There's a 72 for sale here for $1500. North California 
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/23543265.html
http://www.craigslist.org/nby/car/23543265.html
Stupid Question
- Thread starter thor300
- Start date
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welcome Thor
I am in Ohio as well and it is really hard to find them around here. All these guys that talk about driving around and finding them sitting are obviously not from Ohio. While LandPimp and others may find them under every tree out West, there just ain't many here, and most of them are terrible rust buckets with little or no salvageable parts.Trust me, I am always looking and the finding ain't easy. That is not to say it can't be done, but it would be pretty darn hard.
In fact, I have had to travel some significant distances to find decent cruisers - for example I have a 40 from Wisconsin, a 55 from North Carolina, a 40 from Pennsylvania, and a 60 from New York. The wife's 80 actually came from Ohio (there are plenty of those around)
The relatively dry market here makes the prices fairly high too. An example - less than 2 months ago, a guy stops by my shop because he sees all the Landcruisers sitting around. He used to own one and wanted back in the game. I had a 77 with a blown motor out back. It had diamond plate on the quarters, but it had a newish paint job with new fenders, etc. I told him I don't really sell them, I accumulate them.
He then said "how much do you want for it". I said $4500 could have it. He came back 2 hours later with cash. Was it worth it??? I don't know, but he was putting a 350 in it and thought it was a good deal. I myself would have a pretty hard time paying that for a nonrunner, but he just wanted a Cruiser platform to start with.
sorry for the long post, just wanted to let you know the deal here in the midwest.
Krushr
I am in Ohio as well and it is really hard to find them around here. All these guys that talk about driving around and finding them sitting are obviously not from Ohio. While LandPimp and others may find them under every tree out West, there just ain't many here, and most of them are terrible rust buckets with little or no salvageable parts.Trust me, I am always looking and the finding ain't easy. That is not to say it can't be done, but it would be pretty darn hard.
In fact, I have had to travel some significant distances to find decent cruisers - for example I have a 40 from Wisconsin, a 55 from North Carolina, a 40 from Pennsylvania, and a 60 from New York. The wife's 80 actually came from Ohio (there are plenty of those around)
The relatively dry market here makes the prices fairly high too. An example - less than 2 months ago, a guy stops by my shop because he sees all the Landcruisers sitting around. He used to own one and wanted back in the game. I had a 77 with a blown motor out back. It had diamond plate on the quarters, but it had a newish paint job with new fenders, etc. I told him I don't really sell them, I accumulate them.
He then said "how much do you want for it". I said $4500 could have it. He came back 2 hours later with cash. Was it worth it??? I don't know, but he was putting a 350 in it and thought it was a good deal. I myself would have a pretty hard time paying that for a nonrunner, but he just wanted a Cruiser platform to start with.
sorry for the long post, just wanted to let you know the deal here in the midwest.
Krushr
I don't know how to do that quote thing but, some one mentioned finding one in a farmers back yard... The best deals are the people that don't know about the "Cruiser World". They just think they have a old 4x4. I'm looking all the time online and around where I live. I got lucky and got my 77 40 for 1500. Probably one of the best original frames I'd seen. Little electrical problems but all in all my sweethearts never let me down. I'm about to buy a 83 60 for 1200. He also doesn't know about us! Good luck, and just to reiterate money talks. 
throo300 What part if this great state are you in. I know of 1 possible 2 that are sitting in a yard. I already have 2 40s and no interest in more 40s still looking for that 60. I am up North near Cleveland on that frozen thing we call Lake Erie. Let me know if you are up this way. BTW I bought one in WV and the other in NM.
MJM
MJM
i found mine thru cars.com or autotrader.com or classiccartrader.com or something.com, i don't remember.
found one i wanted, called the guy up several times. was goin to drive to alabama (from sc, about 8 hrs for me) to pick it up. lost his phone number, went to look it up again, and the ad directly under his was a nice 72fj40 not 5 minutes from my house. bought it the next day.
good luck, and you'll never regret it, esp. with guys like these on the boards to help out.
malphrus
found one i wanted, called the guy up several times. was goin to drive to alabama (from sc, about 8 hrs for me) to pick it up. lost his phone number, went to look it up again, and the ad directly under his was a nice 72fj40 not 5 minutes from my house. bought it the next day.
good luck, and you'll never regret it, esp. with guys like these on the boards to help out.
malphrus
Welcome Thor....now if you can get MJM to part with one of his very sweet 40's you'd have it made...however I don't think hell part with one. I'm out in Philly...a displaced bucknut. I'll keep my eyes open here and a bud of mine heads up the LC club in cols. I'll dig up his email and PM you with it. He might know of something local. Other than that I agree with ebay not being the best place...however this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...6443&item=2457079824&sspagename=STRK:MEBWA:IT
This is about as rust free a tub as I've seen nearby in quite awhile. I ended up getting my 40 in Alabama. Good luck and take your time on the hunt.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...6443&item=2457079824&sspagename=STRK:MEBWA:IT
This is about as rust free a tub as I've seen nearby in quite awhile. I ended up getting my 40 in Alabama. Good luck and take your time on the hunt.
I got mine from the original owner who bought it from a dealer Here in colorado springs, it has never left the state, till April of 2004 
$1400, he had it just sitting in his yard next to a POS bronco that my Buddy Bought.. Just wait and dont jump into anything, the right one will come soon enughf.. i went by about 5 other "decent Deals" before i found this one.. i am in it about $2500 now and it runs like a champ!! oh and it had a 350 in it too!!
