THE BLOATED VINTAGE LAND CRUISER MARKET
The Land Cruiser Gold Rush has resulted in the FJ40 market becoming increasingly crowded with foreign models, shoddy restorations and outright SCAMS. While there are some nice trucks, I’m seeing a lot of pigs with lipstick and the asking prices make me say “REALLY?”
Many of these trucks have come across the border. FJ43’s, BJ40’s BJ42’s FJ45’s, Troopies and even the Brazilian Bandeirante Land Cruiser clones. All the choices make it increasingly difficult to weed through the herd and find what you’re looking for.
If you have a good eye and know Land Cruisers, you will spot many trucks that are not even complete. I have to wonder when I see a $50,000 asking price and the seller didn’t even bother to put all the parts back on the truck. I often see missing emblems, reflectors, bumperettes and even wipers! WTF? Then there is the widely varied quality of work. If you see door limiters and window cranks and glove box doors that have just been blown over with the same color paint as everything else, do yourself a favor and RUN!
I’m not sure how many people are buying vintage Land Cruisers but it’s clear there are a WHOLE bunch of sellers! If you search for Land Cruisers made between 1960 to 1983 on eBay you will see over 50 vehicles to choose from. Hemming's currently has another 46 trucks offered and if you can manage to search ALL of Craigslist, you will find 100 more! There are many speculators in the market and even the unscrupulous types that just swipe the photos from legitimate sellers and put up there own ads for a vehicles they don’t own and cannot deliver. These are the “to good to be true” offerings and if you see one, don’t be fooled.
For me and LCN, It’s business as usual. I concentrate on USA trucks produced between 1978 and 1983 and that’s been the focus since 1995. I look at hundreds each month hoping to find something worth owning and I find myself yearning for the “good old days” when most people just thought an FJ40 was some kind of weird Mail Jeep. Ah, but those days are gone. I guess we’ll just have to wait for the dust to settle and hopefully we can get back to a stable market that is more informed and less opportunistic. In the meantime, do your homework and have a great summer.
Attended DMACC CNC OPERATOR CERTIFICATE
8 年If you're interested in a Landcruiser restored or maintained with factory parts installed by experienced Technicians. Greg will always be the first to deliver top quality vehicles with full background information. I am one of those Specialist proud to work for Greg. Scotty
Field Sales Engineer
8 年In California, the pre-1976 models are fetching a premium due to the smog laws (1975 and earlier models are exempt). Several incidents of FJ40's 1976 and up models have been advertised as 1975 or earlier and the owners find out only after trying to register them.
Ensono, Sr. Director, SLED Base Accounts
8 年Totally agree with missing the old days, when fj40 were considered just an old foreign truck. My brother had a white 78 back in our college days and I fondly remember how much fun it was to drive. Not much fun with the rust on the body panels where ever there was a spot weld though.