Disco 1 price curve

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
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Northern Illinois
I've read and heard maybe the price curve on some of these Discos is on the way up. Not sure how nice a Disco would have to be to fetch 10 grand.

I've built a hand full of trucks like this and usually end up with right around 8 grand in them and nobody willing to spend that much. People might be getting interested but I'm not sure the price is moving yet.

This is why I thought it was silly to think about a $45,000 Disco with the wrong shit hacked into it. No more a NEW Disco than the ones any of us are driving or building now. If the price curve acts anything like it did with say Chevy, then there are lessons learned on how to play it. Special editions will be worth more. Anything that makes one of them significant. Like my neighbor has made a career out of selling chevy restorations and parts for restorations. He would find a car someplace and know enough about vin #s and the history of those cars to identify the real valuable shit. Like he found a Yanko Chevelle that he knew had to be a real early one. Come to find out it was Yanko Chevel #1 still had paper work showing it was Don Yanko's daily driver. Sold that car for crazy money fully restored. So I think a Camel Vehicle or a Trek vehicle would be good candidates.
 

DiscoPhoto

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Jul 23, 2012
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Vermont
Mine just sold for $10k, and I know many others that have too, mostly tdi swaps(which a few on here think have no value).
 

discostew

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Sep 14, 2010
7,706
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Northern Illinois
I think diesel conversions are great. But you getting 10 grand for yours with the diesel in it probably didn't cover the cost of dong it. When I get to 8 grand I have new tires.go thru the swivel housings and brake calipers, Rear main and cross seals, seal the couple usual suspects on the t case, any or preferably all the oil cooler pipes for both engine and trans, poly bushings thru out. If you can buy a good truck for $3500 you can do all that and be around 8 grand if you don't need swivel housings. Then add about $750 if you do need swivel balls.
 

DiscoPhoto

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Jul 23, 2012
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It only didn't cover the cost because I did so many other things(including genuine swivel balls, and tons extra). I could do a conversion for much less than $10k if I were trying to do it on a budget. If you want to find a buyer for high dollars, you'll probably want to avoid Discos in general, or make it very unique(in a good way)q
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
It only didn't cover the cost because I did so many other things(including genuine swivel balls, and tons extra). I could do a conversion for much less than $10k if I were trying to do it on a budget. If you want to find a buyer for high dollars, you'll probably want to avoid Discos in general, or make it very unique(in a good way)q


I agree. To make the big money it's going to have to be a NAS Defender. I don't think most people will pay $12 grand for a Disco and from my experience that's what you would need to get. Even without the diesel.
 

DiscoPhoto

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Jul 23, 2012
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Vermont
Best to go either RRC or Defender if you're looking for $$. Series will bring in money too, but not nearly the market Defenders have.
 

mgreenspan

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Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
$12k gets you:
- running but beater FJ40
- very high mile newer Tacoma
- highish mile older Tacoma
- highish mile 100 series LC
- fully locked good condition 80 series LC
- great condition GX470
- baller Range Rover/RRS
- two used 4th gen 4Runners
- a very fancy 2 door Wrangler
- early Wrangler Unlimited
- beater import 90 or 110

I don't think there is market for high dollar Discos as cool and capable as they are in reality.
 

p m

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Apr 19, 2004
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I don't think there is market for high dollar Discos as cool and capable as they are in reality.
Of course there is. $12k is by no means "high dollar" price range.
In my beater, 285kmi, 96 D1 there's approximately $6k in aftermarket parts. It does not bring its price beyond $2k.
But, for a rare non-Cheap-Bastard (with modest wallet and no spare time to waste under a truck), a Disco 1 with a near-pristine body (which are plentiful in SoCal still), well set-up, is well worth $10+K.

BTW, I don't know what are the FJ/FZJ80 prices, but personally I have not seen one worth buying for less than $20k. And that's where they start to compete with Aussie imports.
 

mgreenspan

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Feb 28, 2005
4,723
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Briggs's Back Yard
I see a bunch up here in Norcal around that range.

