Value Check 1975 BJ40 LandCruiser $25,000?

[Eddy20]

Have been thinking about buying one on and off for yers, this one is local and going to check it out. How does the price seem? Are the diesels good motors? note seller got back to me and said they never sold the BJ40's in the USA? Also said the FJ was Costa Rica (Red Flag?).

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[charliemeyer007]

When you are not a farcebook member its really hard to look. From what I saw and heard it looked good - $25,000 is more than I would spend - I couldn't find the miles - I'd want like oil analyses for it, a compression check - then maybe 25k would be easier to choke down. My 72 is more or less a rust bucket - I think I'd rather have a newer Toyota that had some form of rust protection.

 

[Skreddy]

I would check an import very closely. They have a bad reputation and new owners often find they bought a cobbled together pile at a premium price.

$25k should get you a very nice cruiser. Have you checked classifieds here or put out a want ad?

Had my wife log in to Facebook to show me this one.
In this 1 pic, I see 4 things that would deter me from this rig immediately, let alone at $25k.
Heater duct hose missing.
Dash cover not tucked up.
Painted body color over pedal bits and some wires.
Electrical tape holding the column clamshell together.

 

[OGBeno]

$10-12 max

 

[Chamba]

The B diesel is a great engine for its time, but parts are VERY difficult to come by, even in countries where it was sold new. The engine is slow as a wet week. The 3B is a much more 'modern' engine with a bit more horsepower, but very little from the 3B will fit on this engine.

I've driven B diesels and the one thing I'll say about them is that they truly make a 60s VW beetle seem rocket-fast. I would recommend you drive this before deciding anything.

Remember too that 40s are naturally prone to rust. Costa Rica is VERY humid, very salty and extremely wet. Labour is cheap there and Bondo is plentiful. I would be willing to guarantee to you that this rig has significant rust issues you'll be dealing with.

You're in California: the Mecca for rust-free indigenous cars. At your price point, I would look for a local California 40 and not have to worry about rust.

 

[rlong]

And the gauge cluster is “falling out” (bottom clip sticking out on bottom, so not fully installed). I’m not wholy anti-South American cruiser but this definately looks cobbled together. The nice thing about finding a solid US market FJ40 is the vastly superior access to parts AND support (in significant part from the “band of idiots” on mud obsessed with them)!

 

[EWheeler]

Have been thinking about buying one on and off for yers, this one is local and going to check it out. How does the price seem? Are the diesels good motors? note seller got back to me and said they never sold the BJ40's in the USA? Also said the FJ was Costa Rica (Red Flag?).

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Hi Eddy, if you are a serious buyer, I would try to find a crusier head local to you that can help you weed through the junk that is available for sale in your area. You never know, they may know of a rig for sale that isn't on the open market that could make you very happy. There are countless stories of excited new owners joining the forum and finding out the 40 series of their dreams is a pile of junk, and most of those stories originate with non US market vehicles. I can tell you that $25k should get you a VERY well sorted 40 in this market that needs very little. That truck does not look to be worth pursuing for being your first 40, both from a price stand point and having limited knowledge & experience with these rigs.

 

[Eddy20]

Thank you all for the input! This forum is so helpful and I'll keep looking for a nice one.