Proliferation of M-series vehs on the market

[chris vickery]

Is it just me or a regional thing?
I have noticed lately, many M37s and variants coming on to the market place.
It seems that quite a few jeep variants are suddenly popping up
as well.
Here in Ontario, Facebook marketplace has featured many vehicles over the last month or so, more than I have ever seen advertised during the last few years.
Is there a influx of collectors who have suddenly come to the realization that their intentions are unobtainable? Is this a sign of tough economic times?
Just this morning, a basic search on FB Marketplace within 400km of North Bay shows-
12 M37s / variants
8 M38s
2 M38A1s
Just a curious observation.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Any M151-series jeeps? I wouldn't mind having one ...

https://www.mapleleafup.nl/fordm151/

[David Dunlop]

I suspect what you are seeing Chris, is the twilight of the Baby Boomer generation, buried within which was a significant number who saw the value in saving/collecting these vehicles decades ago.

You are probably on the right track that yes, they were not able to restore all the vehicles they obtained, for any host of reasons, but they were successful in saving them, for at least their lifetimes. Now, they or their estates have to let them go. Kudos to them now for still trying to get them into the hands of new people to perhaps restore them, or at least keep them saved for a little time longer.


David

[chris vickery]

David I think you are correct. Although in today’s world we are at a crossroad.
The end value compared to the cost of restoration makes it prohibitive, if not an outright deficit situation for most of this stuff to ever be completed.
Here in Canada, the cost of daily living, inflation and a shrinking Canadian-US dollar certainly challenge many collectors.
Considering that many of the parts required for a restoration come
from the United States or elsewhere, we are certainly faced with a huge problem. It seems that even though these trucks have been saved into this century, the prices being asked are overly inflated in my opinion.
We are also seeing a different generation of young people who doesn’t necessarily share our interest in these old things neither. It really comes down to a love / hate relationship I think for many.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Any M151-series jeeps? I wouldn't mind having one ...

https://www.mapleleafup.nl/fordm151/

Gotta break your heart Hanno, Canadian ones are very scarce on the advertised markets. Mine has had one major restoration after it was rebuilt from pieces. The others will probably be in a similar condition.

I thought I'd made a deal on a crunched up one in New Brunswick but Johnny Doubledealer sold it for cash as I was arranging for transportation.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

...
We are also seeing a different generation of young people who doesn’t necessarily share our interest in these old things neither. It really comes down to a love / hate relationship I think for many.

I've met you Chris, and have to say I have a love/hate relationship too .....

[rob love]

I have also noticed a lot on marketplace as well as kijiji these days. I think it is a combination of the economy as well as the high price of repair parts these days. Most of the jeeps I have seen listed are non running rustbuckets.

It's not just the outrageous price of repair parts, but the even higher costs of having the parts shipped. Even the smallest of metal parts can be $25 to $50 USD to come from the USA to Canada. I suspect that a lot of these are projects that have languished in yards or sheds for a decade or two, and faced with the high cost of restoration or repair, and the inevetible safety requireents of some provinces to put it onto the road, the sellers have just decided to cash in the project and go watch TV instead.

I cheated the other year and looked for one of the nicest M38s I could find on kijiji that was already done. It was somebodies labor of love, with one of the repro bodies and one of the smoothest running flatheads I have ever owned. There were a number of little deficiencies that I had to correct, and there are a few upgrades I have to make, but I'm very happy with it.

I will add that I am starting to see a newer generation of collectors/restorers these days. Derk Derin was our youngest club member for decades. That is no longer the case.

[chris vickery]

Totally agree with you, Rob.
I finally dug back into my 1970 M38A1 CDN3 project. I’m happy that I have most of what I require and plenty of NOS parts in stock to complete it.
Today I needed some primer and a handful of new hardware. I hate using old hardware, it’s messy and time consuming to clean up.
$50 later, one spray bomb and literally a little paper bag of NF bolts and nuts…
I was surveying the project last night and I still need to dump several thousands on the jeep…
As much as I like to save money, there is the right way, the wrong way and something in between. Personal time is valuable too and sometimes one has to simply bite the bullet, other wise the old “I can do it myself” ends up taking eons to complete. Then there’s always the route of justifying the purchase of more equipment so i can do it myself. Do I need a $10k sandblasting setup???
The major items on my list are a wiring harness, a set of front fenders and to repair the tub.
I’m tempted to send the tub out and have it done but I am picky and don’t always like the results of others work. If I do it myself, it will take forever to do.
Any way I slice it, the repair of the tub is going to cost me a few grand between sandblasting, fab, paint and body work. It’s an original tub in great shape for a 1970 Canadian jeep, so I’d rather save an original than go for a repro. The price of reproduction tubs do make that route appealing though….
As for my fenders, once again sandblasting, body work and paint to only end up with old fenders that are still old fenders. For the price of repros, that seems to be the route I might go.
Wire harness. Well, I’m not sure on that one. Might make an attempt at building my own as I know NOS M-series Deuce harnesses and the like are quite inexpensive to rob for components.
Decisions, decisions…

[derk derin]

I’m still young at heart, problem is my body is telling me different!
Derk

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Gotta break your heart Hanno, Canadian ones are very scarce on the advertised markets. Mine has had one major restoration after it was rebuilt from pieces. The others will probably be in a similar condition.

A Canadian one would be great, but I wouldn't mind one use by another country either.

Way back when the USMC auctioned off their surplus M151A2's, I should have bought one...

(I remember Chris Muys in Belgium sold one to a couple of British guys. They took off to drive it home and then crashed it into a tree. They came back and just picked up a second one, Chris had plenty of them.)