I am trying to convince a friend of selling his 63 FJ-45 pickup with 70k miles, decent interior, surface rust in bed, crappy paint job, has not moved in 8 years NO rust through to sell....

Comes with lots of spares, one of those funky grills with the land cruiser stamped in it, axles and assorted junk...

What do you all think?

Howard

I am sure you will get a bunch of replies saying buy how cool FJ45s are, and you should buy it. I would! But I also want to be devils advocate. FJ45s are not the roomiest of cruisers, and by far the worst are the SWB non removable hard tops. If you are anywhere over 6ft and have a beer gut, good luck squeezing behind that bus sized steering wheel. I drove Brimmers SO FJ45 LWB at Cruise Moab, and the only way I could fit in was with the top off, and the seat way back, hanging over the back tub wall. Front springs are the same as an FJ40, rear springs and their hangers are unique to 45s(on LWB, not sure about SWB). To change a 63 to disk brake front, will need a post 68 axle housing and mini truck doner, or LC disk. Rear axle has course spline shafts as well, will need post 68 as well. Other than that, most things should be same as an FJ40 of the same vintage. I am sure the 45 gurus will correct me where I am wrong:flipoff2: I would still buy it though!

Ross

Its actually not for me...some Landcruiser friends are interested.

It is a long bed. My friends offered him 4k and he turned it down. He is quite the pack rat, (You know one of those people who can't get into their own garage)

Any idea on its value?

-1963 should be fixed top
-entire drivetrain is 1960 technology,
-bed having rust is only desireable part (as cab is useless to average American semi full size adult)
-frames crack at point between bed and cab (on non supported section).

and as with any renovation/restoration estimate many hours of conversion unless you have a 'tubless 1978 40' to crossover everthing from (except rear driveshaft).

guesstimate 110-150 hours to get TO paint stage of your own labor for metal only, then time sourcing window rubber (for bug catchers???), etc.

just food for thought

I'd add to Rick's info that if it's really a 1963, it should *not* be a long bed.

$4,000 for an un-restored, non-removable top FJ45 is actually pretty decent, the market isn't exactly hopping. There is a glut of FJ45 pickups, I've seen more than two dozen of them for sale since November, the most I've ever seen since coming to this country in 1994.

Some big ticket FJ45's for sale among them, most of which seem to be unable to reach what the owners are asking. I actually just heard today of a particularly nice one going up on the block next month for $40K. I *seriously* doubt that it will sell, even trucks at half that price are sluggish right now.

i bought a fully functioning '65 fj45 long wheelbase w/ removable top that ran awesome for 4 grand almost a year ago...i thought that was a good deal and am pleased w/ my purchase..the truck has no rust and only needs a little work....i'll gladly take that "funky grill" w/ landcruiser stamped in it off his hands..tell him i'll buy it if he watns to sell.

I would have to say "BUT IT NOW"! To me FJ45 are the sweetest Land cruzah made! One day I will have one.............:skull:

if it's going to stay stock or mildly modified...sure!!! they're sweet rigs, but if a rockcrawler is planned, don't bother. like everyone else is saying, you'd have to replace more than it would be worth.

same goes if it's a daily driver...wipers are poor, many 63 came with either no heater or one that may as well not be there, and i hear people complaining about room, but at five feet, i don't have that problem.

It is not a question of if my friends want it... they already bitten by the cruizer bug.

They are just looking for resto-mod daily driver (TPI 350 some sort of auto and axles) Stock looking, but coooooool.

My the seller swears it is a 63 destined for panama, ordered to the states by some government contractor and never ended up going...??? What year was the stamped grill available?

the whole deal about panama is highly possible. there are stories about how the first two 45 wagons came to colorado that are similar to that and i know a guy in grand junction (with a BEAUTIFUL longbed) who's cruiser was brought up from mexico, had a small block shoved in it and ran baja for two years before becoming a farm truck. there is even a rumor that the three 45's that i bought all came from down south, but i have no proof.

I still have my 63 short box for sale. Im asking $4000. It needs to be assembled. But EVERYTHNG is there for and including, Small block chevy, sm420,three seed transfer & transfer saver ,Disk brake front & rear, Saganaw with tilt sterring, nice set of aluminum rims, cluch slave bracket,motor mounts, & transfer rear mount, bell houseing & cluch. It is not a removeable top but I have kicked around the idea of makeing it into a removeable top with a fabricator. Turns out It would be pretty simple! And the short box rear springs are diffrent then the 40's. The srings are alot more beefy is there also a tortion bar, included.