UPDATE: **SOLD** Was $1650.
(11/14/2016) Worth a look. There could be parts value at the very least.
“Set up for a V8 Chevrolet Automatic. Has normal rust. Pure nostalgia! Some of the pictures are the refinished product from the internet. Mine is the one with rust. A great winter project!”
Now this is a more realistic price, more in line with a budget restoration, not one of those crazy high priced Fleetvans that no body will buy.
I guess it depends if someone wants a project or a completed van. Looking at these pictures and reading the description I’d bet (and I have personal experience) someone would easily have $25,000 just in parts to restore this one. If they can personally do 100% of the work so the couple thousand hours of labor is free that’s a great bonus but restoring one of these vans from this condition ain’t cheap. That doesn’t mean the completed van is worth what you put into it – but that’s the restoration business.
Ron, I agree, just don’t know why anybody would want to make a bad investment, who wants to loose money…People get in too deep, than they want to re-coop their investment at a price beyond market value. It has always been my contention to do a cost benefit, ratio analysis before hand, not after. I know of one of these Fleetvans sitting in a backyard in NJ, been there for ever, owner won’t sell. One day the town will tell him to clean it out, that’s where I come it, I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse… Location is secret.
Probably 90% of the restored vehicles out there have much more money and time-value put into them than they could sell for. There are a few rare birds that appraise for more than the sunk costs but even for them the market fluctuates based on fads and trends. Maybe someday the market for these vans will get hot. If it does, those of us who bought and restored them as a labor of love will have to decide if we want to switch that thinking to investment and profit. If/until then, we’ll just drive around town and have fun in them. Can’t put a price on that!
I agree with both of you. In the beginning (in a land far far away and a different time) we only collected the ones we liked. We fixed, polished and showed off “our” ride. Some liked tri five Chevy, others liked other makes and that is what makes us proud of our ride, IT IS OURS!!
I am working on a 62 Willys truck and a 61 Fleetvan. Oh so different, but I like both. I have no idea what my end resulting cost will be. I enjoy the challenge and experience.
For the record mine are not being built for sale.
Still for sale, make him an offer he can’t refuse…
You would think that with all the “HIPE” these fleetvans get along with the outrageous high prices sellers are asking for restored vehicles, that someone would grab this for a bargain price. What does this tell me? That nobody wants to do the required work to restore, yet nobody wants to spend the money for a restored one. So what do have, no market for Fleetvans, just dreams. Money talks, nobody walks… REALITY….
These are for a small market, they are odd little guys and when you first learn of them “fascination” is the driving force. After a bit you learn just how difficult they are to repair and maintain. Parts are so scarce the fun starts to leave the project. No one likes hitting walls and unless you are very determined and don’t mind the searching, you will give up. I have had mine for a couple of years and my progress is slow but partly because doing 2 projects at the same time slows down both. Fleetvans are not a 55 Chevy where parts can be found everywhere.
It wouldn’t matter if this rust bucket sold for $165 or $1650. The difference is a rounding error in the grand scheme of things. A total frame-off high-quality restoration will cost someone (charging themselves a fair market labor rate if they do their own work) upwards of $100,000. The same could be said for nearly any and every other old car in similar condition.
Words of advice – don’t ever restore a car as an investment (except maybe that uncle’s barn find 1960’s Mustang Fastback). Do it because you love saving the old car, love the challenge, and will love showing it off. If you just love the car, save yourself tons of $$$$$ and frustration and buy one already restored. Let someone else take the financial hit. The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction is happening this week. It’s sickening to see what those perfectly restored cars sell for knowing what was spent on their restorations. But, that’s how it works…
It’s not that far from me. I have been watching it, funds just are not there. Living on a military retirement keeps me at bay. I build what I like when I have the money. Been looking for one for 10 years. I don’t do what everyone else’s driving. I like the odd rides. One day hopefully sooner than later. The best part is there isn’t anything I can’t do on an automobile. An I have an s10 I have no use for.
Is it still available? Thanks.
Hi Eduardo,
I have not seen this relisted lately. I’ve updated the post. If I do see it relisted, I will drop you an email.
– Dave
Eduardo, this has been listed again on Craigslist:
https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/6196256781.html
– Dave
That link is to a different jeep. The Craigslist ad shows an FJ6, and the photos don’t match what’s shown here at ewillys.
Brian, my bad. I quickly looked at the front and though it was the same. Sorry about that. I’ll correct it.
I purchased this jeep about 6 months ago. I plan to use it as parts getter for my small diesel repair business. I a freshly rebuilt 4 cylinder cummins diesel engine almost ready to be fitted into it. Plan to have it ready to go on this years hot rod power tour in June.
I gave the guy a 200 deposit drove 8 hours there and turned right back around it was in such bad of shape it gave my 300 fj that i parted out a run it’s money i honestly did not see one body panel that wasn’t so paper thin and Swiss cheese