Yesterday I did something I knew I would dread: I took inventory of my cars. How many do I own? What shape are they in? Will I ever get to them? I feared my answers would be “too many,” “horrible,” and “probably not.” As you’ll read below, my fears were confirmed.
OK, let’s start with the good news.
Some of my cars are in great shape! I have a gold BMW i3 in my garage just sitting there.
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It’s basically in mint condition:
I also have a gray i3 that’s also basically perfect:
What’s more, The Autopian’s company car, a 2003 Pontiac Aztek (now my daily-driver for the next month or so) is also in phenomenal shape:
Continuing on the positive side before we fall off a cliff, here’s my 1985 Jeep J10 pickup — it runs and drives like a dream! It does need some brake work, but it drives well, and though it looks rough around the edges, I kinda like that about an old-school truck:
My 1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ, which as over 190,000 miles on the clock, is also basically perfect:
Sure, the driver’s seat is a little torn, but otherwise the Jeep is flawless. That 4.0-liter straight six under the hood purrs perfectly without burning a drop of oil, and the AX-15 five-speed shifts like a dream. Plus, the paint looks great, especially with XPEL PPF giving it that candy-ish look when it’s clean.
My 1954 Willys CJ-3B is probably the Jeep I’m most excited about, because I feel that it’s really not that far off from being on the road. The engine turns over great; just take a listen:
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I do have a rusty fuel tank, which I need to probably replace. And the brake pedal seems to just… bottom out, telling me my master cylinder is toast. I also have no working headlights or taillights, but an old flatfender is easy to work on, parts are plentiful, and the fact that I can fit this thing into my garage at home is going to make fixing this thing happen that much quicker. In theory.
My 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ — a rare, five-speed manual that I lugged all the way from Michigan — remains in peril. It sits next to its parts-car, which hilariously is in better shape than it.
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The red ZJ’s cylinder head is off since I broke an exhaust bolt and had to extract it with an EZ-out. As you can see above, I pulled the bolt-extraction off without drama.
The interior is horrible, there are no brakes, the steering isn’t connected, and the whole thing smells terrible after a cat gave birth to a litter of four kittens. Frankly, this Jeep is in shambles, and it’s not clear how I’m going to remedy that.
Speaking of shambles…
My Nash Metropolitan is still sitting where it has been for around two years. According to the previous owner, the engine has a bad rod bearing and possibly a worn out automatic transmission. I haven’t started tearing into this thing because I’ve replaced it with my BMW i3 as my fuel-efficient, easily-parkable LA daily driver. I have a buyer who wants it, so I need to get this thing back on the road soon.
I also have a WWII Jeep that a younger, naive-er version of me hoped to electrify with parts from a Nissan Leaf (which I recently sold), but I’ve ultimately decided not to, as I don’t have the time, so the WWII Jeep must go away.
As for my brother’s Mustang, it’s still healing from its fiery ordeal the other month. The suspension remains completely worn out, but for the most part, it’s solid and mechanically sound.
I’m seriously working to reduce the fleet to a more manageable number of cars, and I think that number is five. My inclination is to ditch the WWII Jeep, ditch an i3 (not sure which), ditch the YJ, ditch the Nash, and end up with this fleet:
- BMW i3 (one of the two)
- Willys CJ-3B
- Jeep J10
- 1966 Ford Mustang
- 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ 5spd
The Aztek will remain the company car, so it won’t count, even though I have to fix it if it breaks (so really, it basically counts, functionally speaking). The i3 and CJ-3B will be with me at my house, while the J10, Mustang, and overlanding ZJ will take up those precious Galpin parking lot spots. I’m sure my coworkers will appreciate the extra parking availability once I let those four cars go, and maybe I’ll have enough time to, you know, actually give my cars the love they deserve.
Letting go of that YJ is going to be hard, though.
I still stand by you should have kept the good red manual ZJ instead of this one!
I’m with ya though, I’m doing the same thing personally, though not as many vehicles as you. I finally came up with a long term plan to consolidate and how I want to go about it. Never actually did that before…makes a difference.
What about the the mini-van in Germany and Project Cactus?
I think he sold Cactus to Lawrence. Correct me if I’m wrong
I gave it to him. Because Laurence is wonderful.
The minivan…well, my parents seem to love it!
Why choose the ZJ over the YJ? Similar drivetrains, roughly similar capabilities, and the YJ actually functions. The ZJ is nowhere near where it needs to be, and it doesn’t seem like you’re going to have time for it in the next few years. So it’s going to continue its decline. You bluntly acknowledge this in the article (“Frankly, this Jeep is in shambles, and it’s not clear how I’m going to remedy that.”), but then go right back to wanting to hoard it.
Save your time for projects that actually excite you. Like the CJ. Even good cars deteriorate while sitting (The Mustang, YJ, and J10 have all developed new problems this year). The more cars you have sitting around the more they’ll continue to suck time away from projects you actually want to be doing.
Seconded.
