1942 cmp f15a

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

The donor chassis I know about and this would make a decent project for an ambitious CMP enthusiast. Both are here in Ontario. I would lose body parts if I even suggested it to my wife.

[chris vickery]

I am sure it has every bracket, bin and doo dad that it ever came with.
Even has original top bows although they are rough as with the rest of it.
My dilemma, as I am sure others will attest to, is the justification to restore.
We all know that CMPs are relatively worthless in the collector market so why would anyone spend the time, energy and dollars? Ending up in the red on a project is never good. I don’t think the value of these beast has really changed in the last 20 years. A full engine rebuild is nearing $5k alone. Sandblasting has gone through the roof. And parts, well if they are obtainable aren’t getting any cheaper. It certainly bodes well to look towards fully restored vehicles as someone else’s loss is your gain.
Just take a look at the couple CMPs listed for sale on MLU that are in BC, great deals for someone if they can obtain inexpensive transportation.

[Bob Phillips]

I have to agree with Chris on this one. The expectation that so many vendors have is simply not reasonable, but we live in an age where most everything seems unreasonable. The enlightened few will probably have taken advantage of the record scrap prices ( was $420 ton, now dropped to about 320) to clean up their yards and non collectibles. Should also point out the crazy expectations apply to other vehicles that are overpriced and potentially misleading in their presentation. Check out this example, of a "militarized" vehicle.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/...arbox/m3912644

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Category 1, restored and running, desirable so long as its not too big. Jeeps, carriers up to 15cwts probably, after that the market drops off quickly.

Category 2, older restorations let sit, hopefully inside. Will need brakes, tires, maybe a replacement windshield for that cracked one and paint to freshen it up. These can be great to start with unless the price is full retail.

Category 3, the 'will get to it one day' truck that was stripped to the chassis 35 years ago and all the parts are....somewhere. If you're lucky the owner has collected all the pretty NOS bits over those 35 years and they too are in boxes with the mouse poop...somewhere. Not for the feint of heart and best be in the right place to get it from the family or it's off the the scrapper. In my opinion there are way more trucks in this category than any other.

Category 4, complete-ish trucks left where they last ran and in the weather since. Maybe good for some of the cast or axle parts because by now the rest will be rotten through and through (unless you live out west).

Category 5, "what am I looking at? Are there the remains of a truck in that rust pile with the trees growing out of it?"

[chris vickery]

Well Bruce, this particular gentleman intended to fix up this family truck one day…
If it hasn’t been done by now, it will never be.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Well Bruce, this particular gentleman intended to fix up this family truck one day…
If it hasn’t been done by now, it will never be.

It's easy to dream about restoring it 'one day' until it takes you a week to wiggle loose a single brake drum and know there are three more just like it. Or that the thickness of the rust bulging between the leaves of the leaf springs is thicker than the remaining metal in the leaves themselves. The six gallons of diesel fuel you poured down the carb to free up the engine was a bad investment because it didn't do squat. The guy at the auto parts store ducks behind the counter when he sees you coming and, when you finally do manage buy a few 'modern replacements', you walk out $1000 poorer for a handful of parts the truck swallows up in an afternoon and begs for more.

That said, there's a lot a merit convincing yourself you'll 'get to it one day' rather than actually getting to it one day.