Frequently Asked Questions: Click on a question.

1. How many Jeeps do you have in stock?

2. Do you have a stock list?

3. Do you have photo's of current stock?

4. Can you deliver vehicles?

5. What about insurance?

6. What about spare parts?

7. Will you prepare a Jeep to my specification?

8. Do you pay for road tax?

9. Do they run on unleaded?

10. Can you get a diesel/auto/right hand drive Jeep?

11. I’m 8ft. 6 in. tall and weigh 25 stone. Will I fit in the Jeep?

12. How long have you owned a Jeep?

13. How much?: Which type of Jeep should I buy?: Are they a good investment?

14. What makes it original?

15. Why restore or buy a good Jeep?

Frequently Answered Questions:

1. How many Jeeps do you have in stock?


We always stock around 20, but often have only 10 to view as too much choice causes confusion.

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2. Do you have a stock list?


We do not have a stock list to send out. We do however publish our current viewing/sales list on this website. The actual stocklist would include vehicles not available for viewing in other locations and vehicles being restored or painted, etc. As soon as they are available we move them to the viewing list. You are very welcome to ask if we have something new due in.

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3. Do you have photos of current stock?


Photos can make a vehicle appear to look good, whether it is or isn’t. We all know what a good Jeep looks like. Come and look for real. The only time photos do a good service is for either non-standard vehicles or restoration projects in these cases we will send out pictures. That said, we do publish a catalogue on this website to give you an idea of what we have.

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4. Can you deliver vehicles?


No problem anywhere in Europe! In the UK if you buy a Jeep from us, we will deliver for £1.50 a laden mile, e.g. London is 150 miles from us so £225 plus vat is the charge. We can move up to 4 at a time, so bring friends with you because we only charge per trip not per Jeep.

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5. What about insurance?


This is very inexpensive if done through a specialist insurer and we have proposal forms. In some cases it can be done there and then, so you can drive away.

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6. What about spare parts?


You can still build a Jeep from spare parts! So no problem, we carry exchange units and service parts and although we are not Jeep spare parts retailers we always will look after customers who have bought a Jeep from us. We will also advise you of parts retailers so you can have the choice. Parts prices are low compared to the price of current car spare prices.

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7. Will you prepare a Jeep to my specification?


Of course within reason. E.g. Choice of colours, choice of stencils, choice of tyre types, choice of extra accessories i.e. axe/shovel/aerial/siren etc, choice of canvas or vinyl trim. If you want it and we can do it, we will.

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8. Do you pay for road tax?


No, tax is free but you still have to display a disc. It doesn’t cost anything.

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9. Do they run on unleaded?


Yes they do. I could be technical but this would take pages. If valve seat recession took place, this would take thousands of miles and the ultimate cost of cure would only match the cost of prevention. So don’t worry.

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10. Can you get a diesel/auto/right hand drive jeep?


All WW2 type flat fender jeeps we sell come LHD, petrol and manual, and before you ask 20 or more mpg.

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11. I’m 8ft. 6 in. tall and weigh 25 stone. Will I fit in the Jeep?


We can adapt a Jeep to fit almost anyone! (We think.)

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12. How long have you owned a Jeep?

I had my first Jeep in 1977 and rebuilt it over a period of time and sold it in 1990. However I have never been without one. I buy and sell Jeeps because I like the vehicles. As opposed to just because it puts food on the table. Myself and my staff all own and run our own Jeeps. So we practise what we preach and can answer your questions from both sides of the fence.

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13. How much?: Which type of Jeep should I buy?: Are they a good investment?


Types: Willys MB, Ford GPW, Hotchkiss M201

We have a stock of all of the above types. All variants look the same to the untrained eye. However in reality all have detail differences. To further complicate things, during army repairs and latterly most jeeps tend to be a mixture. Unlike the pedigree classic car, these vehicles were built for commercial usage. Both Ford and Hotchkiss were built under licence to the original Willys design and parts had to be interchangeable, (Hotchkiss having some exceptions).

Values:

Most buyers simply just want a Jeep. Bona fide wartime production jeeps tend to command a higher price than a Hotchkiss. If like conditions are taken into account however, most Hotchkiss jeeps tend to be in better condition than WW2 models. So therefore, price variations tend not to be noticed.

