- Year
- 1974
- Vehicle Model
- 40 Series
- Location
- United States
- Mileage
- 5500
- Color
- red
Long Post. Ask is 26K. Will do my best to paint an detailed picture. Sorry if any redundancy. Written this over a few episodes.
Up for sale. Honest and I believe rust free '74 FJ. Very nice truck. Paint is likely 30+ years old. No slight of hand bondo tricks. Original factory original welds still visible.
Lightly modified with exception of some light mods and Chevy v8 installed some 30+ years ago. V8 could pass as original to the untrained eye. Runs, drives and stops A-1. Has second Confer gas tank added in the late 70's with electric switch gear on dash and all works well. Dressed up with a bunch of chrome bits when it was restomodded years ago to the way it looks today. Hasn't aged much as it's been mostly a garage queen since. I'm not a FJ expert, but I am a classic car enthusiast that grew up in the rust belt, Im pretty qualified to know the difference. This is nice. As a young man in the military here in San Diego in the 90's, I bought my first house from flipping rust-free muscle cars. Purists won't love it, but I think there is something to be said for the well mannered horsepower of a V8. I"ve always been a Chevy guy so you may differ... and that's alright.
I've always really liked the FJs, I just never came across one I could afford and had room for at the same time. I bought this as part of a package deal with some business equipment from a private party. My family and I have enjoyed it and we've hit a few local car shows, it's been fun. It's happy around town or on the freeway and keeps up lazily at freeways speeds at 75. Solid driver, no wobbles or bad manners.
Garage space tho is a premium here in San Diego. Between work vehicles, classic cars, and kids driving, space is a tight at home, so I rent a dedicated garage. It's been kept in dry storage most of its life and definitely since I purchased it. If I could get a fair price for it, I'd consider finding it a home. I've been trying to figure out what that number is and I think 26K is it. Would be happy to have a forum expert in San Diego area give it a hard look over to make us both feel confident prior to any transaction. I'm a pretty reasonable and I want us both to feel good when said and done. I am confident you wouldn't be disappointed in the vehicle tho.
I've received insights from folks here on this forum and have a good idea of what it is and isn't. Right now, it's an exceptionally clean and capable driver and not a 100 point show car. I'd welcome any comments or question relating to value or inquiries in general. Any constructive inputs or comments would be taken as such. I am not looking to bs or take advantage of anyone.
The original Blue CA Plates issued in 70's) are present and up to date. Clean CA title is in my name. Per my understanding, immediate PO bought it from a vehicle flipper in Northern CA circa 2010. That Immediate PO lived somewhere in Northern CA and was responsible for the vehicle modifications. I can't confirm that with paperwork, just providing what I was told. Happy to provide Vin, etc to any serious interested parties. Vehicle has BAR (CA smog certification label from the engine conversion. Patina wise under the hood, suspension etc, all are just as I purchased including the surface rust on the air cleaner cover. Was quite literally a garage find when I was buying a work trailer. I wished I stole it PO knew what it was and what it was worth. Has original jack/hardware etc under the jumpseat. 8000lb winch includes the remote.
Has Power Steering, power brakes that work perfect, period correct GM Steering column with GM ignition in the column which looks and works like new. All doors, factory door locks and (I think) factory keys, including rear hatch, are present and working. Glass is excellent. To my knowledge, all switch gear including turn signals, lights, wipers, fans, heaters, defrost, etc, work as designed including interior reading lights. Tires are excellent. Paint is excellent overall, cleans up very nicely. Wheel wells were slightly trimmed for larger fender flares. No rust or sins hiding under the diamond plate, was apparently all part of chrome assault package years ago. But the good new is, the 80's and 90's are supposedly back in style.
