority is to find one rot free. There seems to be quite a few of them here in CA to work with.
- '74 or '75 seem like the years I should be looking at (smog is required in cars built after 1975, is that model year or manufacture year? Could I buy a '76 built in '75 and still be smog exempt). I really like the idea of a 2F engine, front disk brakes, but I REALLY like the old style doors and seats (general look) from the earlier FJs, so '74 seems like an ok options too. It does seem like a 4 speed is pretty essential. The other way I could see myself going is with a more modern CA original, with all the smog equipment. I would love to track down a BJ40 but they seem pretty rare, and the cost of rebuilding a diesel is a little worrisome over the long term.
I have a couple questions:
- Does my price range seem about right? (looking at Craigslist / etc it seems like its in the right range)
- Do the years seem to make sense? I imagine there is a substantial difference in the 3-speed vs 4-speed. I am not looking for a speed demon, but I would like to cruise 1 without a line of cars before me.
- In CA is a 1976 manufactured in 1975 smog exempt?
Thanks in advance.
After seeing the crazyness that has been going on with the price of FJs I have decided this next year will be the year that I will buy one. If I dont do it know I dont know that I will ever be able to afford one. I need to put aside a little more money, but I think in the next couple months I should have around $20k set aside for one. I have a garage and plenty of tools, and own a 1970 Porsche 914 that I do most of the work on, so I know my way around an old car (and am so looking forward to a vehicle I can crawl under without and hour of jacking it up and putting it on ramps / jack stands)
I am familiar with all the basics, and have been reading up on version differences and what to look for when buying one. Luckily I live in CA so there are a lot of pretty ones around.
Here is what I think am looking for something to cruise CA-1 and camp throughout North Cal. I want something I can drive for a couple days straight without worrying about, but nothing I am going to put more than 5k on per year, and it will live most of its life in my garage.
- My first priority is to find one rot free. There seems to be quite a few of them here in CA to work with.
- '74 or '75 seem like the years I should be looking at (smog is required in cars built after 1975, is that model year or manufacture year? Could I buy a '76 built in '75 and still be smog exempt). I really like the idea of a 2F engine, front disk brakes, but I REALLY like the old style doors and seats (general look) from the earlier FJs, so '74 seems like an ok options too. It does seem like a 4 speed is pretty essential. The other way I could see myself going is with a more modern CA original, with all the smog equipment. I would love to track down a BJ40 but they seem pretty rare, and the cost of rebuilding a diesel is a little worrisome over the long term.
I have a couple questions:
- Does my price range seem about right? (looking at Craigslist / etc it seems like its in the right range)
- Do the years seem to make sense? I imagine there is a substantial difference in the 3-speed vs 4-speed. I am not looking for a speed demon, but I would like to cruise 1 without a line of cars before me.
- In CA is a 1976 manufactured in 1975 smog exempt?
Thanks in advance.