David, you’ve said yourself that running this website and having more time for your relationship with ~Elise has reduced your time for projects, and that ZJ is 100’s of man-hours away from being drivable. Focus on a single project, and the Willys that you can wrench on at home, without a spare parts Jeep, is blatantly obvious as the right choice. I know you consider the 5-spd ZJ to be the holiest of grails, but take the rose-colored safety glasses off and admit that you have other things in your life that are more important now.
Keep the YJ so you have a functioning off-roader and sell the pair of ZJs to someone with more time and space than you.
That 5spd ZJ, if I get rid of it, is getting junked. I can’t let that happen.
Also, they YJ just isn’t practical. And I have a soft spot for Holy Grail ZJs. They’re basically YJs, but with a better suspension, a more comfortable interior, and more utility.
I love the YJ, though. I love ’em all, but I have to make some cuts! And I’d like to cut only a vehicle I can replace.
Unfortunately that litter of cats may have made the decision for you on the ZJ. Besides the hundreds of hours of work to get it moving, will there ever be a time when the interior will be in a state fit for human occupation? If the answer to that is no, then it’s time for the ZJ to move to a new home. Sometimes circumstances push us towards a decision, even one we hate.
Had a 1974 Toyota Land Cruiser for years, swearing to get it fully repaired several times in each year. Ran, drove well enough. But I never realllly got after it, and it started to get worse from lack of attention to various minor issues. Eventually, I had to let it go.
Thing is? I felt miserable watching it towed off. Like a failure, like I could still fix her.
Five minutes later? It was like 5 years had been lifted off me.
The grail is a wreck. Get rid of it and the donor. Indiana? Let it go.
We have something in common, I also own 11 cars but it will go down back to 10 as I promised myself do not cross that number lol
I still can’t past “fleet of cars” parked in L.A. I could never park there without playing musical cars with two vehicles at o’darkhundred in the morning. HOW are you doing this? What sorcery?
Also, met you once at a meetup that started at the Troy Walmart a few summers back. I’m really glad you’re out there and thriving.
This is hoarding mentality. You thinned the heard before you moved and then you promptly fell back into having too many cars to maintain. While 5 is a noble goal, I doubt it sticks, and I doubt your ability to keep even those 5 in top shape. I know you aren’t a restoration person, so I’m not even setting the bar that high.
I think the mentality is a double edged sword.
+ David wouldn’t be where he is without his seemingly endless optimism and minimization of certain costs and risks. See: starting Autopian, Jeep repairs and trips to Moab, minivan pieces
– Sometimes the minimizing the costs and risks just shifts them away to others. See: Galpin lot down a number of spaces, free time donated by those who help wrench, relationships that don’t get attention when wrenching
Seems like David has been making progress on his journey!
Also, dude. That ZJ has to go. It’s not a holy grail, it’s an unholy wreck.
Yep. Pull all the 5 speed swap parts and sell them to someone who’s actually going to use them, then crush the rest. That one’s a no brainer, plus it gives him an excuse to keep the YJ.
The 5 speed bits just need to go in the donor chassis
You’ll know it’s a problem when Beau pays to erect a tent over them to keep them out of sight.
“A little torn” is a little torn. That seat is trashed. There’s a difference.
A “flawless” car doesn’t reek of gasoline for weeks, either.
But you do you 🙂
Given your skill and creativeness imagine what you could do if you only had one single project car to work on! I’d the daily, and then sell every project car languishing to someone who will actually complete them, and then keep the one and just go to town.
And I get it projects and great deals show up all the time and it’s hard to resist!
I should follow my own advice, my vice is vintage remote control car restoration.
I have many more tiny vehicles by a factor of 3 or 4 although they at least do fit in a large closet and not an entire parking lot.
That being said, rather than having several in the air I’m not starting the next one until the previous one is complete. Working well so far and my shelf is starting to look gorgeous with these completed models vs the chaos of half finished cars that I had before.
I’d let the ZJ and its donor car go and keep the YJ but I agree with the rest of the list.
What ever happened with the fuel smell in the YJ under deceleration?
Maybe I’m in the distinct minority of followers from the Jalopnik days, but I think your fleet of cars is probably detrimental to your website and who knows what else. Please get your s*&% together and just sell everything: a complete cleanse. Figure out why you have this propensity to need projects when your life is filled with projects (work, love, friendships). Then work from there. Plenty of folks here have a project car and balance it with everything else. But you might need to walk away from your own personal fleet and find peace first.
You can’t even visit your parents on another continent without starting up a new project car.
I only write this screed because I’ve invested enough time reading your articles to get a great feeling about what a wonderful guy you are. I feel invested at this point.
Maybe, but also maybe not. I live in a perpetual state of projects, automotive and otherwise, and while I’ll always wish I finished more and more often, that’s how I live. I would feel a sense of profound loss if someone took away all my projects overnight, because it’s more than “stuff,” it’s my identity. I am one who does things.
DT has a lot of good non-project-car stuff going on, for sure, but a purge isn’t necessarily an amelioration for him like it might be for you. If he’s not complaining or ailing, publicly or otherwise, I think it might be a little presumptuous to tell him to start over at zero.
