TLC4x4 of Chatsworth Calif (1 Viewer)

[MiyamotoMusashi]

I'd like your guys opinion. I'm seriously considering jumping on a 1990 FJ62 being sold by TLC. It's a beautiful rig. Low miles. Close to stock. Super clean. And a hell of a lot of money! I can't logically explain my infatuation with this rig and so I'm looking for some educated opinions either way that are constructive and not just calling me names.
Thanks

http://tlc4x4.com/uploads/truck_gallery/IMG_5407_2.jpg

 

[Shebamacalla]

wow 32k for a 62. thats a lot, but if it's what you have been dreaming of and you have the $ why not. have you owned one before? or driven one at least?

 

[OGBeno]

Jonathan Ward builds some of the nicest Toyota Land Cruisers in the world. His trucks, from all accounts, are worth the money.

 

[sdcanine99]

My truck had a "light" resto at TLC by the PO (my profile pic is in front of their building). Overall, I'm impressed with the work they did. While $32k does sound like a lot for a 62, it's sure to be a nice, well done truck.

 

[shawnFZJ]

yea, you can be certain if it comes out of JW's shop it has been thoroughly inspected and any work that has been done is of the highest quality. Worth the extra few bucks if you have it.

 

[Off Duty]

I'm kind of in agreement with the others. Don't have any first hand experience with the company, but everything I've read and heard has been positive.

IMHO, 32k is a lot of $$$ for an old truck, regardless of it's condition. If it's still stock, then you'll still run into the problems that plague these beasts, somewhere down the road. Parts availability, rust, etc.

With that said, you'll also have a unique vehicle that you don't see everywhere, and for the most part, will take you to the end of the earth and back without bitching too much!

If you have the available $$$$, and it's what you have your heart set on, then as shebamacalla said, why not?
You can't take it ($$$$) with you, and you only go around once.

Why not enjoy it?

OD

 

[rrv333]

I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for". It's a lot of money but if that's not an issue, then do it.

 

[sschruff]

Here's my .02 worth:

While 32K may seem like a lot for 'an old truck'...trust me, it's not. You could always buy the 2-5K truck and restore it yourself thinking 10-15K will get the job done. That thought would be negated very quickly. The projects are never as easy and even more true, are never what you thought they were going to cost.

If you're the guy that's just as happy driving a rig that is constantly awaiting the next repair, next mod, or next resto project - then yes, 32K is a lot but again, if you imagine yourself driving something as pristine as the one pictured, you'll be lucky if you get out anywhere near 32K.

You can use me as a case study:

Rig: 1987 FJ60. Great overall condition; no rust, some minor issues, one owner, receipts from day driven off the Toyota lot.

Price: 10.2K (with shipping; Az -> La)

Expectation: Approximately 20K to 'restore' it and make it my daily driver.

Reality: Suffice it to say, the 20K has been far surpassed. It's been in one shop or another 95% of the time since I purchased it and even though I blew my budget out of the water within the first 3 months, she's not anywhere near being done. Yes, it's true - I'm somewhat of a fantastic: Meaning if I see something rusted, leaking, or if a part is 30 yrs old and still available and work is being done 'close' to it...I buy a lot of parts.

My take on the 32K rig: Hindsight is the mother of all 'son of a beotch' moments. . .32K, knowing what I know now. .. done deal!

Shane

 

[BeachCruzer]

Or...you can go and buy yourself a new Tahoe 4x4 for $60k (decently appointed) and have the same thing everyone else drives! I would like to say that knowing what I know now, I would have paid $32k to get one already restored by the pros at TLC. But like so many others, I have some strange addiction to buying a ton of Toyota parts and having my ride out of commission for about a year and a half now. Just to have "my cruiser" the way I want it.

When I bought it 4 years ago $4500

After driving for 2 years and figuring out what I wanted to do with it.

Now a year and a half later and still have a couple months to go at best

I've dropped another $20k easily and its going to be quite a bit more to get it finished.

Long story short...if you want to spend more money and wait forever to get to drive your rig, do what I did. If you just want an incredibly nice Cruiser for a great price, buy the one you're looking at!

 

[sschruff]

Or...you can go and buy yourself a new Tahoe 4x4 for $60k (decently appointed) and have the same thing everyone else drives! I would like to say that knowing what I know now, I would have paid $32k to get one already restored by the pros at TLC. But like so many others, I have some strange addiction to buying a ton of Toyota parts and having my ride out of commission for about a year and a half now. Just to have "my cruiser" the way I want it.

When I bought it 4 years ago $4500
View attachment 1038122

After driving for 2 years and figuring out what I wanted to do with it. View attachment 1038125View attachment 1038127

Now a year and a half later and still have a couple months to go at best
View attachment 1038129View attachment 1038130

I've dropped another $20k easily and its going to be quite a bit more to get it finished.

Long story short...if you want to spend more money and wait forever to get to drive your rig, do what I did. If you just want an incredibly nice Cruiser for a great price, buy the one you're looking at!

HOLY F'N SHAT. . .Wow! Where most would shed tears, I just about had a man-crush. Nice work - amazing - takes guts/vision/determination. And last but not least, Good F'N Job!

 

[BeachCruzer]

HOLY F'N SHAT. . .Wow! Where most would shed tears, I just about had a man-crush. Nice work - amazing - takes guts/vision/determination. And last but not least, Good F'N Job!

Thanks! Wish I could take credit for the work, but I have mel lowe and my buddy Mark at Jacksonville Rod Works (paint) to thank for this transformation. It's my vision and money, but these guys are the talent for sure.