Why are Hotchkiss Jeeps in better condition than original WW2 Jeeps?

1. In many cases they have only recently been released from military service.
2. Hotchkiss Jeeps have been maintained on a no expense spared basis by French military.
3. Mileage tends to be low, and war usage has not occurred.
4. Quality of parts tends to be higher than original, due to superior modern materials and more accurate manufacturing techniques.
5. Most WW2 jeeps in England have been out of military hands since the 1950s or 60s, and then used commercially as a workhorse until they dropped. Then they have stood derelict until restored. Restoration in most cases done by the enthusiast to a budget does not match army rebuild standard. (Remember the starting point is usually very poor.)

Prices:

Rebuild projects start at around £2500, for a basket case example up to around £4500 for a running/driving example requiring a lighter restoration. Restoration projects do not tend to be a cheap option and we would advise that in many cases, cost of restoration exceeds the resale value of the Jeep.

On the road examples:

This price range runs from around £5000 to £8000, with exception at both ends of the scale.

For £5000 you could expect a Hotchkiss recently released from the French army, registered and MOT’d but requiring some body repair and a repaint. It probably would not have canvas trim or hood and it would be in as released condition bearing any MOT work carried out.

If a WW2 example, expect an older restoration carried out to a budget and showing obvious signs of its age.

For £6000, you could expect a WW2 Jeep in a better condition, but still having several grey areas e.g. poor underside body repairs, non original features such as wiring, wheels, etc and mechanically being up together, but not just rebuilt. For a similar price, expect a Hotchkiss to be in very good condition. For example, we will supply a Hotchkiss that is army rebuilt and preserved as released (i.e. not on the road, but what value for a Jeep that has had a major army rebuild.

Or expect a good Hotchkiss on the road with very good body and mechanics/electric, ready to drive away and use with peace of mind.

Prices above £6000 are commanded for top Jeeps. E.g. Come and choose and ex French army rebuilt Jeep. Have it de-preserved, repainted and stencilled. Have new canvas hood, seat cushions, new bar grip tyres, new batteries, new brake cylinders etc price £7000/7500 depending on specification and accessories required. For an excellent WW2 Jeep, expect to pay around £1000/£1500 more than for a similar Hotchkiss.

Please remember, prices vary because no two Jeeps are ever quite the same. Everyone asks how much is a good Jeep? Our advice is have a look at a few and gauge what you require. We have and can restore any Jeep to your required specification. Not a cheap option, but a sure way of getting the product you require.

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14. What makes it original?


Willys or Ford, both jeeps were produced during WW2 to the Willys design specification (Ford using their greater manufacturing resources to produce jeeps under licence).

Hotchkiss produced in the 50s and 60s under licence to Willys (called Hotchkiss Willys overland France).

Comments

Example 1

1943 Willys Jeep, new body (made in the Philippines), chassis welded up because rust got the better of it in the past. New wiring loom (made in Australia), new tyres (made in India), new canvas (made in UK), new instruments because originals were broken, gearbox/transfer case and axles rebuilt (bearings from Japan, and other parts from around the globe), new French engine block because original was frost damaged etc, etc, etc, etc, but this is an original jeep!

Example 2

1955 ex-French army Hotchkiss jeep having been rebuilt by the army, all army specification spare parts used. Chassis damaged prior to rebuild so spare original WW2 chassis fitted, body rebuilt using front end of Willys tub and back end Recon Ford, axle one Willys axle etc, etc. This is a Hotchkiss!

I could go on forever, but the real comment is try to be aware of what you are paying for?

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15. Why restore or buy a good Jeep?


Why restore?

1. For fun.

2. Because you will know what you have got in the end.

3. Because you have the facilities and help at hand.

4. It is a way of getting a jeep, without having to lay out all the money at once.

5. Because you thought you had bought a good one and found you had made a mistake.

Why should you buy a good Jeep?

1. Because the best is normally the cheapest, even if the purchase price seems high.

2. Jump in it and enjoy it from the start.

3. Peace of mind.

4. You do not have the knowledge/skill/time etc etc


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