M38's

They are actually the most 'improved' or 'engineered' of the flatfenders. A little heavier duty components in some places. A good one to 'use' for a trailrunner.........opinions vary, but the 24 volt system I would change to 12 unless you want the expense of the stock system.....just my opinion.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Forums here is the m38 board you have to register but lots of pics and info

I've had a couple M38s...both were pretty darned rough. Lots of rust through and such. One ran and drove but only stopped on uphill grades, the other one's engine looked like a rust milkshake inside. They were advertised blatantly honest as to their condition.

running one brought $1575.
non running one brought $1225.

I guess what I'm saying is that in the worst shape, they still bring "some" money. 

Well I think I'm going to have to sell one of my cherry FJ40's before I take the plunge with a Jeep. Money is a good thing! Now I'm thinking more of the M38 or the M38A1 rather than the CJ. The common wisdom is that the Military models seem to hold the value better than the CJ's.

Edited by overton - 01 June 2007 at 11:58pm

Didn't mean to offend - That's just what someone said - I don't think any of these jeeps are getting cheaper.

Overton, Just a warning...if you don't scratch the civilian itch it will only fester and with time, consume your entire brain.

I know Mil stuff holds it's value...but think of this. Once you have a restored Jeep...what are you going to do to continue the hobby? There's only so much you can add to a Mil Jeep for accessories....a 1919 on a gun mount plus some belt gear and other Mil surplus....maybe a trailer.

With an early civilian Jeep, you can add a PTO to drive a buzz saw, three point lift for running a brush hog or plow, or disc... trencher, snow blade, post hole digger, disc, spring tooth harrow...the list goes on and on.

I dunno, but myself, I can see this early civilian stuff passing up the mil stuff in the future...there's just so much more to it and it all happens to be stuff a guy can really use around the farm, or just for entertainment.

Heck, I tilled the garden with my Jeep-A-Trench this year...what more fun could a redneck want?

While the 1919 can be fun, you can't really use it for it's intended purpose...well, unless you have some real unruly neighbors.

Mike...pretty sure you could buy a tiller for what it would cost in gas for me to come out there...LOL. Sure wouldn't be nearly as entertaining though. Fun to put toys to work once in a while.

I shot a vid with my camera phone, but the darn thing won't let me send it to my PC

I gave up on trying to splain all of it...fortunately, she gave up on trying to curb my addiction ...but yeah, it does probably help a smidge.

Truth is, at the going rate now days... the trencher will have paid for itself with the work I'm doing with it....as long as I opt to forget one of the local contractors I work with regularly will loan me his "modern" trencher for no more than the cost of fuel. No fun in that.

In the "Workhorses of Industry" video they remarked of the penny per foot cost of operation...I'll have to see how well that holds true today...LOL