New FJ40, sending for inspection, help!

[oslivin]

Hi all! I want to "borrow" your collective brain trust and see what you guys can tell me from the pictures you see. I've put a hold on the vehicle and sending it for inspection. What do you guys think? Any shared knowledge to a NON gear head would be awesome and so VERY much appreciated.

See link here:

Classical Gas Motors specializing in the sale and purchase of Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Streetrod and Special Interest Cars

 

[elderber]

Hi all! I want to "borrow" your collective brain trust and see what you guys can tell me from the pictures you see. I've put a hold on the vehicle and sending it for inspection. What do you guys think? Any shared knowledge to a NON gear head would be awesome and so VERY much appreciated.

See link here:

Classical Gas Motors specializing in the sale and purchase of Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Streetrod and Special Interest Cars

I would be very cautious buying from a consignment outfit like that. When I was searching for my 40 I looked at a lot of those dealer ads and read an even greater number of bad reviews and BBB horror stories. Plus they said it comes with a “wench!” Good luck!

 

[tstepp920]

Save yourself. Contact overton
here on MUD or check out his Land Cruiser Nation website. No affiliation with Greg just regret for blowing him off.

 

[SteveH]

No emissions - Weber carb, header, etc. Cheesy LED light bar. Some good '73 bits (backup light). For $30K, it would need a serious inspection. This is a very typical 'used car lot' FJ40, and needs a lot of close inspection by a Toyota FJ40-saavy person before purchasing.

 

[bhsdriller]

reduced price of 29,500
haha

No way

 

[Engineer8000]

Looks to be missing the pull knob under the radio for the cowl vent, hard to tell. That is also a 73 year only part.

I saw a show on American Greed a while back about a consignment car sale scam in NJ. Guy was selling cars and pocketing the money. So you ended up with people with cars with no title and people with titles and no cars. NJ law said (at the time anyway) buyer beware on the clear title in NJ. So the law would not force the return of the cars.

 

[kerplunk]

Hi all! I want to "borrow" your collective brain trust and see what you guys can tell me from the pictures you see. I've put a hold on the vehicle and sending it for inspection. What do you guys think? Any shared knowledge to a NON gear head would be awesome and so VERY much appreciated.

See link here:

Classical Gas Motors specializing in the sale and purchase of Classic Cars, Muscle Cars, Streetrod and Special Interest Cars

Your profile lists a location of San Diego....

I don't know all the requirements of CA emissions requirements, but if this is going to be required to pass, it won't. (carb and header, at least...)

 

[Slapshot]

Your profile lists a location of San Diego....

I don't know all the requirements of CA emissions requirements, but if this is going to be required to pass, it won't. (carb and header, at least...)

Pre ‘75 you can do anything, no smog inspection required. One of the reasons why I bought my ‘73.

I’d be cautious at that price. But you gotta love a “front wench”!

 

[Living in the Past]

See the missing broken pieces but what concerns me more is hidden rust and Bondo. Maybe just the picture on my phone but the gap between the tub and hard top behind the passenger door looks odd. Would rather deal with locating missing parts than Bondo and rust.

Only missing piece from my 73 I haven't located is the above mentioned rod for the front ventilator. While a 73 only part in the US a quick search shows both RHD and LHD non heater model used it 9/72 until the end of production of the 40 series.

 

[oslivin]

Your profile lists a location of San Diego....

I don't know all the requirements of CA emissions requirements, but if this is going to be required to pass, it won't. (carb and header, at least...)

Yeah......as long as it is pre 1975, it isn't required to pass CA Smog. That's why I'm trying to stick to anything pre 75.

 

[FJ40inKY]

I would be very cautious buying from a consignment outfit like that. When I was searching for my 40 I looked at a lot of those dealer ads and read an even greater number of bad reviews and BBB horror stories. Plus they said it comes with a “wench!” Good luck!

Man, I wish mine came with a Wench. All I got was a bucket of parts.

For to OP- the decision really depends on what you want out of the purchase. I wanted a reliable running FJ and didn't care about things being original, etc. and am very happy with mine. If you want something for resale value though, that's a really bad route to take. Likewise if you want all original, you have no idea if that odometer reading is right, how the truck was treated, etc. For reference, unless it is original too- I'd say the price is too high. I got mine in top restored shape for $26K... so if this thing is not original, and not in perfect shape- it isn't worth $30K IMO.

 

[bhsdriller]

Technically pre 76....a 75 is smog exempt

 

[oslivin]

See the missing broken pieces but what concerns me more is hidden rust and Bondo. Maybe just the picture on my phone but the gap between the tub and hard top behind the passenger door looks odd. Would rather deal with locating missing parts than Bondo and rust.

Only missing piece from my 73 I haven't located is the above mentioned rod for the front ventilator. While a 73 only part in the US a quick search shows both RHD and LHD non heater model used it 9/72 until the end of production of the 40 series.

Yeah, that scares me also. Not being able to put a magnet on it all the way around! (i'm guessing thats how you find the bondo?)

 

[oslivin]

Man, I wish mine came with a Wench. All I got was a bucket of parts.

For to OP- the decision really depends on what you want out of the purchase. I wanted a reliable running FJ and didn't care about things being original, etc. and am very happy with mine. If you want something for resale value though, that's a really bad route to take. Likewise if you want all original, you have no idea if that odometer reading is right, how the truck was treated, etc. For reference, unless it is original too- I'd say the price is too high. I got mine in top restored shape for $26K... so if this thing is not original, and not in perfect shape- it isn't worth $30K IMO.

Question, yours was fully restored and you got it for 26? Why do I see those going for like 70grand? I'm asking honestly so I can understand the pricing and where it should be at for a restored etc.

 

[FJ404345]

Question, yours was fully restored and you got it for 26? Why do I see those going for like 70grand? I'm asking honestly so I can understand the pricing and where it should be at for a restored etc.

There is a difference between top restored and fully restored

 

[FJ40inKY]

Question, yours was fully restored and you got it for 26? Why do I see those going for like 70grand? I'm asking honestly so I can understand the pricing and where it should be at for a restored etc.

Nothing on mine matches... it's all parted together from a mix of old parts and new parts and the actual mileage or use is unknown. That said, it runs like a champ and even has aftermarket AC (which I never use, lol). For instance though- the frame and most of the body is a 1969. The speedo though is somewhere in the mid 70's. The engine is a 1980. The interior is all new and the tires as well. There's no rust but some wear because the previous owner didn't have a reliable garage for a couple years. But like I said- I just wanted a good looking fun toy truck and am very pleased with this one. It's all about what you are going for- I see some like this on eBay from time to time in the 30's-50's.

I do personally think I got a good deal on it- in my mind it is worth more a lot more. The previous owner was also in a need to sell situation, so that got me a bit of a discount off market I believe.

The one you are looking at- it may be fine. Reminds me a lot about mine- but mine had nothing that needed to be done (I noted some people saying knobs were missing, etc). That kind of talk would scare me off as a non-mech guy. I'm borderline tinkerer at best.

 

[Living in the Past]

The one you are looking at- it may be fine. Reminds me a lot about mine- but mine had nothing that needed to be done (I noted some people saying knobs were missing, etc). That kind of talk would scare me off as a non-mech guy. I'm borderline tinkerer at best.

Having a missing switch knob or wiring and mechanical issues don't scare me. Bondo and rust do. Mainly on the frame and tub. Rest of the body parts just bolt on. Unless you have detailed of the starting point and during a restore with a person inspection I would buy a restored new paint FJ40.