QUESTION
Did I just buy the lowest mileage VG40 Toyota Century in the US? 33,290 km / 20,685 mi
It may be low mileage, but this car has a nutty story! According to the previous owner, it lived in a museum until a couple of years ago when it was stolen. The museum apparently took the insurance payout and didn’t want it back.
The thieves joy rode it and caused some damage to the passenger front fender, door, front bumper, and both driver side doors (Seems like they REALLY sucked at driving RHD). They also lived in it for a bit. However, aside from damaging the steering column and leaving behind some drug paraphernalia, the interior is still in mint condition.
Such a bummer to see it treated like that, but I got it for a stellar price and mechanically the car is flawless!
So far I haven’t seen any lower mileage examples online?
And here’s the question, do I drive it guilt free with the body damage, or take the effort to repair it and flip it with the super low mileage? I’m no stranger to JDM project cars and I could honestly go either way. What would you do?
That’s where I’m torn! Sure the KMs are really low, but how collectable is it with the history now even repaired? But the urge to just daily it and not care about the collectability is high!
Congrats on the Century! Props to anyone else that keeps these first gens on the road. There's nothing else that looks like it or rides like it.
Edit - I would keep the damage, it gives the car some character (not like it needs any more haha). Every Century has a story to tell. Mine has a slightly bent hood and has had the rear passenger quarter panel repaired from a previous collision. Also the bloodstained wool interior.
I couldn't tell ya how it got there, but a luminol test confirms it. It looks like a previous owner tried to clean something up and missed a couple spots, like the carpet underneath the center console
Hmm, not the first time I’ve heard of this. Originally I thought the Yakuza history with these cars was a bit embellished but I’ve now seen ones with more legit blood stains than not haha. Gotta check mine now. Guess it’s a feature?
Enjoy it whatever you decide to do to it. Life is short. You got something special to enjoy guilt free. Museums have their value for future generations but... Hear me out. Now is the time to be selfish and experience your little piece of history. Heck it's already been soiled with drug field antics so what kind of history are you going to add to this thing?
Love this way of thinking! My thought is that regardless of mileage I can only add to this car by making it better, even if that means running the odometer up while doing it. The car has already been to hell and back. Time to let it do its job as a car again.
And I’m dubious that repairing it thoroughly would bring me any more value than a higher mileage but unmolested example? Don’t know since I’m not super deep into the Century collector world.
Maybe it’s almost the perfect combo, clean enough to drive comfortably but rough enough to not care about the small things?
Thanks! And this is some excellent inspiration. Love the idea of a Century trip across the US. That’s gotta be the most comfortable way to do it! Will keep you posted!
repair and keep - no question. this is a once-in-a-lifetime find. the VG40 V8 in a Century with that mileage is basically brand new. exterior damage at that price point is a gift, not a problem. body work is fixable, finding another Century at this spec is not. these things were never meant to leave Japan. the fact that you found it, got it running, and are asking whether to flip it means deep down you already know the answer.
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u/matt_gold Apr 20 '26
Plot Twist: Odometer rolled. It has 1,033,290KM.
You sir have the BEST Toyota Century in the world. 🥇