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!
….But I live vicariously through David’s impulse purchases on stuff that I can’t buy myself.
David, you already sort of fell down the wagon when putting that deposit for the Scout, which I’m willing to not consider a real car purchase, but this?
I thought you were thinning the herd man! Getting your fleet down to 3* cars! That you had no time for the projects you already have!
Look, I know it’s tempting to buy “screaming deals”, especially when your current project is in a rut, I’ve been there with my classic stuck at the body shop for more that two years. However, you have to realize that this extra project is going to:
– pull fincancial ressources away
– steal your time
– eat at your brain
In the end, you’ll end up with 2 rust piles instead of 1 car. Please focus on what you have and give us some wrenching articles instead of yet another “I bought a cheap X and you’ll read about it twice until I lose interest and repeat the cycle”
PS: I said I’d upgrade my suscription if you get to 3 cars without any relapse. I freaking mean it. Make me lose my bet!
Crap.
As in “crap you’re right”?
What is going on with the suspension on the rear axle? I’m admittedly not familiar with the MB’s, but I see the leaf springs and shocks I would normally expect and then I also see coil springs. Did someone add some coil springs later to this?
Yes! Helper springs.
Was the block of wood replacing the front wheel included in the price, or was it an auction extra?
At least you did not have to do the whole, “I know it only has three wheels on it, but the fourth is in the passenger seat and look it even has a wobbly drive shaft attached…”
Whichever one of you it was that outbid David and kept this jeep from cluttering up Galpin’s back lot, you are a true hero.
Please let me know if you have a go fund me to help in the future.
You do not need this.
Tom Hanks might be interested tho.
There was and maybe still is a whole cornucopia of yards out there that were brand specific. BMW, Merc, etc. A lot of Armenian artists…
Someone needs to rig up a squirt bottle to David’s computer that gives him an u pleasant spritz in the face whenever he wanders onto any site purveying rusty lumps that used to be roadworthy jeeps. Or maybe that redirects the browser to the Scout enthusiasts’ forum.
Think of the Scout, David. Focus on the Scout and all it hopefully entails for you. Bringing home your future newborn(s). Car seats for little baby Tracys. Safe adventures where the whole family makes it to the destination and back again. Letting your toddlers help clean it. Stuff that you’re able to do by not being buried in rust dust trying to get another derelict older than your parents to a slightly-running condition.
Let the obsession fade away. It was charming, but it doesn’t have to define you.
A sniper bidder eh? From Michigan you say? Could it be that his name was…
Travid Dacy??? -raised eyebrow emoji-
Wait, I’m missing something. It was titled as a 52 based on the engine which was a 52. What year was the jeep? How could you know that it actually spent time overseas?
Also curious, how were these identified in pre VIN era. Serial numbers on the chassis or frame? Are there records of what companies made which Jeeps for WWII and when?
There’s a serial number tag at the front of the frame. The body would also have a number stamped into it. It would be on the driver side toe gusset if I remember correctly. Yes, there are records of which serial numbers were produced by Willys and which were produced by Ford. There are a few minor identifying features that would let you tell the difference between a Willys and Ford without looking at the serial number.
It almost certainly did not spend time overseas, but it is a WW2 Jeep based on the body/frame features.
So, what year is it? Or are you just saying that all jeeps of this era and type, even if built after 1945, are WW2 Jeeps?
1941-1945.
The vehicle here is a Willys MB, also known as a “World War II Jeep.”
I can see a few features on the body that would identify it as a military jeep made between ’41 and ’45. The most obvious are the idents in the body next to the drivers seat. This is where the pioneer tools would be fitted, a shovel and an axe. There’s also the lack of a fuel filler just above that which would be present on the post war civilian jeeps (CJ’s). The filler for the military jeeps was under the drivers seat.
One more thing I noticed. The wheel hubs on the rear axle are the full floaters found on the WWII jeeps. On a few occasions I’ve seen CJ2’s converted to look like military jeeps by adding the tool indents and adding the military fuel tank and covering the CJ filler hole. Every time they have left the stock CJ axle.
Correct. The US did not go through the expense and trouble of shipping jeeps back after WWII. Jeeps found here were most likely here during the war. I know of a few in the US that served overseas but those were brought back post war by private citizens.
It’s only got three wheels fitted.
You can see that, right?
David bidding on an old Jeep, when he has an old Jeep(s) already?
You don’t need that Jeep, we have Jeeps at home!
It took someone from Michigan to make an intervention. Next time, it’s going to be harder…
No, Bubbie, you did not fall in love. You fell in lust. Visible rust holes are the first clue, and it’s why you have way too many other projects. Time to grow up and clean up the inventory. Way better than the impending divorce court you’re headed for, and you aren’t even married yet.
David: You are the absolute last person who should have a Copart account. Like myself, you’d want to fix and “save” about 20% of the cars you see in the lot on any given day.
We all love you here at the Autopian. Do your future wife a favor and at least leave your wallet at home when visiting Copart.
Too bad, it seemed like it had the perfect amount of wreckedness for you, with lots of rust and missing a wheel and been given up on for a long time.
“I’m selling most of my cars because I’m a responsible family man with too many things to do”
“Check out this jeep I almost bought!”
Over and over and over again…
A hard lesson to learn is that just because something is priced to be a good deal doesn’t make it a good deal for you…
Good job resisting David
he didn’t resist. he got out bid. a cry for help
*Smacks David in the nose with a rolled up newspaper* BAD DAVID, BAD! You are supposed to be getting rid of projects, not finding more!
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/
WTF? I like that rig. Yukon, OK.? It just gets better.
It was all going great, until I got to the front end of that thing, it’s creepy lookin…
That’s the Tasman’s American cousin.
You were probably bidding against a David Tracy from a parallel timeline where you didn’t move to California.
I beat myself!
There’s gotta to be a better way to say that
David needs the “A Nu Start” license plate for his California timeline self to put on the gold i3…
David gets none of these jokes, but I love them.
Maybe some time with a combination analyst and therapist would help him resolve his issues…
David Tracy: Quantum Masochist
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
That is some Deep Jeep.
I wanted to say Cheap Jeep.
Oh, no, but I’m sure there are some medications that can help keep it from overtaking your life. Ask your doctor if one or more of those is right for you.
Well shipoopi, I totally whiffed on the “this would be a personal purchase, not the Autopian company car” in your post. Thinking this was to be the Autopianmobile is what twisted my knickers.
But still, think about how much joy you got from branching out of your comfort zone into the i3. There is a mighty big world of cars out there!
Also, there is a sad lonely little CJ-3B, just waiting for new brake lines. Waiting to hit the trails again. Aching to brake free of the Galpin parking lot, to live and run free again!!! Over the hills, down the valleys, wading through creek beds. What are you going to tell that poor little CJ-3B, huh? What is she going to think if she finds out she’s not good enough for you. That you would rather be with a war veteran. Is it the uniform? She’ll put one on for you! She’ll do anything for you if you just give her a chance, man! Don’t neglect her! Don’t throw her out like yesterday’s In-and-Out burger wrapper!
You’re not wrong, and I know it comes from a good place. Thank you!
A day later, and I feel great that I can focus on my beloved ‘3B and not another unnecessary project, even if it was a screaming deal.
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.