Mike,
While I do not own a military vehicle (currently searching for a good starter
project), I have owned some Jeeps. There may have been a time when the
government auctioned off surplus Jeeps for $50, but as far as I can tell,
they go for quit a bit more these days.
You probably have seen the "Guide to Government Auctions" pamlets they
sell as your checking our in the grochery line. They bost of $50 Jeeps or
$100 motorcylces. I think I even purchased one of these publications a
few years back but these are usually just money schemes. The $50 Jeep is
extremely unlikely.
I have been searching for an inexpensive military Jeep to restore for the past
few months. I work for a nonprofit organization, so money is a serious
consideration. So far, I have conducted this search mostly through the
internet. I've been looking for something that is affordable to restore and
maintain, while being able to use it off-road. I love the look of the older
"flat fenders," but I am leaning more towards an M151 A2 right now. Just to
give you an idea of cost, I have not been able to find one in decent shape
for under $4,000. So if anyone out there knows where I can pick one up for
less, please let me know :-)
There are several web pages dedicated to government auctions or military
surplus dealers. I have not attended a government auction yet, so maybe
someone with more experience on the list could address how these work or
what Jeeps go for. I have been keeping an eye on the surplus market and
some of these Jeeps are really expensive. Below I have listed some of the
web pages that might lead you in the right direction. If any other list
members have suggestions or sources, I would appreciate hearing about
them as well.
Public Sales - Government Surplus Items:
http://www.drms.dla.mil/drmo/local.html
Auction List: www.drms.dla.mil/asset/public1.html
Jeep & 4x4 Salvage Yards: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~tlphili/4x4junk.html
4WD: http://www.sofcom.com.au/4WD/4WD.html
Military Vehicle Preservation Association:
http://users.aol.com/supplyline/mvpa/mvpa.html
Armourer Magazine: http://www.smart.co.uk/armourer
Militaria Magazine: http://www.militaria.com
Owens Export Service: http://web.wavenet.com/oes/
Military Surplus: http://PersonalWebs.myriad.net/gspubl/home.htm
I hope this helps you Mike and I hope others on the list could give us some
tips.
Jason