Why are there so many FJ40's still for sale? (4 Viewers)

[sogafarm]

I've been noticing that FJ40's in the classified section have not been selling recently and there seems to be a glut in the market. Are people not interested in owning the most iconic Toyota anymore or is it just a slow market that's keeping them from selling?

I bought a couple of good original examples last year after years searching for good affordable examples. Scouring the market lately and I'm seeing an abundance of good shape examples for mostly reasonable asking prices. Maybe its due to a slow economy or maybe just a coincidence that there are so many for sale right now.

For anyone who is in a position to purchase one for their collection, now seems to be a buyer's market. I would be interested to know what other's think but I've never seen so many available for sale. What's going on here?

$15-20K seems to be the sweet spot for good driver examples currently and there are several available.

 

[bhsdriller]

combination of everything you've mentioned.

Slow market mainly, people with less extra money to spend

 

[cstav86]

None of the above voting selection are accurate.
My hot take is that the classic car market went nuts during covid, especially the 4x4 variety, and has since cooled off. Problem is sellers still want those prices. Bring a trailer has also somehow ruined buying and selling on these platforms because there is a cohort of buyers out there that apparently have way more money than us regular joes. Also the offerings that are long time on the market are so-so, poorly represented or need a ton of work. The good ones and the ones that are priced right sell in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[TEakins]

The boomers are getting too old to wrench. The other generations for the most part aren't into restorations or maintaining them. Just my guess.

 

[corcel]

I agree with cstav- a ton of new 40 owners in the pandemic while everyone was looking for a hobby. Same thing happened in a lot of your toy markets, for instance dirt bikes, rvs, etc.

We saw a moment of hobby galore that has cooled a bit imo

Even I have so much less time for my own project…

 

[1911]

Bring a trailer has also somehow ruined buying and selling on these platforms because there is a cohort of buyers out there that apparently have way more money than us regular joes.

The blessing and the curse of the interwebs. You can find anything now, but when you do the price is bid up by everyone in the world.

I used to build old Indian motorcycles. Before the internet, it was hard to find some parts, but when you did find them the local market was so small that you could get them dirt cheap. Whole bikes too. Nowadays it is a different story and every old part is worth big money. Took most of the fun out of it for me.

 

[Mark Jennings]

I would wager it’s the import of so many SA BJ40’s, more than 50% on BAT are Coasta Rica or Colombian. The market is saturated…..most here love them and keep them….most of the BAT’s are dealers looking to flip a quick dollar.

 

[Shark56]

I will take the easy way out and say all of the above
So many factors involed on the price of any vehicle, especially a niche type market as 4x4, classics, and muscle cars.
If I had to pick one, it is the price of everything else keeping the average person from shelling out the cash.

 

[Sky King]

The baby boomers have fueled the classic car and motorcycle market for some time now and as they age out are selling their once prized possessions. I don't see as much enthusiasm in the younger generations and their interests are for the most part different, owning an FJ40, Hemi Cuda, or Panhead was not part of their youth. I think more and more classics of all kinds will be showing up on the market in the next few years with less buyers and prices will drop. Don't get me wrong I think there will always be a core enthusiast group of motorheads that will enjoy these vehicles until they are no longer allowed on the road by the government as they are deemed unsuitable environmentally etc. My fearless prediction worth 2 cents.

 

[igotta40]

Just my opinion but I think the FJ40 is becoming an obscure oddity, however cool they seem. The longer I have mine, the more comments I get of “I’ve never seen one of those before!”

 

[Paul_A]

I deal in tangible investments and men's toy's is a huge part of that market and it's all on the downside lately. Guns, trains, cars.....all off their high. Available disposable income combined with a lack of time is significant. Add in the fact that younger generations want cheap stuff--cheap guns, cheap cars with fart cans, never heard of a toy train,....I could go on and on. The only thing keeping most of these markets alive is passion.

