Realistic Cost(s) of FJ40's

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gray rider

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Rusted out or blinged out: I am in the market. What is the market today?
 
There are some really nice looking rigs out there that are just waiting to become your headache. Then there are a few out there that you can buy for less than you could build it for. If I were in the market I would watch the classifieds on this forum and I would talk to a few of the longtime vendors here to see if they have any leads. That is where you will find your best deal in my opinion.
 
Sounds like sage advice....
 
Regardless, I am going to bump this as required.....:)
 
Sounds like sage advice....
An educated buyer can get a better rig than an uneducated buyer with a high budget IMO. You can get a great rig for $10k-15k that needs some elbow grease and you can get a piece of junk for $35k+ that needs everything.

1. Don't buy any rig originating from South America.
2. Don't buy any rig originating from South America.
3. Don't buy any rig originating from South America.
4. Stay away from BAT unless the vehicle is original or has well documented restoration process on a public forum. Just my opinion. Lots of shiny 40's hiding shoddy work on that website.

What do you want? Weekend driver, daily driver, once a month to coffee driver? Restored shiny 40 that doesn't leave a drop of oil on the nice concrete or pavers out front? Rusty crusty project? v8 power? Inline 6 nostalgia? Lifted or stock? Offroad capable or mall crawler for looks?
 
I want an open discussion of where the market truly is today......
 
Roger that Pee guy
 
I see them on Craig's list. You can pick your search parameters and city's that you would drive to or have contacts that could go check it out. I would consider placing want ads with exactly what you are looking for - consider offering finders fees for the right stuff.
 
I want an open discussion of where the market truly is today......
Market is lower today than it was 2-3 years ago, but lot of folks are holding or hoping to get prices of yesteryear. I'm seeing lots of price reductions on toys for sale and more reasonable prices on used junk, but the fire sale of toys/non-necessities has yet to start out West. If the cost of energy, healthcare, insurance, housing, and borrowing remain the same, the fire sale is coming..... That is just my personal opinion.
 
Well according to Marketplace in Northern Cali they are like gold wether toast or built, nice oem units go for 30, 40, 50 K
Wheelers just trashed and used up are getting 3,4,5 K or more. There are lots of offerings in the 15 to 25k range and its your choice of what color, add ons, or what oem is left you like.
 
You have to study the market. See 5 to 10 rigs and study 35 to 50 online rigs. Bring a Trailer comments over a 6 to 12 month period can give you a good start.

Don’t impulse buy. Spend a little more than you want , and make sure you get what you want.

I originally was looking in the 10 to 15k range thinking I could elbow grease my way into a good deal. That market will require 10 to 15k to get the rig right.

Be patient
 
I want an open discussion of where the market truly is today......

To be open and honest you are much too late in the market the best are alreadu sold !
 
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40's are so Iconic.
I swore that I would not sell my 80 unless I could replace it with a 40....we shall see....
 
1500.00

IMG_20240817_081226.jpg
 
I think a general view of the market would be……
The best rigs being built and sold, 75K and up (inset pretty much any amount here) are out of reach for the average buyer. Many of those have modern convenience add ons that make them much more comfortable than originally built. You are getting a brand new FJ40 and paying a 2024 brand new price for it.

50K -100K
The best examples of original FJ40’s are also out of reach to average buyers but still lots of examples that are priced cheaper than the cost to build. 2024 new car prices for an original without new car comfort.

Then there is the 35K - 75K “Frame off restored” market where you can really over pay if you don’t know what you are looking at.

There is a big market of FJ40’s, 20K -50K, that the average guy can buy into and have something he can drive, tinker with and upgrade while you enjoy driving a 50 year old rig. The good ones in this group are mostly owned and maintained by enthusiasts that offer a solid rig with records of what has been done over the years. You usually have more invested in these rigs than most people want to pay for them.

Then you have the 5K-20K group that are somewhere between not running rust bucket parts rigs to “possible to get running” examples that an original owner parked years ago. Unless you can do much of the work yourself you will likely have more invested than what it is worth. But you will learn a lot and meet some cool folks.
I did this post for fun. These prices are my opinion only and obviously has overlaps so YMMV.
 

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