$1400, he had it just sitting in his yard next to a POS bronco that my Buddy Bought.. Just wait and dont jump into anything, the right one will come soon enughf.. i went by about 5 other "decent Deals" before i found this one.. i am in it about $2500 now and it runs like a champ!! oh and it had a 350 in it too!!- Thread starter
- #31
wow. this is much more than I expected. I feel like i'm in a big circle of TLC's, and they're all purring away. Thanks for the help guys.
MJM- I'm in Columbus. I'd be willing to drive anywhere really to even see one of these up close...and maybe even drive it. Sounds sad huh? LOL. They are such a rarity out here. I've been looking for a month and still haven't even seen one.
Thanks Todd- yeah send me a pm if you get a chance.
everyone keep your eyes peeled for me. Thanks for the help! email me with leads and info!! thor300@yahoo.com
MJM- I'm in Columbus. I'd be willing to drive anywhere really to even see one of these up close...and maybe even drive it. Sounds sad huh? LOL. They are such a rarity out here. I've been looking for a month and still haven't even seen one.
Thanks Todd- yeah send me a pm if you get a chance.
everyone keep your eyes peeled for me. Thanks for the help! email me with leads and info!! thor300@yahoo.com
hey thor300,Welcome, 
I know of a 77 up north michigan if he still has it, the guy wanted 5.5K..all original smurf blue 79K.....I have more photo's if interested, might be kinda far for you to drive.
Only thing done to it was some minor fender reapair/repaint and the drivers seat bottom was re-covered..
He had it on ebay with a buy now price of 7k, someone hit the buy now button and never came through with the $$$.
P.S. good thing your not in michigan with a a subject like that, might of been mistaken for someone else
I know of a 77 up north michigan if he still has it, the guy wanted 5.5K..all original smurf blue 79K.....I have more photo's if interested, might be kinda far for you to drive.
Only thing done to it was some minor fender reapair/repaint and the drivers seat bottom was re-covered..
He had it on ebay with a buy now price of 7k, someone hit the buy now button and never came through with the $$$.
P.S. good thing your not in michigan with a a subject like that, might of been mistaken for someone else
- Thread starter
- #33
Awesome price. Looks like a bit of bubbling on the 1/4 panel...and that seems to indicate rot, but nothing too severe, yet... Yeah give me some more info. This looks like one I'd like to check out. Upper Michigan isn't too bad. Only thing I'm really worried about is CA or Florida or Maine...ya know...a 16 hour trip or something. So, send some pics or info my way man! Thanks!
Got my '74 in a trade for an old corvair project I was sick of and some labor. The funny part was the labor was on a cruiser so it was easy and enjoyable.
Hey, Thor,
If you find a "too good to be true" deal in a state that's too far for you
to drive, enlist someone to check it out for you. The longer you hang
out here, the more people's judgement you'll be able to trust. Especially
those of us that are mechanics.
I didn't read every post on this thread, so I don't know if this came up,
but you could also ask the seller if they'd be willing to have the shop of
your choice check out the rig before you put any $$$ down.
I'm a mechanic, so if you find one in central AZ (which is one of the
best places to find em, no rust) I'd be happy to check it out.
And I promise I won't snipe you, since I am a wagon guy(tm).
If you find a "too good to be true" deal in a state that's too far for you
to drive, enlist someone to check it out for you. The longer you hang
out here, the more people's judgement you'll be able to trust. Especially
those of us that are mechanics.
I didn't read every post on this thread, so I don't know if this came up,
but you could also ask the seller if they'd be willing to have the shop of
your choice check out the rig before you put any $$$ down.
I'm a mechanic, so if you find one in central AZ (which is one of the
best places to find em, no rust) I'd be happy to check it out.
And I promise I won't snipe you, since I am a wagon guy(tm).
I'm in southern Utah and also a mechanic. Not much rust here either. 8)
welcome thor , i found my truck , through collectorcartrader.com,at a bmw dealership in georgia,it had been a trade in.needed total going through,but had a pretty decent body,real nice frame. i went into the process with the mindset that every thing mechanical was suspect,and to just focus on getting a good complete body . i just treated it as a starter kit. i hope this helps. good luck
i went into the process with the mindset that every thing mechanical was suspect,and to just focus on getting a good complete body . i just treated it as a starter kit. i hope this helps. good luck
Southern Nevada is real dry too. Hardly any rust there. That's where my old Ford came from. It's a '74 and I got it with no rust.
Thor,
Make yourself known to some of the local Toyota dealers and that you are looking. Primarily the service shop/managers, some of the used vehicle managers and the parts dept. You may be suprised at what they see and know. I parted with my beloved FJ60 over 2 years ago and on that rare ocasion that I do go to the dealer I'm still stopped by someone to tell me "they saw one the other day".
I still get calls from the one dealer when they get a 60 or 62 to see if I know anyone interested.
Good luck and take your time.
Make yourself known to some of the local Toyota dealers and that you are looking. Primarily the service shop/managers, some of the used vehicle managers and the parts dept. You may be suprised at what they see and know. I parted with my beloved FJ60 over 2 years ago and on that rare ocasion that I do go to the dealer I'm still stopped by someone to tell me "they saw one the other day".
I still get calls from the one dealer when they get a 60 or 62 to see if I know anyone interested.
Good luck and take your time.