I should have explained more. I don't think the casual buyers are in the market there. Enthusiasts like those on here will spend $12k on there trucks that they know and love but buying a random one that is just nice or a market full of randos wanting stock Discos with rebuilt drivetrains is a pipe dream in my opinion.
I know there is that place in Georgia selling DIIs for almost $20k so I could be wrong.
 

Leadvagas

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2010
232
2
Leadville CO
Mine just sold for $10k, and I know many others that have too, mostly tdi swaps(which a few on here think have no value).

I have been offered, serious offer not just some jack ass, $8k and $11k for my ?95 TDI. The 8k guy wants the TDI for a Defender, the other guy wants it as is. Thats with zero advertising, etc. I doubt you could do a TDI conversion for less than $8k these days. I know that good running TDI motors are getting rarer every day in Europe. My guess is a good motor and trans is going to run you $4k by the time it gets to your drive way. Just a side note, the two guys that want mine are tools, so I will be keeping it for the time being.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
I have been offered, serious offer not just some jack ass, $8k and $11k for my ?95 TDI. The 8k guy wants the TDI for a Defender, the other guy wants it as is. Thats with zero advertising, etc. I doubt you could do a TDI conversion for less than $8k these days. I know that good running TDI motors are getting rarer every day in Europe. My guess is a good motor and trans is going to run you $4k by the time it gets to your drive way. Just a side note, the two guys that want mine are tools, so I will be keeping it for the time being.

So he's not a jack ass, just a tool?
 

bgbrox

Well-known member
Dec 25, 2016
63
8
Golden, CO
$12k gets you:
- running but beater FJ40
- very high mile newer Tacoma
- highish mile older Tacoma
- highish mile 100 series LC
- fully locked good condition 80 series LC
- great condition GX470
- baller Range Rover/RRS
- two used 4th gen 4Runners
- a very fancy 2 door Wrangler
- early Wrangler Unlimited
- beater import 90 or 110

I don't think there is market for high dollar Discos as cool and capable as they are in reality.

Add another $5k for a solid axle swap on those Toyotas = $17k! The Disco really is a bargain
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
I suspect he meant an SAS on the Toyotas.

I know what he meant. I'm saying if your needs demand a solid front axle you probably aren't buying a "mint" D1 with rebuilt drivetrain in stock configuration. It won't be a built D1 for $12k anymore. Now you're going to have an additional $5k or more in lift and lockers and axles etc.
 

DiscoPhoto

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Jul 23, 2012
2,581
76
Vermont
I have been offered, serious offer not just some jack ass, $8k and $11k for my ?95 TDI. The 8k guy wants the TDI for a Defender, the other guy wants it as is. Thats with zero advertising, etc. I doubt you could do a TDI conversion for less than $8k these days. I know that good running TDI motors are getting rarer every day in Europe. My guess is a good motor and trans is going to run you $4k by the time it gets to your drive way. Just a side note, the two guys that want mine are tools, so I will be keeping it for the time being.

I'm sure you could. I didn't advertise mine for a second, a guy posted up looking for one, and I threw a fair number out based on what I had into mine. Many have gotten more than $10k
 

kade

Well-known member
Oct 15, 2013
235
7
Upstate, SC
Just to add my two cents... I have seen the market for local D1s
dry up Significantly. 5 years ago there was 5 to choose from on the local CL. One including a 5 speed. Now I have one pop up every 2 months or so. And they aren’t all good.
 

bgbrox

Well-known member
Dec 25, 2016
63
8
Golden, CO
Why do you need a solid axle swap? If you "need" it you aren't buying a Disco as described.
It was just cheap shot at Toyota. I thought we were Land Rover fanboys here.

I'd like to justify a clean D1 for daily driver use, but it just doesn't appeal to many people. You want an old car to put smiles on peoples faces when they see it. Discos don't seem to have that connection. Most Discos I see are just cheap cars to their owners. They look shabby and I can imaging all their friends have heard the owner complain about them breaking. That contributes to a general perception that Discos are undesirable. As long as sad Discos outnumber shiny ones owned by enthusiasts, they won't be valuable.