On the third hand, I’m just some random commenter doing a funhouse mirror version of the scolding you’re doing, so what’s my opinion worth anyway?
He sold down for the move to LA and now he’s creeping back to where he started. I don’t think the cycle will ever truly be broken.
If you are letting go of the WW-II Jeep, you should let Fred know.
Good call!
Are you selling the YJ then? If so, how much?
85 hundo.
I think you’ve made the right choices, that is a good looking fleet.
One change: I’d ditch the willys though, and replace it with a truly ‘fun’ performance car.
You live in Cali bro. You need something to sling canyons in. Head up to Malibu on Mulholland Drive, hit up Stunt Road, etc. It is automotive bliss. Seriously if I was out there I’d be destroying tires and being a public menace every other weekend.
I suggest, in no particular order:
Idk man there are a million options out there because there’s no rust. Have one car for commuting/beating, one for offroading, one for towing/hauling, and one for slinging canyons.
And your brother’s car.
Hmm, The only sports cars that speak to me right now?
928, FB RX-7. Opel GT.
If I could find nice examples under about $8 grand, I might jump on them, but it ain’t easy.
In my opinion, take the Nash Metropolitan, drop in a powertrain and other upgrades that would make it fun.
928s are cool… but don’t do it. The prices on parts are just ‘full retard’. I’ve looked at a few and stewed on it, in some ways the prices are worse than 911 parts, because they were produced for a shorter time period, they’re even more expensive. They’re also not canyon cars, those are GTs.
FB RX7 is a great choice, I like them a lot.
Opel GT: I was actually going to suggest that, lol, but I figured you wouldn’t go for it. Super obscure car, but idk about canyons with them.
I think you’re sleeping on the golden era honda stuff. Please go drive one sometime. They’re incredible. Wish I lived near by so you could sling mine.
For a fun car, I think David should take the Nash Metropolitan and swap in a powertrain and other upgrades that would make it fun.
Put covers on the keeper fleet cars that are not used daily. The LA dust, sun, and rain will slowly destroy a car. A cover will stop the cars from deteriorating while they wait for your attention.
Good call.
Attention they’ll never get, let’s be real.
What about the jeeps still in Michigan? What’s the plan there?
Time isn’t holding up, time isn’t after us, just don’t let too many days go by.
I’m guessing Dottie played some Talking Heads for you by now.
Like a puppet show?
Ha!
I think you’re dangerously close to a plan. 🙂
That is entirely possible, though on a vehicle of that age I would also suspect all of the hard lines and the wheel cylinders.
Its travel is limited. Really it only moves an inch, and hits a hard stop.
Ooooh, yeah – that’s different.
But take heart! The other bits might still be toast. 🙂
I don’t even see a concept of a plan.
You’re keeping the Aztek? I thought the plan was to do all the things you promised and then just sell it.
Maybe ditch the Grand Cherokee, as it is no longer a holy grail, it’s a cat afterbirth filled mess. Just the amount of effort it will take to get in ‘ok’ shape, there’s got to be a better shape holy grail ZJ out there somewhere that won’t require as much effort, or maybe just a nice 5-speed XJ with a diesel to cruise around in.
No longer the holy grail?!
Grailhood is timeless!
There’s just something about the smell of old cat-pee that sucks the holiness of that there grail. I mean, there’s:
“Oh Jesus! – look at that!”
and then there’s
“Oh JESUS! Smell that!”
Perfect comment, would quaff of this grail again
“Oh JESUS! Smell that!”
Oh yes, do!!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f3/72/ec/f372ecb06daabe5dd664ac4002de76e6.jpg
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxnhMb9tcFI
Not unless you put several shrubberies in it…
Before or after he cuts down the mightiest tree in the forest with a herring?
Ni!
Nah, man, that thing is trashed.
In all that’s a good plan. Keep the i3 as your daily, the CJ for topless cruising, the J10 for the couple times a year you need to do truck stuff, you’re stuck with the Mustang, and have a good offroad toy to play with in the ZJ. All of the other vehicles are redundant in purpose even if you like them both. Having 2 off roaders etc. just means they each get used half as much, not that you’ll go twice as often, meanwhile they both keep costing you money to own just the same.
You think like I think. Different cars for different purposes. I never understood people who own a lot of one car, like 911 collectors. Makes no sense to me.
Nah, ditch the ZJ. Make the J10 or CJ do double duty as an offroader in addition to their other job. Heck, make the CJ do triple duty as the topless cruiser, offroader, and then put a hitch on it with a small utility trailer. Bam. Now you’ve got a way more manageable fleet.
Presumably your brother will eventually take possession of the Mustang, which would leave you down a car. That means right now it’s kind of like Schrodinger’s Ponycar, so it doesn’t count in your count. Keep the YJ until all that’s resolves, although you really should have kept the full top and doors given that it will most likely spend a lot of time outside. You can’t always be lucky enough to endure a multi-year drought, you know.
I really should put that top back on…