It’s not often you get the chance to buy a complete World War II Jeep for under $5000, but I just had that option and I blew it. Here’s how it went down.
The Autopian is partnering with Copart (the one-source auto solution for car enthusiasts), so we’ve been looking for a cool car to buy and blog about; you saw the Mercedes Yesterday, and today I looked at what was listed as a 1952 Willys Jeep, but what was really a fully original World War II Jeep. It was absolutely gorgeous, if a bit rusty:
Check it out:
The reason the Jeep was listed as a 1952 Willys is that it was titled based on its engine serial number, and the engine came out of a 1952 Willy CJ. In reality, this was a genuine World War II jeep — and appeared mostly original.
I was amazed to find this in that Copart parking lot.
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Since The Autopian is a Copart member, I am equipped with a snazzy high-viz vest and the ability to look at cars in person, so I headed over to Sun Valley to have a look, as you can see in the video above. I fell in love, but I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to spend (since this would be a personal purchase, not the Autopian company car). With about $1300 in fees, I’d like to keep our bid around $3000.
For the longest time, we were the high bidder at $500, but then, truly at the very last second, a sniper from Michigan came out of nowhere:
It started at $500. Then $550. Then $600. Then $650. And it just kept creeping up higher and higher towards the $2600 number I’d set. Then it hit $2600. Then it went to $2650. We put down $2700. Then the competitor upped the bid. We kept up with them.
It went back and forth, but after $3050, we stopped, and thus, my opportunity to own a cheap, complete World War II Jeep disappeared forever. I’m currently a bit bummed, but I need to remind myself: There’s no telling how high this person was going to go; I’ve never really wanted to own a World War II Jeep; and I have enough projects.
As for the buyer: At $3050 plus fees, they scored a white hot deal. I hope they’re ecstatic!
That was just me helping you with your goal of downsizing.