[MV] To buy or not to buy: Jeep Salad

SCHERRER, TIM (TIMS@ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU)
Thu, 25 Jun 1998 22:10:52 CDT

A friend of mine is interested in getting a WWII jeep as his first
military vehicle. He has found an interesting one which is turning into
a dilema--to buy or not buy this jeep salad.

It is basically a GPW on a M-38 frame. The body is basically completely
GPW--with the body tub being pretty complete and original. It has all
the grab handles, original front seats, pioneer tool mounting brackets,
bolts and other odds and ends. It has the original fenders and frames,
hood but a CJ windshield. The kciker of the good stuf about this jeep
is that it has a scripted FORD body--stamping on the rear panel.

OK--now for the bad--my buddy seems to think it has a M-38 frame--he
notes some holes cut in the body for the shock absorber mounts, and the
frame appears to be about 4" too long for the body. The engine is
probably M-38, as well as the drive train--although he did see a Ford
marked cover on the tranny. The engine isn't running now, but would be
pretty easily restored to running condition based upon his estimate. Ap
parently the gas tank has been mounted in some kind of wood frame in the
rear--he said it was covering up the scripted panel.

This is the issue--is it worth paying the $850 for this jeep salad with
a scripted body and correct the downfalls with it--or to just pass on
it. I am thinking it is, but it will be a pain later down the road.
The Ford marked parts alone make it worth the money--and that used
frames are in the $500 range for GPW's, and $1350 for new repro frames.
I also suggested he buy it and buy a parts jeep later to cannibalize to
get her running on the right frame with the scripted body.

What kinds of problems do the collective you forsee with this one--my
buddy is graduating from chiropractor school soon, and this would be his
first MV--is it worth it or not? I'm half tempted to get it just for
the parts alone.

Thanks in advance. Tim

************************************************************************
* Tim A. Scherrer "You'll be fighting WWII for the rest of *
* Facilities Supervisor your life", Ron Scherrer, 1971 *
* Truman State University *
* WP: 816-785-5551 CPT, MI, USAR *
* WF: 816-785-4201 Commander, D/2/334th INF RGT *
* HP: 816-665-6704 *
* E-mail: TIMS@ACADEMIC.TRUMAN.EDU *
************************************************************************

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