For Sale Need purchase advice asap please!

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I would take a hard look at this one. Have a local cruiser guy look it over for you and budget $800 to ship it.
or better yet, fly out, drive it home, and document the journey.

forum.ih8mud.com

SOLD - 1980 FJ40 Twin cities

A 1 min video clip can be emailed pM your address... Yes, if still posted it is still for sale.. lots of PMs about it but... If you need to check with your wife to see if you can consider buying this...or anything.... please don’t PM me about this... based on this reality... you should not...
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I'm trying to reconcile the suggestions made to me vs what I was looking at. I had one that was in good shape overall, limited rust, outrageously nice interior, repainted, running well (perhaps an engine issue but it still ran well) for $16,500. The couple that have been suggested are $20k+ that have rust on body, poor interiors and overall in need of work? Why would that be better than the one I found for $16,500? I could refurbish the entire engine on that one for $5k which would leave me an amazing interior, nice exterior, and new engine. What am I missing here with these suggestions?

I talked to a regular member of this board (which was a suggestion given to me) and he lectured me that you can't get anything that runs and looks decent for under $30k, I have other responding here saying that the one I was looking at was worth $8k or less. Lots of conflicting information to process.
 
It’s your money and importantly time to do as you please. You’ve got some sound advice from very experienced land cruiser guys here. As swamp-thing said “you’re seeing a small part of the rust.... just give it a little while and you’ll see a lot more”. I’d re-read M1A1’s advice on checking the body related issues. Very few have owned and sold as many 40s as Overton and he said “RUN”. Again it’s your time and money.
 
Asaszn said:
I'm trying to reconcile the suggestions made to me vs what I was looking at. I had one that was in good shape overall, limited rust, outrageously nice interior, repainted, running well (perhaps an engine issue but it still ran well) for $16,500. The couple that have been suggested are $20k+ that have rust on body, poor interiors and overall in need of work? Why would that be better than the one I found for $16,500? I could refurbish the entire engine on that one for $5k which would leave me an amazing interior, nice exterior, and new engine. What am I missing here with these suggestions?

I talked to a regular member of this board (which was a suggestion given to me) and he lectured me that you can't get anything that runs and looks decent for under $30k, I have other responding here saying that the one I was looking at was worth $8k or less. Lots of conflicting information to process.
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My suggestion (but who cares ) just buy only what you want and don't ask here anymore :-) You already have your own opinion. Most member here, including myself, like to see classic mostly original US market FJ40. They are ready to spend more money on this and you not. Don't force yourself to anything what you don't like. Good luck on your decision.
 
Obviously you like the interior, buy it.
 
Buy it for $16.5k if it scratches your itch. You'll likely be very happy. Drive it and enjoy it. It will need maintenance/work just like any other 40 year old used vehicle.

The foresight that many are trying to share comes from costly experience and will likely not come to light until you try to sell it in a few years.

If you keep it garaged and don't drive it when it's raining nor when the roads have any moisture on them, the current state of rust/paint MAY not get much worse and you MAY be able to find someone of similar taste/budget and get your money back.

However, if you drive it where moisture can get to the paint/body or on trails where the body sees and movement, the paint will flake very quickly exposing the untreated rust underneath. This will leave you in position of trying to sell it as a "rust bucket" (which it may be already under the paint) for half what you paid or doing a restoration for double what you paid but only recouping a portion of the resto cost and none of the original purchase price.

If driving it for a few years and losing around 10k is tolerable, then it's perfectly fine. Most of the world loses that much when they drive a new car off the lot. The guys giving advise here are just trying to help you save 10k.
 
interiors are 200-500 dollar seat cover kits and knobs, spray paint, maybe a 300 dollar center console if one of the nice ones.


coming from first hand experience with rust similar to that one

to fix rust...welders are expensive as hell if you cant weld. several thousand in the blink of an eye. Good ones are not cheap and cheap ones are not good. it is a skill that is become more rare over time. I cant do it
paint jobs are 10 grand easy if you dont do yourself. I price shopped around. even cheap s***ty paint jobs are several grand but why spend money on something that will crumble away from rust in a few years under pretty paint if done cheaply


honestly 40 series are not that rare, even south american ones are common. I can find a dozen south american 40 series within 500 miles of myself forsale.

Good ones pop up forsale all the time Dont let your emotions get to you. for your price area you should end up with a nice one if you are patient. From my and others experience on here, the one you have posted I think you would have a hard time recouping 2/3s of your money after throwing more at it after buying.
Im not trying to be a dick, trying to warn you. but I honestly didnt listen to people about rust on here and after a few years my pocket book paid for it and I sold it for a loss after finding one I liked better.

I think any classic vehicle guy would say the same thing. RUN AWAY FROM RUST. you are only seeing the tip of the iceburg.
 
alabamatacomaguy said:
interiors are 200-500 dollar seat cover kits and knobs, spray paint, maybe a 300 dollar center console if one of the nice ones.


coming from first hand experience with rust similar to that one

to fix rust...welders are expensive as hell if you cant weld. several thousand in the blink of an eye. Good ones are not cheap and cheap ones are not good. it is a skill that is become more rare over time. I cant do it
paint jobs are 10 grand easy if you dont do yourself. I price shopped around. even cheap s***ty paint jobs are several grand but why spend money on something that will crumble away from rust in a few years under pretty paint if done cheaply


honestly 40 series are not that rare, even south american ones are common. I can find a dozen south american 40 series within 500 miles of myself forsale.

Good ones pop up forsale all the time Dont let your emotions get to you. for your price area you should end up with a nice one if you are patient. From my and others experience on here, the one you have posted I think you would have a hard time recouping 2/3s of your money after throwing more at it after buying.
Im not trying to be a dick, trying to warn you. but I honestly didnt listen to people about rust on here and after a few years my pocket book paid for it and I sold it for a loss after finding one I liked better.

I think any classic vehicle guy would say the same thing. RUN AWAY FROM RUST. you are only seeing the tip of the iceburg.
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This, this and this.
 
Be patient, and here is what you can get for your budget (scroll down to previous auctions). Yes you will have to pay shipping, but you will not find a rust-free one in the NorthEast, IMO. You should also just set a 'watch alert' on MUD For Sale of 40 series page. Something good will come up , and buying from MUD member is generally reliable, they generally are not a scammer. Also, you need to get in touch with @overton because even though his website lists high dollar trucks, believe me, he comes across bird-dog deals in your price range which are A+.

bringatrailer.com

Land Cruiser FJ40

Browse and bid online for the chance to own a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.
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i Decided I’d reply to this thread, so often on forums people ask questions then never reply with what they did. After months of searching for FJ40s and not finding what I wanted a deal I couldn’t turn down came up for a stunning defender 90 so I bought. It just arrived from Florida this week.
I know it’s not an FJ so I won’t likely be posting here but appreciate all the info and help you app shared with me during the buying process
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