And really you need to count all Ilti. One of mine the previous owner used it for off roading, but it was not beat to crap either he sold it when it started to run like crap and could not figure out what was wrong with it.
The Iltis more than any other CF Mil vehicle to date from when disposal of went in to the hands of collectors. There are more Mil vehicle collectors now than ever before. The Iltis likly could be the most commonly found preserved former Canadain Mil vehicle in the future.
Yes they are not the most reliable units and are a typical Volkswagen of the era. The Fact that they are a Volkswagen also allows them to cross over to the Volkswagen crowd, as there are several that have been bought and restored back to CF service colours by Volkwagen collectors.
You should see the starting condition of some of the units that have been restored especially in Eastern Canada, some that were as far as I'm concerned were rusted far to badly to be slavaged, but they were. Also there have been several that were disposed of for parts that have been restored and put back on the road. Rust will be the biggest killer for restoring the Iltis down the road, As they are very rust prone, but a few mods and some modern rust proofing compounds will quickly solve the issues.
The other advantage the Iltis has is it's rather high transaction price on the used market. Most bought for off roading will be sold off once they need repairs and or the novelty has worn off with owner. (as was the case with my 85) .
Far far fewer Ilti will be be woked to death in post CF service and left to rot in a feild as was the case with most former CF wheeled vehicles.
Ilti tend fetch good dollars on the used market making them less likly to sit and rot in a feild or be scrapped as was the case with many M135's M37's and Jeeps in years past.
The Iltis is a more usable vehicle on road than any other former CF vehicle save for the CUCV's. So that appeal will pull more individuals in to the hobby to preserve and restore them. That is exactly what brought me in to it.
Parts comonality for most drive line stuff is avalible from civilian vehicles, I imagine what will be difficult to find in future will be sheet metal spares.
Yes they represent a time of cut backs in CF but they are also in the last generation of Candian built soft skin wheeld vehicals to serve in the CF. From here on out we likly will never see another wide use wheeled CF vehicle built in Canada.
And for that reason alone they have a special place in CF vehicle collections.
I do think that the Iltis has a really good shot of being the most widly preserved former CF vehicle in the future.
Matthew
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