 

[CruisinGA]

I deal in tangible investments and men's toy's is a huge part of that market and it's all on the downside lately. Guns, trains, cars.....all off their high. Available disposable income combined with a lack of time is significant. Add in the fact that younger generations want cheap stuff--cheap guns, cheap cars with fart cans, never heard of a toy train,....I could go on and on. The only thing keeping most of these markets alive is passion.

there's also seems to be a generational shift away from "collecting" which was more prevalent in boomers and younger generations being more into experiences.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

I'm an early-years Millennial (1986) and can confirm, nobody (or, really, a VERY small percentage) my age or younger gives a damn about classic cars. I think we'll see a continued cooling of the classics markets as boomers unload their fleets into an abyss of people who don't want them. I could wax poetic about how younger generations are just struggling to get by, and couldn't dream of dropping $20k on a project car - but the bottom line is I just don't see the interest, even where the finances are available. Everyone wants the latest iPhone and a throw-away EV.

It is what it is, I'll save as many clunkers as I can when the market drops - I never bought old cars as an investment, they're all sunk costs to me.

I think what everyone said was true - there was a big uptick in disposable income and time away from work during covid that drove the hobby market, and now everyone is "back to the grind" and realize they don't have time for their toys anymore. Most 20-something and 30-somethings can't even change their own oil, (and soon, they won't have to!), let alone take a classic car apart and put it back together.

 

[rick_d]

Having been into land cruisers for 30 years.
The prices went nuts and new owners of older series (or just new owners) drove the prices far too high for the truck and all the parts. I saw a 2F bellhousing for $350, hard tops for $4,000, and the 'neat' H55 top plate for $2K.
In the past they were cheap to run and only special attachments brought any money (3sp floor conversions t case and trans, embossed bezels).

The other thing is 40's drive like crap. Noisy, wander around the road, and bounce you to death with short springs. Sold my last one (1981, H55 converted, PS a/c for under $12K in 2006 and never looked back.

 

[1MOA]

Too many flippers still trying to cash in on the FJCO prices. Other thing is not may people really wheel them anymore ( I know that doesn't apply to the crowd here) You see them now driven to a cars and coffee event for attention then put back in garages. So the market for all the aftermarket parts suffers as well.

 

[Chungas Revenge]

Definitely not a good time for what can be viewed as an inessential classic.

 

[igotta40]

“You see them now driven to a cars and coffee event for attention then put back in garages.“


Yep, that’s me….. drive to the shooting range, maybe REI, an occasional camping trio. I’ve become a poser and I’m not bothered by it because I’ve earned it. Cleaning muddy trucks and getting stuck in sand dunes is all behind me.

 

[RWBeringer4x4]

Too many flippers still trying to cash in on the FJCO prices. Other thing is not may people really wheel them anymore ( I know that doesn't apply to the crowd here) You see them now driven to a cars and coffee event for attention then put back in garages. So the market for all the aftermarket parts suffers as well.

I struggle with this mightily. I like wheeling, but they’re also now “valuable classics” and while I never intend to sell mine, I also feel bad beating the unholy piss out of it. Mine is a frankentruck anyway, it will never demand a huge return if I have to sell it, but it still feels a little wrong to crush it one panel at a time.

Personally - I love how they ride and rattle. I guess I’m a broken millennial - because I absolutely hate all the tech, screens, and complexity of modern cars. They all have about as much personality as a washing machine to me. I prefer the simplicity, honesty, and character of a FJ40.

 

[1MOA]

I struggle with this mightily. I like wheeling, but they’re also now “valuable classics” and while I never intend to sell mine, I also feel bad beating the unholy piss out of it. Mine is a frankentruck anyway, it will never demand a huge return if I have to sell it, but it still feels a little wrong to crush it one panel at a time.

Personally - I love how they ride and rattle. I guess I’m a broken millennial - because I absolutely hate all the tech, screens, and complexity of modern cars. They all have about as much personality as a washing machine to me. I prefer the simplicity, honesty, and character of a FJ40.

I don't beat mine too bad but I do enjoy wheeling it. ( I should be better because it's getting a front diff plug welded from me scraping it on rocks too hard) but yeah it's a fine line

 

[1MOA]

“You see them now driven to a cars and coffee event for attention then put back in garages.“


Yep, that’s me….. drive to the shooting range, maybe REI, an occasional camping trio. I’ve become a poser and I’m not bothered by it because I’ve earned it. Cleaning muddy trucks and getting stuck in sand dunes is all behind me.

That's cool nothing wrong with that. Mine is not a show truck but it's fully drivable just doesn't have the nice body work that I would probably bend and scrape if I took it out in the woods.