 

[sschruff]

Thanks! Wish I could take credit for the work, but I have mel lowe and my buddy Mark at Jacksonville Rod Works (paint) to thank for this transformation. It's my vision and money, but these guys are the talent for sure.

Their work is a direct result of your vision - take credit when/where you deserve it =)

I had the same vision for mine - e.g., frame-off - but my shop, while willing to do almost anything - wasn't willing to do the frame-off. If I had a garage, the skills, the tools, and a pair of red slippers, lol...

I'm happy that you were able to put yr vision into reality...amazing work and a huge congrats.

Shane

 

[Major Nelson]

Here's my .02 worth:

While 32K may seem like a lot for 'an old truck'...trust me, it's not. You could always buy the 2-5K truck and restore it yourself thinking 10-15K will get the job done. That thought would be negated very quickly. The projects are never as easy and even more true, are never what you thought they were going to cost.

If you're the guy that's just as happy driving a rig that is constantly awaiting the next repair, next mod, or next resto project - then yes, 32K is a lot but again, if you imagine yourself driving something as pristine as the one pictured, you'll be lucky if you get out anywhere near 32K.

You can use me as a case study:

Rig: 1987 FJ60. Great overall condition; no rust, some minor issues, one owner, receipts from day driven off the Toyota lot.

Price: 10.2K (with shipping; Az -> La)

Expectation: Approximately 20K to 'restore' it and make it my daily driver.

Reality: Suffice it to say, the 20K has been far surpassed. It's been in one shop or another 95% of the time since I purchased it and even though I blew my budget out of the water within the first 3 months, she's not anywhere near being done. Yes, it's true - I'm somewhat of a fantastic: Meaning if I see something rusted, leaking, or if a part is 30 yrs old and still available and work is being done 'close' to it...I buy a lot of parts.

My take on the 32K rig: Hindsight is the mother of all 'son of a beotch' moments. . .32K, knowing what I know now. .. done deal!

Shane

To be clear. Shane should never be a case study when it comes to this...unless you're looking for someone who's worse than you are (though fear I'm not too far behind Shane). HAH!
Somewhat of a fanatic is like saying the Pope is someone Catholic.

If you have the coin and you're not looking to sell it in the next couple of years....then buy it and enjoy driving it. Does look super clean.

 

[Major Nelson]

Or...you can go and buy yourself a new Tahoe 4x4 for $60k (decently appointed) and have the same thing everyone else drives! I would like to say that knowing what I know now, I would have paid $32k to get one already restored by the pros at TLC. But like so many others, I have some strange addiction to buying a ton of Toyota parts and having my ride out of commission for about a year and a half now. Just to have "my cruiser" the way I want it.

When I bought it 4 years ago $4500
View attachment 1038122

After driving for 2 years and figuring out what I wanted to do with it. View attachment 1038125View attachment 1038127

Now a year and a half later and still have a couple months to go at best
View attachment 1038129View attachment 1038130

I've dropped another $20k easily and its going to be quite a bit more to get it finished.

Long story short...if you want to spend more money and wait forever to get to drive your rig, do what I did. If you just want an incredibly nice Cruiser for a great price, buy the one you're looking at!

Damn...that's some serious body work that went into your rig. Don't imagine there was a spec of rust left after all that work...Great job. there should be a serious build thread on this one...GREAT WORK!

 

[Major Nelson]

and I basically did the same...bought the rig for $5K...no rust (well hardly any)....all said and done I'm probably sitting at $45K now...at least that includes a Vortec now. Happy i went my route...but man, it ain't cheap!

You're probably starting to see a pattern here.

 

[sschruff]

To be clear. Shane should never be a case study when it comes to this...unless you're looking for someone who's worse than you are (though fear I'm not too far behind Shane). HAH!
Somewhat of a fanatic is like saying the Pope is someone Catholic.

If you have the coin and you're not looking to sell it in the next couple of years....then buy it and enjoy driving it. Does look super clean.

LMFAO. . .seriously, like vitamineral green drink just shot through my nose.

 

[sschruff]

and I basically did the same...bought the rig for $5K...no rust (well hardly any)....all said and done I'm probably sitting at $45K now...at least that includes a Vortec now. Happy i went my route...but man, it ain't cheap!

RAGE. . .ANGER. . .PLANNING FOR RETRIBUTION @ you having a f'n vortec. Son of a ever loving mother fumping shat...now I"M JEALOUS!

 

[Major Nelson]

RAGE. . .ANGER. . .PLANNING FOR RETRIBUTION @ you having a f'n vortec. Son of a ever loving mother fumping shat...now I"M JEALOUS!

You knew that, right? Got it done at Tor's (yes, that's the electronic version of lemon and salt being added to a wound)...bwhahahahaha

 

[sschruff]

You knew that, right? Got it done at Tor's (yes, that's the electronic version of lemon and salt being added to a wound)...bwhahahahaha

I remember now but gosh dang it. . .I'm craving that engine like a crackhead craves rock candy! I keep running through my off-canter brain: I can put our wedding off/property purchase for JUST 6 months. . .maybe a year. . .do the engine/finish the 60 NOW, NOW, NOW. . .then marriage, property, you know. . .all the grown-up stuff, lol.

And...I like the burn, hehe.

 

[dbleon]

Maybe Im the oddball... or just plain too cheap. Im sure the work is nice, but I would not spend that kind of money on an old 4x4. That is, unless its a collectors piece... then maybe. Or if it had a Toyota turbo diesel under the hood

I like having a DD that I can thrash as hard as I want and not have to worry about a $30k tag. That's just me..

But all in all, if your gonna blow your wad... no better way to do it than on Cruisers.

Good luck