<< I purchased a jeep sight unseen for next to nothing and had it shipped in
a
load of tropical foliage plants from South Florida to British Columbia
Canada.
When it rolled off of the truck, it was a very rusted out DJ with a Chevy
V8.
It was too far gone to save any of the panels. I saved the front fenders,
hood, and tail gate. I traded those parts for other parts that I needed.
Now, thanks to a repro body, it is the coolest little flat fender in town.
It is probably the only little flat fender in town.
I drive it daily and I can't drive it without someone stopping me and
talking jeep to me. I dont pretend that it is an original but to be honest
most folks don't care. >>
Let me make one more comment on this subject while it is still a hot topic. I
posted a comment in an earlier thread wherein I suggested or urged the list
members to consider their vehicle in the context of history. I would like
everyone to consider their vehicle as if it may someday be the last surviving
example of its type. No one can force you to do anything with or to your
vehicle if you don't want to. But accept please some responsibilty for the
piece of history that you are now the caretaker of.
Many of these vehicles will outlive their present owners by many decades.
Perhaps by many generations. I suppose that most of the more purist minded
folks will agree with me that some vehicles are worth more historically than
others and I hope most of the general list membership will as well. Meaning
that in my opinion you can hop up a DJ ar a CJ-5, put gumbo mudders on it and
paint it pink and purple and drive it at 775 mph till it blows up or leave it
outside to rust till it falls apart. (I wouldn't recommend it but it wouldn't
bother me to death either.) To apply this same treatment to a 44 GPW would be
a tragic shame and a very, very foolish and irresponsible mistake. This is
said leaving the condition of the vehicles and the monetary value out of the
equation for now. What is the difference? The 44 GPW is a vehicle that has
very definite historic value that will live long after we are all dead.
The DJ and CJ-5 could be said to have some historic value as well but only a
true moron would even try to suggest that they were on par with any WWII
jeep. (Historically) nor is an M-37, an M-38, a WC series Dodge, or my 42
Ford Staff car. My 72 suburban has a great deal of value to me but its
impact on history is limited and I recognize this fact.
That is why you should TRY to the best possible restoration that you possibly
can. Hell, use a repro body to get your jeep on the road for now if you must
but the amount of money you apply to its purchase could make a lot of
progress in the restoration of a beat up original tub. In either case don't
give up hope for the future
to make your jeep restoration better one piece at a time if necessary.
DO NOT get the impression that my above statement regarding M series trucks
and other WWII trucks is intended to diminish their own value to automotive
and military history. This was only a relative comparison to the MB/GPW
series jeeps. An M-37 or WC series truck has more historical value than a
late 40's Civilian Power wagon. like it or not.
I don't have time to finish this now so go ahead and read this much but
please don't curse my name and damn my eyes just yet.
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