There is a second Confer gas tank manufacturer stamps from late 1979. All tank switching on the dash works properly, as does the the fuel gauge on both tanks. Headlights/high beam switches work well. Seats padding feels new under your butt and are quite comfortable. Stereo is fully operational and wiring looks proper, but the roll bar speakers do not put out sound. I haven't diagnosed, hasn't been a priority as I listen to the drive train music which sounds great, even cruising at freeway speeds. Carpet is definitely newer, looks fantastic and has additional soundproofing underneath making for a quiet ride. Floors look to be excellent and never worked on. I don't know for certain but I suspect the top may have never been off. An overall nice example. It is very road worthy. I've been driving it enough to say with some degree of competence. .
Whoever built it, did so with attention to detail. judging by the amount of Chrome, cheap was not the goal. The V8 wasn't built as a hot rod to be thrashed, but reliable and serviceable. Long ago, the availability of parts/support for a Chevrolet drive train was better than Toyota if you weren't near a major city, so this would make sense. The rest of it was left pretty original Toyota.
If the date on the 2nd Confer gas tank (1979) is any indication, the work was done over 40 years ago with comfort and longer driving range in mind. It odometer only shows 5500 on the odometer and it's believable, it's been a special weekend driver for many years. It was surely built and cared for well before these became so valuable. There is literally a zero chance this is a bucket with shiny paint. It was built and then blessed as a v8 Conversion for smog certification reasons in CA as It had to pass CA smog inspections up until 2002. Thankfully that requirement is no longer.
It even still wears the original Blue CA license plates from the 70s and that, you can't fake. You can buy New fake Classic California 'Black Plates' with Gold Letters that look similar to ones used prior to 1970. But you can't buy the Classic CA 'Blue Plates' that were used only in the 70's. 'Betty' has definitely been a California girl most, if not all, of her life.
If it doesn't sell, I won't be heart broken as the FJ was atop my bucket list since I was a kid. She runs and drives perfect and my wife will actually drive it unlike any of my other old cars, for better or worse, lol. The challenge has been I rarely find the time to go get it out of the garage. That and I don't have convenient space to store the hardtop. And if the top hasn't ever been off of it, I hate to take it off. Not sure if it matters from a value standpoint, I'm just funny like that. It's made it this long.
Thanks for the long attention span. Hopefully didn't take as much to read as it did to write.
Up for sale. Honest and I believe rust free '74 FJ. Very nice truck. Paint is likely 30+ years old. No slight of hand bondo tricks. Original factory original welds still visible.
Lightly modified with exception of some light mods and Chevy v8 installed some 30+ years ago. V8 could pass as original to the untrained eye. Runs, drives and stops A-1. Has second Confer gas tank added in the late 70's with electric switch gear on dash and all works well. Dressed up with a bunch of chrome bits when it was restomodded years ago to the way it looks today. Hasn't aged much as it's been mostly a garage queen since. I'm not a FJ expert, but I am a classic car enthusiast that grew up in the rust belt, Im pretty qualified to know the difference. This is nice. As a young man in the military here in San Diego in the 90's, I bought my first house from flipping rust-free muscle cars. Purists won't love it, but I think there is something to be said for the well mannered horsepower of a V8. I"ve always been a Chevy guy so you may differ... and that's alright.
I've always really liked the FJs, I just never came across one I could afford and had room for at the same time. I bought this as part of a package deal with some business equipment from a private party. My family and I have enjoyed it and we've hit a few local car shows, it's been fun. It's happy around town or on the freeway and keeps up lazily at freeways speeds at 75. Solid driver, no wobbles or bad manners.
Garage space tho is a premium here in San Diego. Between work vehicles, classic cars, and kids driving, space is a tight at home, so I rent a dedicated garage. It's been kept in dry storage most of its life and definitely since I purchased it. If I could get a fair price for it, I'd consider finding it a home. I've been trying to figure out what that number is and I think 26K is it. Would be happy to have a forum expert in San Diego area give it a hard look over to make us both feel confident prior to any transaction. I'm a pretty reasonable and I want us both to feel good when said and done. I am confident you wouldn't be disappointed in the vehicle tho.
