Will the 80’s ever be a collectors dream?

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cybrstar

cybrstar

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I was watching Mercum Auction on TV today and I saw a really bad asz FJ45 all original that was yellow. I was thinking in my head, that’s worth at least $100k easy, didn’t see the final price, but FJ40/45 on Mercum or Barret WOW.

So now I pose the question, will the 80 ever be there someday......

Reason why I ask, it’s almost going to be 30 years and they’re more 80’s on the road that are being driven everyday/weekend that I don’t remember growing up as many 40’s or even 60’s on the road 30+years after they were built. I don’t know the exact numbers that we’re built in regards to the 80, 40’s/60’s, but will the 80 be in a collectors or even cross Mercum?
 
It's possible. I know there's production numbers posted in other threads; I think there were about 10k US spec (give or take a grand or so) sold per year. I can assume, based on many other threads of wrecks/rollovers, etc, that have cut those numbers down further (maybe 50%). They have a following, a good reputation, and demand. This is strictly my opinion, but I'd guess in 20 years, a clean, numbers matching 80 could be around 40-50k, and a 40th or collector series being far higher.
 
There are some unknowns out there in our future of course (that would definitely be chat) but if collectible cars are still a thing than I would say absolutely. They will follow the same lines as other models with the rare and special options being the money getters.

In the 80 it would be the Collectors edition, 40th anniversary, Locker optioned trucks, Low mile trucks of course, rare colors like Moonglow, and probably the biggest would be U.S. sold poverty pack 80's with lockers.

One man's opinion, of course.
 
Even then someone on here will be telling 3fe owners that their truck is worth half a bag of stale potato chips :rofl:

But seriously, since I got into Land Cruisers a decade ago the values have gone up 100%.

Generally cars gain value based on a few factors - rarity, looks, some sort of pedigree, and alternative. While 80's don't really have rarity they do have looks, pedigree, and very few alternatives. The looks are generally loved. They have pedigree in a sense of a reputation for being extremely well built, and capable. And alternatives: if you're looking for a vehicle with the capabilities of a Land Cruiser 80, there are very few alternatives (other than a newer land cruiser, which is why so many of us have more than one).

The usual scenario is that rare models gain value first - then extra clean cars - then parts cars gain value (due to people starting to realize there's money in fixing them up) - then the regular versions of the models. I see rare models are pretty high already (late 3x locked), extra clean cars are going up, and parts cars are still low.

60's cars values peaked in the 2000's, but their production numbers were much lower than what we're dealing with. Popular mass produced cars from the 70's are starting to shoot up in value (like early Z cars, which they made a heck of a lot of). 90's halo cars are shooting up now, and some of the mass produced imports are slowly climbing up (if they're exceptionally clean).

Another factor which makes me think these vehicles may have a collector future is the recent surge of shops doing restorations for moderately high resale costs. I'm sure that's partially being fueled by overlanding becoming popular, but the thought that restoring 80's is a viable business option proves that the trucks have a broad appeal.

I would think that we have a minimum of 10 years before the values go way up. I think they'll hit $35-45k for something unusually clean, or rare in that time frame.
 
slow95z said:
a clean, 40th/collectors with lockers worth more than factory sticker price
Click to expand...

I hope...maybe I'll move into a Heritage Edition then:).......eerrr, NOT.
 
Didn’t we already see a clean low mileage 80 go for north of $40k recently? That is usually a good indicator of where these could potentially go.

Yes, there were a lot produced, and probably more on the road than any other cruiser series, but finding a clean, unmolested, rust free example, will still demand a premium price.
 
I believe that just finding parts will be the issue. The business model of wrecking yards, is sell the easy stuff crush the rest. I remember during cash for clunkers one of the local yards had 8 , 80 series that were buy backs.
I recently went to a yard that had 5 100 series 6 months ago, they have all been crushed.
My hope is that yards become educated on the limited number of these things and start hanging on to them
 
roadstr6 said:
Mine won't.
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I’m in this category, unless heavily modified, poor man restored, and tastefully dented has a positive affect on value one day.

The more I think about this, my rig should be worth A LOT some day sort of like that rusty retro crap people nowadays decorate their homes with because it make them feel like they were there in a previous time living a much more exciting life.

I’d say that if I continue using my 80 the way I have been and maybe add a roof rack to capture that all out adventurer image, some millennial dooshbag will pay huge money for it in 20 years or so.
 
They will be just as collectible as the 40s and 60s ever were.
 
baldilocks said:
I’m in this category, unless heavily modified, poor man restored, and tastefully dented has a positive affect on value one day.

The more I think about this, my rig should be worth A LOT some day sort of like that rusty retro crap people nowadays decorate their homes with because it make them feel like they were there in a previous time living a much more exciting life.

I’d say that if I continue using my 80 the way I have been and maybe add a roof rack to capture that all out adventurer image, some millennial dooshbag will pay huge money for it in 20 years or so.
Click to expand...

I think the real test will come when the zombie apocalypse comes. I have come to peace with the notion that I would likely be murdered and thrown aside for my rig on like Day 4, if I could even make it that long. All I would ask is that they gave it a tank of premium once every three tanks or so and keep an eye on the temp gauge and coolant level. ;)
 
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