Hi Phil,
Excellent photos of great trucks but without doubt my favourite would be the white 40 with a full roll cage!
I don't know enough about 80s to be able to comment as to which is best but the mechanical configuration is excellent without all the ridiculous electronics of the later models. When one is in the middle of nowhere and something fails with 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s(early) and 80s they can be fixed or find a workaround to get out of trouble. They are old school. There are plenty of members on here who are very knowledgeable regarding the 80s.
My white BJ40 (1975) has a 2H, 5 spd, HJ axles and PS, P38 coil front suspension and was a retired winch race truck when we bought it with no doors, widened wings and slab tailgate but had a full FIM roll cage. There is a thread on here (40 section) about her rebuild - Evolution of my 40. It's our only vehicle we we do use her on the desert trails as well.
Tell us about your trucks, particularly the 40
Regards,
Rodger