17 Comments on “Collection of 7 Jeeps for Sale in Houston”

1. Mark S. December 16, 2014 at 10:54 am

   What an awesome building!
2. Bob August 11, 2015 at 5:48 am

   That was my first thought too! Nice building!
3. Mike August 11, 2015 at 1:23 pm

   Has anyone noticed the large number of Willys vehicles that continue to be for sale? Re-listed for months, some even years, price drops and they still don’t sell. If you look at some of the big name on line auction sites, we are lead to believe that vintage Willys vehicles are commanding high prices. I think we’re in a market bubble very much like the real estate boom bust of just a few years ago.

   I’m serious about this, because it affects all of us, as hobbyists or small businesses, Corporations & big money are changing the way we live. 30 years ago, who would believe you if you told them that while driving down the interstate in your NEW Jeep SUV, some one 20 miles away with a computer was responsible for your brakes failing and shutting off your engine. This will never happen in my 1962 Willys wagon. I still CONTROL MY LIFE and will continue to drive my vintage vehicles till the day I die. At least I’ll die a natural death, not at the mercy of some computer psychopath.
4. David Eilers August 11, 2015 at 2:17 pm

   Mike,

   If there’s one thing I’m not sensing, it’s desperation from most sellers. In late 2008 was when I first noticed the recession impact my work (I was suddenly very busy!). The prices were shocking low and people often included a phrase like “don’t want to sell, but must to pay bills”. The prices reflected the need for quick cash. For the next couple of years the prices remained generally low. As the recession slowly improved, the prices began to rise.

   Since June I’ve notice that the number of jeeps for sale has been on the rise. There were so many jeeps to list (and relist) that the amount of time I spent posting them increased. I agree that in some cases the jeeps are priced high. In other cases they are too remote for most folks. What’s most surprising is that summer is often a slow time for jeep sales based on my experience these last seven years.

   Over the past 96 years there have been 14 recessions (this comes from research I did in 2009 for a company). That is an average of one every 6.8 years. Given the “Great Recession” officially began in December of 2007, it seems likely we aren’t that far away from another one, probably more mild (for the US anyway). Perhaps it was the length and depth of the 2007 recession that has kept us from having another one sooner. If you google “next recession” on Google, the results all point to a recession as soon as 2016; however, a large portion of those folks are financial entities hoping equity and bond holders will switch around their portfolios so they can earn commissions. After all, fear=money!

   A little deeper research reveals that the problems in Europe (Greece being one of them), in Russia (low oil prices) and China (US folks not going into as much debt buying stuff they make) could, together, lead to a recession in the US. If that happens, we ought to see it coming.

   I would evaluate prices after Labor Day, say late September. If there’s an imminent recession that is to begin in the US soon, I would expect to see jeep prices drop about that time. If they don’t, I think it would take at least another year for a recession to occur.

   On another note, speaking of control newer vehicles, I just read this article about how to ‘hack’ an OBD2 port (http://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-cut-corvettes-brakes-via-common-car-gadget/). If it were me, I would hack the insurance company’s dongle software and inject malware onto the software being installed on the dongle. That way a person wouldn’t have to hack the OBD2 port by breaking into the car and sticking a dongle in the port.
5. frankthecrank58 August 11, 2015 at 5:03 pm

   I wouldn’t want someone sticking a dongle in my port!
6. don August 11, 2015 at 7:24 pm

   My thoughts on all the nicely restored jeeps for sale? The owner dreams of having a cool-looking, “retro” flatfender, and so he restores one. After he is all done, he finds out that it is too small for him, too uncomfortable for a 6’+, 200 lb+ guy, and driving everywhere at about 40 mph is just not practical these days most places-so off to CL it goes.
7. scramboleer August 11, 2015 at 9:28 pm

   I may have said this before, but I fear that supply is only increasing on old cars as people age and / or pass on and their heirs clean out the garage, including Willys in general (MA/MB/GPW still seem to be in demand). The high-end European/American sports cars are hot, but I can see demand softening over time. Example, Ford Model A. I grew up with them, owned one, and have helped sell a few. I love them and am 40; don’t know too many other 40- year-olds or younger who want a Model A. So you have more and more Model As coming on the used car market, but little demand for them from the next wave of car fans. I hope I’m wrong…
8. don August 12, 2015 at 11:15 am

   I’m 62-I have 3 Model As. I’m one of the youngest guys in the club. It seems like the only way most young guys get a Model A these days is when they inherit it from Grandpa. Definitely prices on complete cars and parts are falling rapidly.
9. David Eilers August 12, 2015 at 12:20 pm

   Well, I had a much longer response until I closed Safari because it was misbehaving … so, on that note I shall quickly rewrite …

   A third issue is space. Most new houses are built with little room to store vehicles outside due to the 1/4, 1/6 and 1/8 acres of land and due to HOA regulations. Storing them in a garage can be in practical, as folks are storing their bikes, boats, camping equipment, snow blowers, lawn mowers, and boxes of other stuff inside.

