What’s this FJ40 worth in your opinion?

[pb4ugo]

Body work and body repair is the most expensive and time consuming and you don't know how bad it is. Reparing that rocker panel may open up a huge can of worms. Mechanicals are pretty straight forward and it's cost can be straight forward. A couple of grand doesn't go far. The tires are probably decades old and will cost about a grand to replace. How's it run, stop, handle? Is it a 3 speed or a 4 speed? 4 wheel Drum brakes or disc? Post some pics of the frame and underneath. It appears to be missing a lot of bits and pieces, and is a mashup of various yrs. We can only comment on what we see and try to give an honest assessment. Most folks on here are purist, I'm not one of them.

 

[bhsdriller]

If it was me I wouldn't even touch the body. Wheel and drive as it

Get the run, stop and handling down and be good to go

 

[EWheeler]

When I was working on the east coast a couple years back, I went and looked at a mostly stock looking FJ40. It showed well in the photos from 20', shiny period color correct green paint, no obvious signs of rot. What I saw when I looked at it in person, was unbelievable. Every single body panel was gone, rotted from the inside out, even the hood, and IMO the frame was toast as well. You could not have paid me to take it home. It was listed for $17k, and sold in a week or the ad was removed at least.

Us west coasters are very spoiled in what we get to work with. The PNW has some rust for sure, but nowhere near what I saw back east.

OP, no offense, but you'd be money ahead buying and shipping a known runner with an "un pretty" body out from the Southwest US. There is one local to me on Facebook marketplace that's got good bones and is $9k.

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As least you know it isn't going to fold in half on you due to frame failure. I wouldn't buy and put any effort into that truck personally.

 

[Sky King]

If the price is right buy it and have fun with it. When new few remained stock for long all manner of changes and accessories made them better off road. Full restoration is a long expensive rabbit hole to go down. Even as a rustoration it will be somewhat of a money pit as parts these days are getting expensive.

On the subject of rust if the location is New York which is the land of calcium chloride on the roads in the winter the rust could be a real problem. FJ40's rot out in the desert and dissolve in places like upstate NY. Bodies can be patched or replaced but a rusted out frame may make it a bad purchase. If you can get it cheap enough still crawl under it with a flashlight and take a good look at the frame, if it isn't in good shape walk away.

 

[3_puppies]

WTF is up with those headers?

those are old school over the frame headers

climbing in over the full cage, not a lot of fun

front crossmember scabbed together after the power steering install, bad news

rear shackle frame mounts look odd


RUN AWAY

 

[JohnnyC]

Where abouts in NY? I am in capital district area myself

As for price …. He paid 4k

In his mind it’s gone up in price and he will want over 4k … most everyone thinks they have a goldmine as they see the trucks go across at mecuum fetching big money

I have a guy with a 64 near me who thinks he has a $20k rusted non running truck … it’s rare he says lol

Offer 1k … leave your number when you walk away … you may get a call in a few months sometimes it happens

Btw I have a much better cruiser than that I’m selling for $100 firm… see here

For Sale - NY East Greenbush FJ40 for sale… your kids want it !

Selling our fj40. Sad to see it go but the time has come. Kids gave me the ok to sell ! This is an older Gaucho made by Peg Pergo. It is a child’s version of the 1980’s Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40. The build date for these are later than the model year… I would put the build date at 1992 from...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Pierps]

Yeah, bondo over serious rust demonstrates very poor judgement from a prior owner. That amount of rot is bad enough that there's no way there isn't other serious rust under bondo elsewhere.

I get that you're not looking for a show rig, but rot like this can render the rig literally useless for even cruising around on the weekend. Since this is a family friend, I wouldn't even put in an offer and risking insulting him.

 

[RevISK]

Alright, since no one has mentioned it and everyone is talking about “important” stuff like frame integrity and the body just sluffing off…

IT IS WAY TOO RED!!! EVERYTHING IS RED!! EVEN THE SHIFTER CANES… RED!!
SO
MUCH
RED!!

Red means STOP.
Red means DANGER.
Red means spilled blood every time you get near this thing…

It makes my eyes sorry they work.

 

[RevISK]

Alright, since no one has mentioned it and everyone is talking about “important” stuff like frame integrity and the body just sluffing off…

IT IS WAY TOO RED!!! EVERYTHING IS RED!! EVEN THE SHIFTER CANES… RED!!
SO
MUCH
RED!!

Red means STOP.
Red means DANGER.
Red means spilled blood every time you get near this thing…

It makes my eyes sorry they work.

I told you I had nothing nice to say.

 

[igotta40]

That 40 looks like it was owned by ‘Florida Man’

 

[bj70bc]

run

 

[70 FJ40]

My opinion is the same as most here.

RUN AWAY!

I'm mostly a Toyota purest, but I like tastefully done mods to increase the usability and drivability of these old rigs and I do see the apeal in a heavily modded rig. However, for all the reason mentioned this thing is way beyond "throw a couple thousand at it to make it safe". I'd guess you'd be over 5k real fast. You'll spend all your time wrenching on the thing and never actually enjoying it out on the road or trail. Then, when you're tired of it, you'll try to sell it for some amount "close to "what you've got in it". And hate the thing all the more when you have to let it go for next to nothing.

 

[Roastchestnuts]

Honestly like others I would save some money and look in the classifieds on mud. I have also seen a bunch of good stuff latley on FB marketplace in the 10 - 15k range. this is what I would do anyway. I get it though. I got lucky on my fj40 and honestly If I were to do it again I would have saved up and bought a cleaner example. on the flip side, I learned valuable skills and knowledge fixing up the one I got. I have more in it that its worth for sure though. but the fj40 was THE vehicle i have always wanted in the land cruiser family. cool factor of 10. Additonally I dont think I would sell mine ever. unless possible trade for a fj45 or 55 in comperable shape. But even then idk.

 

[igotta40]

OTOH somebody will buy it, so it might as well be you

 

[knuckle47]

When I got my FJ40 2 years ago it was 90%? Stock. It had a Weber Carb, late model mirrors, and was re-upholstered with really nice fabric, a cd am/fm radio and a non-stock dash. That about all.

I spent well over 5 converting what I needed to to get back to stock adding the skid plate, all stock new dash pads, name badges, rear tire carrier, Holley Sniper and a few smaller changes.

I can see your first invoices well over that to get it running and stopping and other elements will deteriorate quickly as you start to use it which will require you to keep updating or repairing things that will prevent you from enjoying it… these posts you’re reading are so spot-on I would seriously consider their valued opinions

 

[brooklyn]

Also, the price for FJ40 & FJ60s seem to be a bit soft now - I would take advantage of that and get a better starting point.

As said above — nothing about a FJ40 is inexpensive to fix.

 

[Sky King]

If the 1973 backup light is a stock and in good shape, it's probably worth a $1000.

A little off topic here but I have a 73 back up light no dents in the body, it would need bead blasting, the trim ring is in good shape but the lens is missing, are they really that rare that they sell in that price range??

 

[pb4ugo]

Maybe a little less. Recently there was a thread of someone making lenses in plastic. I think @Living in the Past sent the guy a lense to make a mold.

 

[Living in the Past]

Maybe a little less. Recently there was a thread of someone making lenses in plastic. I think @Living in the Past sent the guy a lense to make a mold.

Yes I did. @WyoMike is the one doing the project. He made a few and working on getting bubbles out. Last I was in contact he wasn't going to be doing anymore until June when it warm up. Sure he will post up any progress.