Sell my 1985 Toyota 4 Runner DLX

I am at a cross road...I have a 1985 Toyota 4 Runner DLX...second engine...315,000 miles...but it is immaculate and runs and looks exceptional...of course solid front axle...original interior immaculate also, rear seat delete, original wheels, window sticker, and manual, floor matts, dealer has rebuilt all u joints, seals, hoses, brakes, rotors, pad's and rebuilt front axial bearings and...new 31 x 10.50 BFG tires, and aluminum wheels... have the original steel 15 x 6 white rim wheels, 5 of them...and I have had red line transmission fluid, transmission and differentials and transfer case, which shifts like glass... all in working order...I would drive it from St. Louis, Mo to any state without breaking a sweat...it sings on the high way at 75 effortlessly and doesn't burn any oil...I have used... I know snake oil... Marvel Mystery oil and fuel inhibitor for 10 years...I have replaced the electric fuel pump under the back seat too... I am looking to sell to get the new Bronco...my wife loves Bronco's...and we all know happy wives...happy lives. I have been offered $23,000 for my 4 Runner from a Toyota dealer mechanic and I gracefully declined...I don't need to sell... but I will at the right price...any thoughts...please let me know...you have to see and may need to see it personally before you offer anything...I can send pictures...pictures are very deceptive in my opinion...but I will if you want. Everyone...be safe and be healthy!!! Amos

 

GLWS!
However,
We need to see it to evaluate it. $23k for 2nd engine... frame, fender & interior rocker pictures are a must. Not sure if you are trying to get a price or sell it here...
It sounds like a great truck. I hope you enjoy the Bronco. Let us know how you like it!
Ryan.

 

Yeah, I just wanna see this thing.

 

If it’s that nice, sell it on bringatrailer.com. That will bring a premium price for what it is. That auction site is an enthusiast dream. The best Toyota’s end up there.

 

You guys are right...I really don't want to sell...but if I can get a good price for it I will. I will put some pictures up you'll see why I don't want to sell...I'll even take pictures of the under side. The only rust are three extremely small 1/2 inch by 1/2 small area on the tail gate. Even the original seat covers are immaculate...they were covered with snap on covers and I put covers over them too when I got it ten years ago. I am betting there are few 1985 4 Runner DLX in this shape...I've kept garaged same as the previous owner in Oregon. I do take the top off every summer. Sorry if I sound like I'm being an ass asking so much for it. After the Toyota mechanic offered me that much for it I almost shit...

 

what the heck....you can't put a price on pleasure

 

It's just a thing, right? If so, sell it. If that's not how you really feel, you better be sure cause you will not get your hands on it again.

 

You guys are right...I have a lot of hours rebuilding everything on my 4 Runner...you do become attached more than most realize...this is not my business so I am attached. I will still put some pictures up on it...I wanted to buy this exact rig when I was 35 and couldn't because I was going through a divorce and didn't have the cash...this was a fluke that I found it...I can't sell it...and you guys are right...I have had so much fun in this 4 Runner and whenever I drive it I get a thumbs up on it...Be safe and stay healthy all!!! Amos

 

315k on the second engine? Or just the body? 23k is a good offer. Keep an eye on "Bring a Trailer", seen a few go for that price range in the last couple years. The values have gone up recently. Curious to see how Barrett Jackson tries to deal c19 bs going forward. I would think a pristine example will start drawing more in the bigger auctions too. The old FJs were doing pretty good the last few years.

 

Is it as nice as this one....
https://autos.yahoo.com/amphtml/brown-beautiful-62-000-mile-144956411.html

 

The second engine has about 120,000 on it...it's really cloudy today in St. Louis I'll get some pictures up...the link you sent 4scooer19...I always ask myself on these older trucks if the dealership or person went through like I have to replace ALL the seals on everything, birth field rebuild kit, new radiator, all of the hoses, fuel pump, all wheel bearings, u-joints, Bilstein shocks, new rotors front and pads, new drums rear and pads, valve cover gasket, transmission mounts, engine mounts, cold start injector, clean the injectors, of course new wires, plugs, cap and rotor, steamed the intake out (looked like a cave) new EGR valve, LCE header and 2.5 inch exhaust and I can go on...it took me a couple of years to go through my truck to up date everything...it doesn't whine, doesn't leak any oil, doesn't burn oil and speaking of oil I have used nothing but Red Line in the engine, transmission (which shifts like glass), transfer case and differentials since I bought it. It drives as well as any new truck out there and can cruise at 75 MPH in 5th gear (it's a stick) on the highway up hills too with 31 x10.50 BFG's without breaking a sweat. It also has an auxiliary 14 gallon tank so I can go 600 miles without filling up and it gets 22 MPG pretty consistently ...I also have receipts for all along with the original receipts the first time owner sent. I do have the rear seat delete metal pan to make it a "truck" too. along with all service manuals, the 5 original wheels (not what I have on the truck) original floor mats...orignal seat covers under my covers...it's pretty sweet for sure! I'm the second owner and have had it for 10 years now and it's garaged like the original owner did always. The Toyota mechanic that offered me 23k drove it when I had it in for an inspection and asked what all I had done on it...probably why he didn't mind offering that because he has seen it and drove it. It's hard to see a price on a vehicle when it's not seen or driven...

 

Here are the pictures I just took this afternoon...a little dark out but it still tells a lot...

