Pre-purchase walkaround

1973 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ40)

5,000 miles · asking $10,250
Five-year cost to own, maintenance and fuel
~$4,000
A rugged body-on-frame 4x4 that is now a collector classic, so most spending goes toward undoing decades of rust and neglect rather than mechanical fragility. The drivetrain is stout and simple, but bodywork, floors, and correct-parts sourcing are where the real money disappears.

The roadmap

5k → 65k mi · 12k a year
Year 1The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel.~$222
Year 2The quiet year.~$345
Yrs 3-5The ordinary rhythm: scheduled work and fuel. · Tires and the ordinary rhythm.~$3,397
Five years, all in~$4,000
typical parts + government labor rates (national labor rates) · an estimate, not a quote

What to look for on this one

Every used example of this chassis has the same questions. The bands show when each tends to surface; the gold line is this car at 5,000 miles.
Frame and body rustpriced only if found
Condition-driven, not mileage-driven, so it is not in the totals and inspection is the only answer. Bubbling or holes in rockers, floors, rear quarters, and tub seams, plus scaly frame rails.
windows from 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA and community service data ·
0 recalls →
· profile researched with cited sources, review pending

Hand this to your inspector

A $300 inspection against this list is the best money in the whole deal.
01Probe the rear tub corners, rockers, and floor pans with a magnet and screwdriver for hidden rust and filler
02Inspect frame rails top and bottom, especially near the rear spring hangers and crossmembers
03Check front knuckles for grease slinging and listen for birfield clicking on full-lock turns
04Verify brakes pull straight and hold, pull a drum to check shoes and cylinders
Walking into a negotiation?

This roadmap as a PDF, priced for your zip code, with the inspection checklist, a fair price for this example, and the negotiation sheet. Saved to your garage the moment you pay.

$29
saved to your garage
Just keeping tabs? , no account needed.
typical parts + government labor rates · an estimate, not a quotecheck another car →