M38A1 Keep or Sell?

1950 - 1968, M38, M38A1, M170 jeeps, NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
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jdaug63
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M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by jdaug63 » Mon Feb 14, 2022 5:39 am

Newbie here, this is my first post and my first Jeep.
Sorry if I posted in the wrong forum.
I inherited a 1953 M38A1 from my great uncle.
It's been sitting in a backyard for at least 30 years.
It looks mostly original and in pretty good shape considering its age.
I do have a clear title in my name.
Odometer shows 11,581 miles.
The engine turned over by hand easily.
It has some rust, not bad considering its age.
The tub tag serial number matches the dash serial number.
It has a Hurricane engine.
Looks like it’s been converted to 12 volts.
Aluminum top has a tag that says it was made by Metro Eng. & Mfg. Co. Inc.
Trying to decide to restore or sell it.
I’m afraid if I restore it, I’ll have more money into it than it’s worth.
If I sell it I will use the money to buy another Willys jeep that’s running/restored.
I’ve never ridden in an old jeep, but it looks like a lot of fun.
My next step is to power wash it and try to get the engine running.
I tried to attach photos to this post but file is too large.

Questions:
How much is it worth?
Should I sell the jeep and top separately?


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dfield
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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by dfield » Mon Feb 14, 2022 6:12 am

Depending on what you start with, a good restoration may cost more than the Jeep will be worth. All of the 24 volt electrical stuff would cost a bunch to collect. A 24 volt wiring harness is north of $500. If it were mine, I would just get it running, check the brakes, and enjoy driving it for a while. Maybe do some off-roading. These old Jeeps look good even if they are a bit beat up.

Dave

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Feb 14, 2022 7:41 am

Welcome to the G! First post I see; but I am not the official welcoming committee.
All restorations cost more than they are worth; that is the nature of restoring military vehicles.
If you do a 100% frame off, and rebuild the engine, like I always do. My rule is never to keep track of how much you spend; it will depress you and your wife will kill you.
Definitely restore it to make it run and drive. How much are A1s worth? Depends; look on eBay and see. They vary.
Original hard tops are cool; some don't like them.
If you sell it as is and get a few $K for it, you will have to add many more $K to that to get one that's running and driving so I would just work on the one you have.
Get a set of TMs and read them daily
As for the 24 volt system, as stated, they are very expensive; wiring alone is $800! Generator and regulator and starter is many hundreds more. Lights, and gauges. But don't worry about it if it has been comforted to 12; many are; make it run like that first.
Driving old jeeps? Come over and I will show you. They are death traps if you have any other traffic; one stoned teenager texting and driving will kill you. He will survive.
They go 40 (more but it's scary) MPH at best and are not at all like the cheapest modern car.
But nothing like them. As for driving MVS, the Dodges are best, but you asked about an M38A1.
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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by Kendall » Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:29 am

I see you are in Oklahoma City. I am in Wichita (just up the road) and have an M38A1. I would be happy to have you come by and look at mine and get some ideas about keeping or selling.
Kendall Lundy

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by mdainsd » Mon Feb 14, 2022 10:51 am

Im in agreement with about all posted so far. Restoring Military Jeeps is not a money making endeavor.

1) Go visit one of these fellas that have offered you a visit. That will see if you have been bitten by the bug or not.

2) If you aren't all that thrilled, I would suggest that (without seeing pictures) a non running A1 is worth 1500 to 2500 dollars. If you got the motor running you could add a thousand to that. If you got the mtor running and the brakes working (drivable) you are getting into the 5 to 6K dollar range.

3) If however you do have the bug, your jeep seems like a good starting point for a newbie to the field. Join your local Military Vehicle enthusiast group and go to the meets that you can reach. Dont let the nay sayers scare you off on the 24 V stuff. Yes the wiring harness is a big expense. But if you go to the meets and look under the tables you may well be surprised! Just this past Sept I went to a smallish local meet. Under a table was a milk crate with the M38/A1 distributor, generator, regulator and cables. 60 bucks brought it all home. I just keep looking until I find what I need at reasonable prices.
52 M38 2X, '52 M37, '44 WC51, '42 WC 56/57, '50 CJ-V35(U), '42 GPW, '44 M3A1 Scout Car, 2010 M-Gator

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:17 pm

I forgot to add: I don't actually buy the $800 wiring harnesses; I make them out of M35 truck harnesses that used to sell for $50. Not sure the price now. But they are the same; all M series wiring is the same, except for length. For example, a #17 wire goes to the right headlight whether on a Jeep, Tank, or Submarine.
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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by Tmroper » Tue Feb 15, 2022 4:01 am

Welcome ! I am in Yukon so we are close. While I don't have a m38a1 (I have a m38), they have two restored at the 45th inf.division museum in Okc, if you need one for reference.

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by jdaug63 » Tue Feb 15, 2022 6:36 am

Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Next step will be to check compression, if that's ok then I will try go get it started.
If it runs, then I will work on the brakes, fuel system, etc. As others have mentioned it's worth more as a runner.
I'm not looking to restore it to military specs. I would be just as happy with a flat fender CJ or maybe a CJ5.
Me or my close family were never in the military, so there's no sentimental attachment to this jeep.
I think this jeep would be a good base for someone wanting to do a military restoration.

Trying to post pics, hope it works.

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by Bill H. » Tue Feb 15, 2022 7:08 am

Jdaug63, I fixed all your image links. An easy way to do it is bracket your URL address with [ i m g ] URL address [ /I m g ] no spaces. :wink:
Bill H.

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1952 Dunbar Kapple M100
1953 Willys M38A1
1962 AMC M422A1
1965 Stevens M416B1 X 2
1967 Kaiser M715

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by mdainsd » Wed Feb 16, 2022 4:38 am

You are right. That is a fine base for someone wanting to restore one. I have seen far, far worse being restored. Bubba hasnt gotten too carried away with yours. see if it will run and get those brakes up. Sell or trade to what you really want.
52 M38 2X, '52 M37, '44 WC51, '42 WC 56/57, '50 CJ-V35(U), '42 GPW, '44 M3A1 Scout Car, 2010 M-Gator

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by JMZ421 » Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:04 am

I just noticed this is an "early" M38A1 with those early fenders. Assuming the passenger side fender is the same as the drivers, those fenders appear to be in good shape, not dented, and are valuable to someone that wants correct fenders. The serial # also confirms this being in the 57000 range.
You also have original patent plate and original data tags that match. Some with restored vehicles do not have those matching ORIGINAL plates. To me it's like having a numbers matching muscle car. I would not give this away(not that you would) assuming the floors are in fair shape. Just my opinion. John

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by USASA » Sun Jun 05, 2022 6:06 pm

Re: How much is an M38A1 worth?

Apparently, someone in Houston for the Mecum auction thought $44,000 + 10% was a good price for a slightly above average M38A1: https://www.mecum.com/lots/HA0322-50668 ... eep-m38a1/ :shock:
Gene
'54 M38A1
'67 M416

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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by dpcd67 » Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:01 am

Some rich collector who has more money than brains, who just wanted it. Price doesn't matter.
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Re: M38A1 Keep or Sell?

Post by USASA » Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:30 am

That's correct.
Thursday and Friday were fairly reasonable with a number of "good" deals.
Saturday the money came out to play and the bidding & prices bordered on total lunacy!

Wish I'd driven mine over and put it on the block. At those prices I might have actually broken even. :)
Gene
'54 M38A1
'67 M416


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