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!
DAAAAAA-viiiiiiid…
Adrian said he was gonna put it in the Slack, but I’m here to further tempt you.
https://www.facebook.com/share/Y3VXVU1TuhtkLWmp/
You were probably bidding against a David Tracy from a parallel timeline where you didn’t move to California.
I beat myself!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the front passenger wheel doesn’t seem to be in the correct place. It may need an alignment. And new tires, if the old ones were allowed to were unevenly due to the poor alignment.
[rose colored glasses come off]
Well I’ll be!
Ughghhg!! David! After showing us several cool Copart projects and asking us to help you choose, you bid on yetanotherjeep!?! You have a more one track mind than the Marklars!!
Am I the only one here getting a little annoyed with David’s Jeep OCD? I mean, Mercedes is obsessed with Smart cars, but she still owns more non-Smarts than Smarts (I think, it’s hard to keep track).
Bid on that excessively cool Nash or the very Autopian utefied Mercedes. But please don’t turn this into one more of a long line of Jeep series.
Seriously, Matt, Jason, hold an intervention for David.
I guess the good news for Elise_B is that once you fall for something, you are dedicated.
This was to be a personal purchase, not the Copart-Autopian partnership purchase.
As for you being annoyed that I love Jeeps… you gotta realize that I studied engineering solely so I could work in the auto industry so I could develop Jeeps.
That level of obsession doesn’t go away!
Nor should it! Keep that fire, David
David you’re getting married. Consider this a sign from the Jeep gods as a blessing for your marriage!
I think you honestly might be right.
Do you know if it was an MB or GPW? Either are desirable though I’m partial to the MB. Should’ve shipped mine home from the Philippines when I had a chance.
An MB!
Well, darn.