 

That is very nice. It won’t pull the money an sr5 would, but still a 15-20k sale on bring a trailer.

 

Absolutely beautiful! I couldn't see myself coming to sell that if I could find another way.

 

That thing is clean!

Don't get rid of it.

You'll thank me later.

Have the wife get a part-time job if she wants a new Bronco

 

You guys are Awesome!!! I'll keep you in touch...I am leaning more to keeping...I have tried searching for 85 4 Runners and there are not many...

 

that is MINT
he already declined a 23k offer, so I am sure at the right time this can easy get 25k from the right buyer

 

Ive been saying the market for these is going to get better. The recession of 88' to 89 into the early 90s saw classic car values jump 20 to 50% because of rich folks hedging against inflation. If we keep printing money, inflation is going to get worse and people will be looking to dump cash.
Don't sell it because the wife wants.....sell it because your getting top dollar. Your Runner is gorgeous and you know how well maintained and documented it is, its not a flip job. So study the market and make the right move at the right time. And your right, ultra clean examples of an 85' S-axle 5 spd are few and far between.
The next 12 to 16 months could net you another 10k in value.
My 88' is a nothing special DLX auto, and I've been tossing around the idea of selling, but I keep getting more and more attached in the 3 short years I've owned her. I just got the AC working, not great, but working lol, so I keep getting inspired to make more improvements and getting even more attached lol.
Maybe Nimby's suggestion of a part time job isn't the worst idea in the world.......

 

https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/rise-of-1984-89-toyota-4runners/

 

Thanks Mi-FL off roader...I have had a lot of 4 wheel drives back to a 1978 304 V8 jeep, an 1982 Bronco, and so on...but the 4 Runner is different...there is an attachment there for me...but the new Bronco's look impressive!!! And a warranty!!! I can tell you my 4 Runner gets parked with fuel stabilizers and Marvel mystery oil...yep... I am a snake oil guy from the 60's being 65 but it works...my daughter let's me keep it in her garage and it cranks one time (with a battery minder of course) and fires up after sitting for 6 months. These Toyota's are incredible vehicles. Yep...0 to 60 in ten minutes of course but man they go...I was at Bonterre mines in Missouri and jeeps and Broncos couldn't touch me up a hill that was incredible...they won't quit and they dig and shimmy but keep going...I don't have Detroit lockers or tru-tracs...although I have thought about it at times...but the Japanese engineers never gave you what you wanted...they gave you what you needed to get the job done!!! I have embarrassed a lot of new vehicles that laughed at my 105 HP 4 cylinder 22 Re engine...but a driver behind a low powered 4 Runner and a little experience can do a lot...these trucks don't know how to quit...under any circumstances!!! I found my 82 Bronco with a Tarantula intake, Holley dual line dual pumper 650 CFM carb and 3 inch dual exhaust 302 would dig it self in at times with too much power...my 4 Runner has NEVER done this...it just keeps on going...I know that sounds crazy but for those of you that have lower powered vehicles I know you have seen this too...please tell some stories that you know your truck should have been stuck...and it wasn't...Power is not the answer...gear ratios, transfer cases, tires, and experience...can over come a lot of obstacles...

 

I forgot to mention that i put helper springs on the rear...that 4 Runner lean is real...to the rear of course...

 

Damn. That thing is dope.

 

Should have taken that $23k offer, doubt you'll ever get that offer again. It's a clean truck but I wouldn't pay over $10k.

 

Many out there would though...

 

That thing will only increase in value as long as it is kept up.

 

You may be right se7enine...but I see you have an 84 4 Runner...how much time and money have you put into it and how does it look? I bought mine for $4,500 ten years ago...I've put in parts alone well over $10,000 over ten years and have done all the work myself...some guys and gals don't really like working on cars and trucks so they are willing to pay more for a nice looking truck. Technically...with all of the time I have put into it, even if I was paid minimum wage, $30,000 wouldn't be enough...most everyone could say that I'll bet...but I've had a Great time and get a lot of complements every where I go. You couldn't buy one like mine for $10,000...and if a mechanic was willing to pay 23k I suspect there may be one or two people willing buy if for that because it doesn't need any work on it...Please put some pictures of yours up...what you paid for it...and how much time and money you spent on it so far...

 

what YOU wouldn’t pay doesn’t speak for the actual value of the vehicle or what someone else would pay.

 

There is a weird phenomenon in the classic Toyota Truck world. People will complement your rig, give you mod advice, help you with mods, and pretty much do anything for you until it's time to sell. Then they wouldn't give you a stick of gum for it. It's really strange......

 

this happened with my 1999 tacoma. Because it wasn’t a 4x4 people only wanted to give me peanuts for it. But everyone wanted it.

 

Your right Brett...it's really why most all of us 4 Runner owners love our vehicles and of course "we" think they are more valuable than they really are...me included of course...I've had ten years of a lot of fun...I also renovated a 64 Chevelle full frame up build, 67 Chevelle same, and a 70 Nova...I loved all of these cars...and when I sold them I think the other person had more fun out of them too!!! A big part of my satisfaction is building them...it's very gratifying...I get the right price I may move on to the new Bronco's...I am mixed though...the 4 Runner was a dream I had in 1985...there is a little more attachment...but I've always liked the older 302 Bronco's...I'll have to see what the new ones are like first...be safe and stay healthy!!! Amos