Proliferation of M-series vehs on the market

[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.