The Cookie Jar is Empty...

[chris vickery]

I always enjoy perusing adverts to keep abreast of the latest goodies for sale.

Is it just me or does it seem that there is less and less for sale??? Has everything available out there been swallowed up? Are guys hoarding the last remaining vehicles, parts and pieces?

Funny to watch in the last 10 years how supply and demand has has diminished what is left of restorable stuff.

C'mon guys, clean out you sheds, barns, garages etc and get some stuff moving again!!!

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Chris

When I saw your post it wasn't clear if you were speaking of MLU and the CMP community or of the larger world of military vehicles. But either way yes there has been a change which has been becoming more noticable over the last few years in the antique vehicle world in general.

As the newsletter editor of our local military vehicle club the amount of stuff that is being offered up for sale either through the newsletter or at flea markets has been dropping off. In part because of the internet it is so much easier to post a picture and discription on e-pay and reach thousands of people then it is to lug that engine block to different flea markets.

Of course in the states the supply of military surplus is drying up. The new surplus disposal system is not small guy friendly. And disposal of surplus or out dated military parts in our active military seems to be geared more toward the dumpster and the crusher rather than to selling the stuff.

I also wonder if it is not a matter of age. I don't see as many young people in the military vehicle hobby as when I started back in the late `70s I was 30 and so were a great many of the people who started around the same time.

I'll be interested to see what develops from this thread.


Cheers Phil

[chris vickery]

Hi Phil, thanks for your imput. I was speaking in general, as it seems that overall the demand now is out-doing the supply.

In terms of barn finds, fields and bushes, it appears that everything is now gone or really well hidden. I scope out places on a constant basis hoping to spot a diamond in the rough. Its tough going nowadays for sure and must be really hard for the young new guys...

Then there is the same old story; you spot something and know full well that it will die its last years rusting away into the ground...

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Then there is the same old story; you spot something and know full well that it will die its last years rusting away into the ground...

Chris...
One word says it all...
COMMODITIES...!!
The prices of scrap metal is out of sight..anything metal of any kind that is not nailed down and a lot that is is going to the scrappers..
Old military stuff of any kind,because of it's robust,heavy construction is a prime target..ESPECIALLY armour,artillary and heavy soft skins..
Much of it is going to China and coming backhere as Walmart junk..
It is so bad there are guys saving pre 1981 Canadian nickels and selling them in bulk to buyers in China because they are over 85% nickel..
Old gas furnace scrap prices used to be $15-20..now they are $75-100.00..
Jeez..they are even stealing the copper roofs off the churches up in Q-bec.....OH Crap...Maybe that is why you were making all those trips to Q-bec...
But that is probably over half of your answer..
Did you get in contact with theguy from Temisk with the carrier..
He just posted a week ago that he found a carrier and wants to restore it..Maybe hire yourself out..
Alex

[mike mckinley]

hi chris

all the above statements are very true, but then there is the other side. i'm not speaking of everyone with this comment, but when something is offered, there is either a lack of interest, or those that do respond, want that item but don't want it for the price asked. there seems to be an attitude that regardless of the price asked, the condition of the item, historical significance, or what extras come with it, because it's painted od, it should be dirt cheap. case in point, i put my m151a2 up forsale about a month ago, and posted it first on the mv related websites, then on websites such as kijiji. the price i asked for the whole lot was a steal as i wanted to move it, and i figured it might give someone new to the hobby a chance without breaking the bank. no body from any of the mv related websites replied. i did get several replies from outside the mv hobby, and their first question was, "what is your bottom line price wise?". in my day that was the last question one asked, because one would first ask all the mechanical questions, or maybe request some additional info/ pictures/ actually go and look the vehicle over, then the offer was made. i even had one guy e mail me saying that the iltis was the best army jeep ever built and that anything built before it wasn't worth buying...and good luck selling my pile of sh^t. again, this doesn't reflect the thoughts of most in the hobby, but it does make me wonder what the next 20 years will bring. mike

[Mike K]

This is a highly interesting thread . I guess everyone's opinion will vary , your views will depend on when you first came into the old vehicle scene .

The MV collecting hobby , has grown here in OZ during the last 20 years or so. Just look at the numbers turning up at Corowa, more and more each year . For years ( I joined the MV club here in 1976 ) it seemed that things were stagnant . Some people don't like clubs and there must be a large number who do their own thing , not bothering to get mixed up in internal club politics ( it always happens, inevitable ).

The high prices on Epay , reflect the supply demand thing .... more people wanting hard to get parts .. prices go up . I spotted a slatt grill Jeep air cleaner for $700 US .. to me that's an absurdly silly amount ,but its the going price . And people are paying that much for the accessories . 8 years ago, I had a half ton of WW2 Jeep parts here ,mostly castings , axle housings , transfer cases , gearboxes, heads manifolds , 2 radiators , engine block . etc. I advertised it all as one lot in the club newsletter ( very cheap too ), got one tentative reply . I ended up selling the lot for $100 to a dealer who offered to take it all away ...

The cost of basic materials like paint , is becoming prohibitive too . How many people in their 20's can afford to spend $10,000 on restoring an old car ? The club here is trying to attract younger people ,but how many young males want to hang around a bunch of middle aged cronies .

Mike