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Crated jeeps do exist!


mmerc20
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They are all in caves in China.Like the Broom handle Mausers that appeared and blew the bottom out of the collectors market years ago. Caves I tell ya.thats where the stuff is lurking. But then again there are those barns in Normandy. ;)

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This past week on "Chasing Classic Cars" two WWII era jeeps sold. A fully restored (1945?) Ford went for $25,000. The second one was a Willys, unrestored in mint condition with 3 miles on it. It went for $24,000. I don't recall the background on the Willys.

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Restoration of a WWII Jeep is not a cheap venture, most of the time restorers put more than they paid for the jeep just to restore it.

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This past week on "Chasing Classic Cars" two WWII era jeeps sold. A fully restored (1945?) Ford went for $25,000. The second one was a Willys, unrestored in mint condition with 3 miles on it. It went for $24,000. I don't recall the background on the Willys.

 

Goes to show how phony that show is (along with all the other reality shows). I laugh when I see them restoring ultra-classic vehicles in an old real estate office. They don't even have a real paint booth! All of these shows are pure hollywood entertainment, all situations being a set up from the start.

 

 

An unrestored WWII Willys in mint condition with 3 miles on the speedo would bring in way more than $24K! Reminds me of the Jeep in the crate non-sense!

 

I can see a WWII jeep going for 24K if it is a nice restoration without a lot of repro parts built in. Now days, you can buy just about any repro part you need for the WWII jeeps including the body tubs. Most people who buy WWII jeeps get ripped off. You really need to know your jeeps when buying one. Many are cobbled together creations of all different era jeeps.

 

As Rusty Canteen said, most people who restore vehicles for themselves or have vehicles restored for them never get back what they put into them. The hours of labor are never factored in unless the person is paying someone else to restore it. Then, the labor hours count until they decide to sell it!

 

I am 98% thru the process of having a 3/4 ton dodge WC restored for me. I did as much work on it as I possible could (mostly disassembly and some body work). I jumped right into the frey without knowing much about them. All I can say is that I have learned a lot about the whole process!

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I bow tto your excperience on military vehicles, but Wayne Carrini is well known in the collector circuit and has a first class restoration business. He has entered many a car at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach, etc. and been in the top few percent in authenticity.

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I bow tto your excperience on military vehicles, but Wayne Carrini is well known in the collector circuit and has a first class restoration business. He has entered many a car at Amelia Island, Pebble Beach, etc. and been in the top few percent in authenticity.

 

I don't doubt for a minute that he is very knowledgeable on automobiles and he may even be a restoration specialist. However, watching the shows, you see him basically doing quick cosmetic restorations in order to bring in more money at auction. He is more of a classic car broker. If I was looking to purchase a classic car (and had unlimited funds), I wouldn't want him to touch anything. I would want to see what I was getting without a quick restoration job. If I deemed him an expert, then I would have him restore it.

 

His show is like many of the others, the scenerios are preplanned to make it more interesting. Producers call perspective sellers and buyers and offer them money to let him be in the middle and film the show.

 

The show has some merit because you can learn about the history of the car or truck type that they are dealing with.

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It is obvious that you have not watched his particular show with any regularity. Carrini has a full restoration facility including a dealership. His restoration is as total as the owner wishes. Your description of most of these shows is accurate, just not this one. Here is a clip of the jeeps selling at Bonham's recent auction.

 

http://velocity.discovery.com/tv-shows/chasing-classic-cars/videos/1944-jeep-auction.htm

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The clip shows two restored Jeeps

 

 

.I will say this and to keep from debate, remain silent. The '44 is "claimed" from a crate as in the title on the main page as the video opens and the '45 was restored. I don't know if any of this is true from DISTV, but I do know of Wayne's reputation in classical car restoration circles.

 

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Johan Willaert

Started to watch the clip and gave up after 50 seconds...

 

Never restored 44 MB with markings, no blue drab number on hood plus a USA reg number starting with a 3???

 

Hilarious.... :lol:

 

 

Most vintage car people don't have a clue about Historic MVs....

 

CCC is a great TV-show, but nothing more....

Carini is probably very knowledgeable about classic cars, but what I recall from watching the show is that he has a lot of work done outside his own facility and I have yet to see him personally do any major restoration work...

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I've been active in military vehicle restorations for 40 years and can tell you that having a big name in the high end classic car circuit, a ten million dollar shop and entering cars at Pebble Beach does not instantly mean the guy can do an accurate WW2 jeep restoration.. from the obvious limited details that can be seen on the video it shows that that basic research on the restoration was a bit lacking.

 

Richard Petty's multi million dollar race team "restored" an "Army Jeep" here in the Carolina's a few years ago for charity.. while they have the best mechanics on the planet and an ultra high tech shop, the end product was a total embarrassment.

 

Kration

 

MVPA 4707

1943 M5A1 Stuart

1944 M5A1 Stuart

1944 M8 Armored car

1943 M20 Armored car

1944 T16 Carrier

1941 M3 Autocar HT

1942 GPW

1944 MB

1941 MB

1941 Willys MA

1941 GP

1944 Kubel

1942 CCKW

1944 WC52

1917 Army Escort wagon

over 40 years more WW2 jeeps that I can count

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It's obvious Carrini didn't do his due diligence when the producers of the show gave him the script on what to say about the jeeps. To me it's insulting and arrogant that someone like him with this great reputation, can spew out a bunch of garbage. Any restoration specialists of ANY vehicle type would know right away that the Jeep had been restored. Also you have to wonder about Bonhams Auctions. They also made the same statements too.

 

This same type of non-sense applies to other programs such as American Restoration, American Pickers, and even the Antique Road Show.

 

As others have said here, it's only entertainment.

 

 

 

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I do appreciate the replies from you that know the business. While I was with the 1st Cav as an officer we were not supposed to drive so when I ended up with a Infantry assignment I found myself "pIloting" a jeep one evening. My hat is off to those who ever manuvered those beasts on RVN's oil paved dirt roads in the rain.

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  • 3 months later...

To this day I remember the $50 in a crate ads in the back of Boys Life magazine. I always wanted one but paid $750 for a 63 Willys in 1974. She was my first ride.

 

I remember seeing ads like that in the late 50's & early 60's in magazines like comic books and Popular Mech. & Sci. but in my fuzzy memory I recall the ads were for 'surplus' jeeps (not in crates) and the prices were more in the $500 - $700 range. I always wanted one back then but my father said they were all beat up. My first ride turned out to be my uncles Model A that was converted into a tractor.

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