I've received insights from folks here on this forum and have a good idea of what it is and isn't. Right now, it's an exceptionally clean and capable driver and not a 100 point show car. I'd welcome any comments or question relating to value or inquiries in general. Any constructive inputs or comments would be taken as such. I am not looking to bs or take advantage of anyone.
The original Blue CA Plates issued in 70's) are present and up to date. Clean CA title is in my name. Per my understanding, immediate PO bought it from a vehicle flipper in Northern CA circa 2010. That Immediate PO lived somewhere in Northern CA and was responsible for the vehicle modifications. I can't confirm that with paperwork, just providing what I was told. Happy to provide Vin, etc to any serious interested parties. Vehicle has BAR (CA smog certification label from the engine conversion. Patina wise under the hood, suspension etc, all are just as I purchased including the surface rust on the air cleaner cover. Was quite literally a garage find when I was buying a work trailer. I wished I stole it PO knew what it was and what it was worth. Has original jack/hardware etc under the jumpseat. 8000lb winch includes the remote.
Has Power Steering, power brakes that work perfect, period correct GM Steering column with GM ignition in the column which looks and works like new. All doors, factory door locks and (I think) factory keys, including rear hatch, are present and working. Glass is excellent. To my knowledge, all switch gear including turn signals, lights, wipers, fans, heaters, defrost, etc, work as designed including interior reading lights. Tires are excellent. Paint is excellent overall, cleans up very nicely. Wheel wells were slightly trimmed for larger fender flares. No rust or sins hiding under the diamond plate, was apparently all part of chrome assault package years ago. But the good new is, the 80's and 90's are supposedly back in style.
There is a second Confer gas tank manufacturer stamps from late 1979. All tank switching on the dash works properly, as does the the fuel gauge on both tanks. Headlights/high beam switches work well. Seats padding feels new under your butt and are quite comfortable. Stereo is fully operational and wiring looks proper, but the roll bar speakers do not put out sound. I haven't diagnosed, hasn't been a priority as I listen to the drive train music which sounds great, even cruising at freeway speeds. Carpet is definitely newer, looks fantastic and has additional soundproofing underneath making for a quiet ride. Floors look to be excellent and never worked on. I don't know for certain but I suspect the top may have never been off. An overall nice example. It is very road worthy. I've been driving it enough to say with some degree of competence. .
Whoever built it, did so with attention to detail. judging by the amount of Chrome, cheap was not the goal. The V8 wasn't built as a hot rod to be thrashed, but reliable and serviceable. Long ago, the availability of parts/support for a Chevrolet drive train was better than Toyota if you weren't near a major city, so this would make sense. The rest of it was left pretty original Toyota.
If the date on the 2nd Confer gas tank (1979) is any indication, the work was done over 40 years ago with comfort and longer driving range in mind. It odometer only shows 5500 on the odometer and it's believable, it's been a special weekend driver for many years. It was surely built and cared for well before these became so valuable. There is literally a zero chance this is a bucket with shiny paint. It was built and then blessed as a v8 Conversion for smog certification reasons in CA as It had to pass CA smog inspections up until 2002. Thankfully that requirement is no longer.
It even still wears the original Blue CA license plates from the 70s and that, you can't fake. You can buy New fake Classic California 'Black Plates' with Gold Letters that look similar to ones used prior to 1970. But you can't buy the Classic CA 'Blue Plates' that were used only in the 70's. 'Betty' has definitely been a California girl most, if not all, of her life.
If it doesn't sell, I won't be heart broken as the FJ was atop my bucket list since I was a kid. She runs and drives perfect and my wife will actually drive it unlike any of my other old cars, for better or worse, lol. The challenge has been I rarely find the time to go get it out of the garage. That and I don't have convenient space to store the hardtop. And if the top hasn't ever been off of it, I hate to take it off. Not sure if it matters from a value standpoint, I'm just funny like that. It's made it this long.
Thanks for the long attention span. Hopefully didn't take as much to read as it did to write.
Last edited:
