This 1982 Mooney M20J 201 Is a Classic Speed Machine ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

Airplane’s efficient design allows for high-speed travel with low fuel consumption.

FLYING Staff

Wednesday, September 03, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

1982 Mooney M20J 201 [Courtesy: DM Aircraft Sales]

Key Takeaways:

Today's Top Pick is a 1982 Mooney M20J 201, featuring a remarkably low-time airframe of 1,809 hours and a nearly new factory-remanufactured engine with just 123 hours.
The flight deck boasts significant upgrades for modern IFR flight, including a Garmin GNS 430W, GMX 200 with ChartView, SiriusXM weather, and a Century 31 autopilot with altitude hold and GPSS.
With custom paint from 2006 and a comfortable four-place cabin, this Mooney is offered at $179,900, presenting a fantastic value as a "get-in-and-go" cross-country aircraft.

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Every day, the team at Aircraft For Sale chooses an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, a good deal, or has other qualities we find interesting. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1982 Mooney M20J 201.

This Mooney M20J is a standout example of the efficient and speedy 201 model. What makes this particular aircraft so compelling is the combination of a very low-time airframe, with only 1,809 hours, and an engine that is practically new.

The Lycoming IO-360-A3B6 was factory remanufactured and has just 123 hours on it, offering the next owner performance and peace of mind that is hard to find in an airframe of this vintage. The propeller and governor were also overhauled at the same time.

The flight deck has been thoughtfully upgraded for modern IFR flight. The panel is built around a powerful combination of a Garmin GNS 430W and GMX 200 multifunction display with ChartView, providing excellent situational awareness. This is complemented by a King KCS-55A HSI, a feature many pilots appreciate.

1982 Mooney M20J 201 [Credit: DM Aircraft Sales] — 1982 Mooney M20J 201 [Courtesy: DM Aircraft Sales]

For weather avoidance, a GDL-69A provides SiriusXM weather and radio, and a WX-10A Stormscope is also installed. The Century 31 autopilot with altitude hold and GPSS roll steering significantly reduces pilot workload on long cross-country flights.

The exterior of this Mooney was updated with custom paint in 2006, giving the classic and sleek airframe a more modern look. Inside, the four-place cabin provides a comfortable environment for business or personal travel, allowing you to take advantage of the M20J’s impressive speed and efficiency.

Offered at $179,900, this 1982 Mooney M20J 201 represents a fantastic value. It’s a rare opportunity to acquire a legendary airframe with an essentially new engine and a capable, modern avionics suite that makes it a true “get-in-and-go” cross-country machine.

If you’re exploring ownership options, FLYING Finance can help get you airborne. Use our airplane loan calculator to estimate your monthly payments, or connect with an aviation finance expert at flyingfinance.com.