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Restoration for profit ??

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by Johns1967CJ5, Feb 20, 2014.

  1. Feb 20, 2014
    Johns1967CJ5

    Johns1967CJ5 Sponsor

    Northern NJ
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2013
    Messages:
    1,694
    If I can take an all original early CJ5 and do a total restoration on it, what would it actually be worth to sell ? I figure I can do the restoration for around
    $ 7,000.00 in parts and materials. I know I would never get the labor back but just curious on what everyone thinks something like that would be worth. I've seen restored Jeeps for sale for $ 5,000.00 all the way up to the high teens low twenty's.
     
  2. Feb 20, 2014
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Not usually. Ask anyone who has ever done a restoration and they will tell you that one never recovers the full cost of what they have into the project.
     
  3. Feb 20, 2014
    Danefraz

    Danefraz Well-Known Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Chico CA
    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2012
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    2,263
    Idk. Couple cj5s locally more than 5k and they've been on CL a while. Neither is cherry nor dumpy. Couple above 10k too. Think I saw an FJ for above 15 that looks good too - long time on the list. All here are likely rust free or close to it.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  4. Feb 20, 2014
    bkd

    bkd Moderator Supreme Staff Member 2022 Sponsor

    K-Town Tenn.
    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2007
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    3,294
    Restoration for profit is a losing proposition unless you're dealing with a truly rare vehicle....even then it's iffy

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
     
  5. Feb 20, 2014
    Johns1967CJ5

    Johns1967CJ5 Sponsor

    Northern NJ
    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2013
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    1,694
    I need to stop watching those car shows ! chainsawguy
     
  6. Feb 20, 2014
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2003
    Messages:
    23,596
    Look for a really rare Jeep to restore, like a Hurst Jeepster or a Bantam/GPA/MA. Then get it for the right price.

    CJ-6As are another rare one, but I think too few people care. There are other rare Jeeps (ie IFS Wagoneers) that should be very valuable - if anybody wanted them.

    Perfect Grand Wagoneers are another potential money maker, but the word on these has been out a long time. http://www.wagonmaster.com/complete.htm
     
  7. Feb 21, 2014
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2009
    Messages:
    4,460
    Restoration for profit?

    R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)R)

    Sorry, couldn't help it. 99.9999% of the time you will loose your butt.
     
  8. Feb 21, 2014
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Messages:
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    The only way I've seen it work is restoring someone else's vehicle for pay - when that someone else has a lot of money.

    Although I also knew a guy who made money by buying old vehicles and tractors cheap, then using a case of rattle-can paint to freshen them up before putting them out front with a for-sale sign. Not my style.
     
  9. Feb 22, 2014
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2002
    Messages:
    12,529
    That's the trap most fall into. Restored Jeeps usually bring about 50% of the investment. It has to be a labor of love, not profit with the motivation.


    Sent from my iPhone
     
  10. Feb 22, 2014
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    fwiw most of those car shows dont restore them they freshen em.
     
  11. Feb 22, 2014
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    cordele, Ga.
    Joined:
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    If you own/restore a jeep then you are a member of a non-profit organization. ;)
     
  12. Feb 22, 2014
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    9,754
    So true. can On the other hand, we have a lot of fun for a lot less than the price of a new vehicle.
     
  13. Feb 22, 2014
    Quill

    Quill Member

    Wisconsin
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    113
    It is possible on some not so common vehicles. You also have to do emaculate work. That said, you can horse trade your way to build up a supply of inexpensive parts and put together one cheaply and make a few bucks off it. You could make a bit more by restomoding one and selling it to a person who likes a Jeep with the upgrades.
     
  14. Feb 24, 2014
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    Never seen a 'restoration' sell for what the parts alone would cost... You see them 'LISTED' for lots of money - do they ever SELL for that?

    The only times I have made money were on rigs I built for a purpose - wheeling in Colorado - that I was running and had someone come up and want to buy it. Every time it was an older person (OK - my age now) who 'had/drove a Willys as a kid' and wanted one 'done' that would go where we were at the time. They also usually don't have the mechanical ability to build one, know what they want until they see it.

    Example - I sold one on the top of Taylor Pass where we made the exchange a couple days later in the Mtns (3 hour drive to get the title and he got cash). His wife was shocked (so was mine), but very happy as I had things in it for my wife that she liked too. Saw them all over the country side the following week and he even brought Steaks and Wine for dinner one night so I could go over it more with him.

    These things are a niche market - most folks who love them are mechanically inclined...

    JMOP - YMMV - all sorts of other disclaimers :)
     
  15. Feb 24, 2014
    Jobhater

    Jobhater A man without a Jeep

    Colorado Springs, CO
    Joined:
    May 27, 2007
    Messages:
    108
    I would say that is true, except...
    Many folks who love them are forced to be mechanically inclined. In my case, I don't have the money, but I was lucky enough to get the jeep. I don't have the knowledge, but don't want to give up and am learning on the way. I don't have the time, but am finding a little here and there to work on my CJ-6.

    I fully agree, though. The financial aspect will never be realized. But the love and enjoyment can make it worth it.
     
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