More NGC, I found a beloved old truck I sold 10 yrs ago on CL...with pics

[brider]

This is the CL ad I stumbled across with my old truck, the owner sadly primered the whole thing, when I sold it to him it had the original blue/white paint in perfect "period" patina:

https://worcester.craigslist.org/cto/d/worcester-1971-toyota-fj55-landcruiser/7294281502.html

He's asking exactly 3x what I sold it to him for. But in those years, prices HAVE skyrocketed, so he's not out of the ballpark at all.

I sold this classic and another one, a '66 F250, before my oldest was able to drive, and ever since I have been feeling the most painful regret from selling both. He reminds me of it good-naturedly all the time, but he's become a car nut, and I know it really does disappoint him.

I know many of you also know that pain of regret, but how often do you get a chance to redeem yourself? The bonus in paying 3 x what I sold it for is that I did ALL the mechanical maintenance, even installing the overdrive (more rare than hen's teeth for this vehicle) MYSELF, so there would be very few mysteries.

I immediately sent him a note identifying myself and asking he contact me immediately. Way more $$ than I need to spend right now, but the chance to heal a bit of pain in my soul for selling it is PRICELESS.

[AJ Huff]

Fair price for an Iron Pig.

-AJ

[RinkRat II]

      I can only say that there is no reasonable price tag on emtional reconciliation.  Unfortunately from a practial standpoint, he sure hasn't done anybody any favors in his ten years of ownersip by the overall looks and condition, but now wants to reap the rewards. 

     Paul B

[AJ Huff]

I'd say he's a tad high but not much. Since it is mostly complete. Probably $10-$12K is more realistic.

-AJ

[guzziart]

Well, we ain't getting any younger.....YOLO.

[80CX100]

      Back in the day when I did a lot of wilderness 4WD'ing I wanted one of those full size Land Cruisers badly, looked at quite a few of them, but it had to do double duty as my daily driver as well, so I never picked one up. Ended up with a 4Runner then later a turboed K5 6.2 Jimmy.

      Good on you for finding it, it's safe money, they are a very solid rig that will only increase in value (as you've discovered)

      Thankfully the owner didn't do serious damage by putting monster tires on it, paint although expensive is easily changed.

       

[brider]

I'd say he's a tad high but not much. Since it is mostly complete. Probably $10-$12K is more realistic.

-AJ

I agree completely, but unfortunately for a buyer, there are pigeons all over the place that will pay an inflated price. My disadvantage is there's severe emotional energy involved, and he's probably in a position to sit on it until he gets his price.

I hope my appeal to him as the PO works. I wonder if he realizes that if he'd just left it alone, it'd probably be worth much more. I had a full brush guard and Warn M8724 winch mounted, and a rear bumper. But he DID keep the front seat center console I used as an arm-rest, that's what gave it away....I might have completely scrolled by it if it weren't for that.

Of course I don't have $15k in my cookie jar just wondering what to spend it on. But 5, 10 yrs from now I know I wished I'd somehow made it happen.

[tazio]

Sometimes you can't go back. YOUR memories ( sweetened through the ages, ..as they say) may be NEGATIVELY effected by said re- purchase.
Whatever you decide,  it's going to be lots of benjamins now, and down the road. Tough call for some. Good luck to you. Keep us posted!

[brider]

      Back in the day when I did a lot of wilderness 4WD'ing I wanted one of those full size Land Cruisers badly, looked at quite a few of them, but it had to do double duty as my daily driver as well,

In my younger and dumber days, I used similar Landcruisers as DDs on the highways in LA county, and have driven them from coast to coast. THAY will do it all day, it's how much your physical body will stand. The 55 is much more comfortable than the 40-series, which is what I did most of my driving in. I sold this 55 because it always had that faint smell of gas/exhaust (perfume to me in an old car), the kids were getting older so I somehow felt they wouldn't want to drive around in it and a bunch of other dumb reasons, and I bought a '93 Range Rover County LWB to replace it. Kids LOVE that thing, boys now fight over who gets to drive it, but it's cost me waaaaay more to keep it on the road than the old 55, and in retrospect very soon after I sold it, I realized what a mistake I'd made.

[brider]

Sometimes you can't go back. YOUR memories ( sweetened through the ages, ..as they say) may be NEGATIVELY effected by said re- purchase.

Thanks, this is worth considering. I have never in my life painted a vehicle, and this one needs paint. I always selected my old trucks (and motorcycles) carefully so that they had an original paint & patina to them, very important to me. I've never had any interest in bodywork or painting. Doing that will for sure make me grit my teeth.