   A forth issue is the lack of time parents and kids have to work on vehicles. Kids are too busy with soccer, video games, homework, and other extra curricular activities. Thus, the knowledge of auto mechanics doesn’t get transferred. Divorce plays an issue as does the lack of autoshop in high school.

   A fifth issue is a lack of incentives. Most new cars are difficult to work on without an understanding of electronics/computers and the associated equipment. Moreover, the automakers and tractormakers are pushing to use the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to keep car owners from working on their cars, arguing that car ownership is really just a license to drive the car and not to do work. http://www.autoblog.com/2015/05/08/gearheads-push-preserve-right-work-on-their-cars/ A ruling on this is expected in the fall. Because of these issues, and the fact that the last couple of generations have grown up with disposable toys, there’s been little incentive to learn the skills necessary to repair most everything including vehicles.

   So, what happens to all the old vehicles in private hands? I don’t know …
10. CraigInPA September 23, 2015 at 6:50 am

    25 years ago, I was a Packard Man. I owned 7 of them. I restored several. I was always on the look out for parts stashes and parts cars. Then came a time when I looked at these beautiful 1930’s cars taking up most of my 8 car garage and realized that I was building a museum, because I wasn’t really able to drive them (both in terms of safety and lack of anywhere to go in such a car). So, I sold every single one. Most went to people who remembered riding in their parents or grandparents Packard. I did get a premium price for every last car. Fast forward to now. I look on ebay and see one of my former cars, which I sold for $30k 25 years ago, is up for sale for $20k or best offer. I email the seller. The seller states that it was their now deceased parent’s car, and the seller doesn’t even know how to start the car, let alone drive a 3 on the tree stick shift. The car has been garaged all this time. The parent had done some maintenance work to keep the car operational. And, the seller is willing to take $15k.

    A friend of mine is into brass era cars. There was a time when you couldn’t touch one under $25k. Now, the descendants are willing to take *anything* just to get them out of the garage. My friend has passed on many offered cars because he’s unwilling to saddle his children with any more cars, knowing they have no interest in cars that old, flimsy, and difficult.
11. Mike September 23, 2015 at 8:40 am

    Craig, you make an interesting point in you mention of how the classic vehicle marketplace has changed over the years. Of course this has a lot to do with what a New generation values but even more so in my opinion, the internet and especially Ebay & big money action houses that have captured the market and given a false sense of value to the everyday collector car market. There is no true market value anymore. I whole heartily agree with you, I just think it’s not going to change anytime soon.
12. Nick September 23, 2015 at 8:57 am

    I don’t think the Willys (Jeeps anyways) will ever drop to a ridiculous low. From the past couple years of getting into these, I’ve found prices range all over the place. There doesn’t seem to be a definite value.

    I can say, however, there is an will be a demand for vintage Jeeps for a long time. I’m 18 and already own a few, and I’ve found that alot of the guys who own Wranglers are getting into flatfenders. It’s amazing how many younger people are interested in buying them. Sure right now the majority are owned by older people, and that’s how it usually goes. But look at the Model A crowd, all in their 70s. These people probably had memories of their grandpa driving one around, just as we have with Willys today. They were once the younger crowd. It goes in cycles. I think the new Jeeps are what keeps the old ones alive. Everyone wants to own one of the first Ferrari’s, but won’t give an old Nash the time of day. It’s the pride and heritage.
13. scramboleer September 23, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    Really like these comments on this thread. Thanks for posting everyone.
14. Steve September 24, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    How must for fc 170 and do you have any pictures
15. David Eilers September 24, 2015 at 10:05 pm

    Hi Steve,

    You’ll need to contact the seller via craigslist:
    http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5232794410.html

    – Dave
16. Kirk September 29, 2015 at 9:29 am

    If you are a first time home buyer, realtor, mortgage lender, investors or builder I want to share the following tool I found with you, it is called http://realbench.net , go get it and use it and then come back to ewillys.com and share your experience with the rest of us, I assure you will love it.
17. matt wright October 6, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    does any one know where i can find a jeep willys FC 150 or 170 2wd forward control… i want one that is running or wont take much to get it to run. i have cash i hand ready to buy any shape ok.. this is for my daughters FFA senior project at her high school.. any help would be great.. call or txt anytime 214 315 2675 email 2mattwright@gmail.com