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Lady I work with has a cared for and running (but don't know actual condition....) 1947 Willy's Jeep...
Her son wants to carve it up to make some perverse "hot rod" out of it...
I told her to FIND OUT what it's worth before letting him loose with a torch and tools...
Any clue what it MIGHT be worth?
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Hot rods are made out of uncared for cars....
Hemmings Motor news would be a good start.
http://www.hemmings.com/
My dad had a 1924 Willys Overland and it sits quietly in a shed waiting for me or one of my brothers to get a hair up their arse and restore it.
The value is very dependent on original parts and condition.
If it's running... then.. wow.
3p
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Yup..
Running, and is used occasionally as a "run around the farm" or "run to the store" vehicle...
That's about all I know about the condition...
Would it be safe, do you think, to advise her that it could be sold to a Jeep collector for enough to finance a much better "hot rod" project?
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I'm not sure of the value of a running one but I have a friend that parted out a non running unit. Apparently there are many people in need of original parts and he sold everything from window cranks to doors and even the transmission and stripped frame. Total take was over $5k. Sounds like this would be enough to buy a new POS for junior to hotrod.
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Do some Googling and you're bound to find Jeep collector organizations, with forums where you can get some informed opinion. As threeprong said, collectible value depends entirely on condition, original parts, and relatively scarcity of the model.
Maybe you could interest Junior into a restoration rather than a demolition project—much more rewarding in the long run. Steer him to some fan sites and/or meetings, magazines, etc.
/Mr Lynn
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The tailgate for one goes for $750 on eBay.
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there is so much interest in them, it would be a shame for Jr to really mess it up permanently.
If it is roadworthy, and unmolested and intact, it should sell reasonably fast.
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When I was a kid I seem to recall ads in the back of Popular Mechanics/Science that claimed you could get army surplus jeeps for $50. Always wondered what, if anything, you actually would get, and what shipping might cost. I always imagined a crate full of parts.
It would be a real shame for a complete and running antique like that to be destroyed.
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[quote GGD]. . . It would be a real shame for a complete and running antique like that to be destroyed.
I agree. Especially when you realize that it's nearly 60 years old, built before most of those on this board were born.
/Mr Lynn