[wrbix]

I’m finding that it’s become acceptable (almost de rigeur) to paint Series Land Rovers with a ROLLER.  This 55 with its flat body panels is all but begging for that treatment.

[brider]

I’m finding that it’s become acceptable (almost de rigeur) to paint Series Land Rovers with a ROLLER.

Wait....have YOU done this yourself? I am intrigued....

[80CX100]

In my younger and dumber days, I used similar Landcruisers as DDs on the highways in LA county, and have driven them from coast to coast. THAY will do it all day, it's how much your physical body will stand. The 55 is much more comfortable than the 40-series, which is what I did most of my driving in. I sold this 55 because it always had that faint smell of gas/exhaust (perfume to me in an old car), the kids were getting older so I somehow felt they wouldn't want to drive around in it and a bunch of other dumb reasons, and I bought a '93 Range Rover County LWB to replace it. Kids LOVE that thing, boys now fight over who gets to drive it, but it's cost me waaaaay more to keep it on the road than the old 55, and in retrospect very soon after I sold it, I realized what a mistake I'd made.

       At that time (and still true) I couldn't afford a full body LC in good shape, they were all rusted out beaters, mechanical wrecks, or sold by really sketchy curbsiders, I needed something dependable to haul the family around and it was years before I could afford a second vehicle.

      Re the other comment on the roller paint jobs, I've seen some amazing videos on that subject on youtube with great results.

      I think the secret is to thin the paint out with lots of solvent so the lines, puddles mistake etc are able to flow out smoothly.

      Sounds like a great project good luck with it.

[tazio]

.....I sold this 55 because it always had that faint smell of gas/exhaust (perfume to me in an old car), .......

Yes! Loved that smell in my 1965 Barracuda!
Wifey couldn't stand it.
I told her it was the smell of POWER!   
Of course she knew better, and being a nurse, had to point out the obvious dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Kill-joy.

[wrbix]

Wait....have YOU done this yourself? I am intrigued....

Not yet, but have a Series III 88” that I’m considering roller painting....that’s how I came across that option.

https://youtu.be/OQGZC4eFNAo

https://youtu.be/9y5nZcYEDIU

[brider]

Hey, thanks for those youtube painting links.

Seller still hasn't responded to me and the ad is still up. Maybe, since I identified myself as the PO, he doesn't want to hear me ask why he didn't do squat with in in 10 yrs except de-value it by rattle-can primering it, and is asking 3x the price.

The initial excitement has worn off a bit, and I showed my older son, and he said "I like the looks of the Range Rover better, and you'd never catch the Queen riding around in THAT [the Pig]."

But I'll still pursue and see if he'll talk.

[brider]

UPDATE:

Tazio nailed it, my old memories were far better than the condition the rig is in now. I looked at it today, and the poor thing had small bits cannabalized (sp?), plus both fenders and the winch on the front. The guy who bought it from me also committed a mortal sin and apparently drove it extensively in Mass winters on the salted roads; frame rust and body rot everywhere, whereas when I sold it, it was Arizona-fresh dry as a bone underneath. Can't fault a man for driving it, but I'm sad that he didn't care how rare (and fragile) it's condition was.

Current owner was hoping I'd make an offer, but there's no way now, my memories are better than any resto I could do. I feel better, but still sad for the poor thing.

[cliffrod]

Well, that's a bummer but good to hear the decision to move will be less angst for you.

[s1120]

WOW I never thought I would see those big LC's go for real money!  Back in the 80's the FJ45's were climbing FAST in price, and the 55's you had to almost give away.  But I guess you also didnt see 60's 4 door cars going for the money they do now either!  Glad you got a chance to check that box anyways..  My stepdad had a old 49 ford F5 towtruck that I LOVED as a kid. When I came of age it had been just sitting in our junkyard. I assumed my stepbrouther crushed it back when he cleaned the place up after my stepfather died, and it was long gone..  Doesnt it show up forsale a few years ago at a place not that far from me. I went to look at it and not only did they want a TON for it.. but nature had not been kind. Sad but I had to move on.. its still sitting there also, rotting more. Im hoping the guy will part it out and Ill buy a little part of it as a keepsake.

[knockerjoe]

Hey,
I feel your pain as I owned a 68 FJ40 and a 1986 FJ60.
Sold both about 15 to 20 years ago. Prices have really gone up
as I wish I had kept the FJ40. Also wish I had not sold my Tesla and Amazon stock........