Face it, Jeeps have to be some of the coolest vehicles on the planet! They have served their country as military workhorses and enjoyed civilian life as daily drivers. Slam it into four wheel drive, lock the hubs and you can go just about anywhere. While the newer jeeps are pretty, the older ones that have been around the block have the real personality. So when you hit the market looking for army jeeps for sale to satisfy that special yen, just what are your odds for finding the jeep of your dreams?
Among army surplus vehicles, you can find some pretty sweet vintage jeeps. However, they are becoming more and more, rare. If you do a search of “army jeeps for sale” you can find quite a few sites that have listings where you can either bid or buy outright. But what do you look for when you are looking for an army jeep for sale? Quite often, your jeep will likely be a restoration project, at least to some degree. So, the first thing you need to decide is just how much time, elbow grease and cash do you want to put into your labor of love?
Once you have found a couple of vehicles that grab your interest, take a look, if you can, at the body. Is there any rust? Vehicles in the southeast and north east tend to have a little more rust on the body due to the higher humidity in those regions. The northwest and southwest are drier climates and don’t cause rust as often. However, if you do pick up an army surplus vehicle for sale that has a little rust here and there, it isn’t the end of the world. There are things that you can do to correct the problem. Just know where to look to find the hidden rust spots.
Check the outer part of the body, but also take a look under the car. The underside of the quarter panel and under the wheel well are two common places that rust but are often missed. The floorboards can sometimes do some pretty gnarly rusting as well. You can also tell if a rusted vehicle has been painted over because the paint will look as if it has bubbled up. If you see that bubbling effect on the paint job, take a closer look because that typically means that there is a rusted area that has been painted over.
Sometimes people will try to use Bondo or some other bonding agent to cover the rusted area. The problem is if the bonding agent is too thick, it won’t hold and can actually fall off. If the rust is so bad that you need more than an eighth of an inch or so of filler, then you really need a better plan. One good method is to cut out the rusted part and weld a new piece of metal in its place.
So when you are looking for army jeeps for sale, know what you are getting yourself into and how to remedy the situation. Finding a vintage, restoration ready army jeep for sale can be the beginning of a beautiful relationship, just you and your jeep.
Knowing the history of the army jeep is very important when you start looking for a jeep to add to your collection. The history of the willys jeep is a great resource to start with.
I have been collecting and restoring old trucks, and cars for over 10 years. More information on other old trucks, my old trucks for sale blog includes lots of information, guides, tips, as well as a great resource for finding parts for your restoration project.