Today’s the day we thank lots of people for giving us our independence. Numerous these individuals thank workhorses like our particular 4th of July Nice Price or No Dice M151A2 for maintaining us so. Let’s see what freedom may simply price.
Variety, it has been stated, is the spice of life. The 1980 Mercedes-Benz 300SD we checked out yesterday supplied each diesel and bio-diesel (used french fry oil) fueling and therefore was very spicy. At simply $5,200, it didn’t depart a nasty aftertaste both. At least that was the takeaway from the spicy 75 % Nice Price win the automotive captured.
Happy July Fourth to all my American compatriots and a heartfelt raspberry to the Brits who nonetheless discuss with our nice nation because the “Colonies.” In my neck of the woods, Independence Day festivities embrace fireworks and flags, with issues kicking off with an early afternoon group parade. Participants embrace youngsters on bikes festooned with purple, white, and blue streamers and older folks cruising in convertible vehicles or the occasional ex-military automobile like at present’s celebratory 1977 Jeep M151A2. Fully restored and packed to the grilles with navy memorabilia this MUTT (Military Unit Tactical Truck) could be excellent for that parade responsibility. It could be equally at residence on weekend reconnaissance missions to the native vehicles and low.
The M151’s structure is as attention-grabbing as its historical past. It all started within the early Nineteen Fifties, at which period the U.S. Army sought to exchange its WWII-era Jeep with one thing extra fashionable and succesful. The profitable bid for the successor got here from the Ford Motor Company, and whereas the truck could have seemed like its predecessor, mechanically and structurally, it proved vastly completely different. The most evident distinction is the M151’s unit-body development and four-wheel impartial suspension which serves in place of the unique Jeep’s body-on-frame development and stay axle setup.
The Ford design can be larger in each dimension than the OG Jeep. That’s not apparent at first look because it does keep comparable proportions. While the Army gave Ford the nod for its design, the corporate wouldn’t be to just one to supply the M151. Additional contracts went out to each Kaiser and AM General for the mannequin, with the latter producing the ultimate run. AM General would ultimately segue into producing the M151’s successor, which everyone knows to be the HMMWV “Humvee.”
One apparent function of the M151—along with its impartial suspension—is the truck’s grille. It makes use of horizontal slots since Kaiser had already trademarked the vertical design for its civilian market Jeeps.
It was the M151’s impartial suspension, nonetheless, that might show to be the design’s most vexing function. A rear swing axle created difficult dealing with beneath mild masses, a lot in order that the mannequin was by no means in a position to be licensed for civilian use by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Much of the M151’s dealing with gremlins have been addressed with the A2 version which switched to a totally impartial swing arm suspension. Still, it’s most likely greatest to maintain vans like these away from Sweden’s Moose Test.
In reality, it will be a disgrace to mar this M151A2 in any method. From its look, there was lots of care and energy put into its restoration. It does go excessive with all of the navy badging and regalia, however that’s the form of factor that children completely go bonkers for, making this the right parade automotive.
Power right here comes from a 2.3-liter OHV 4 which is nice for 71 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. That’s mated to a four-speed handbook gearbox and two-speed switch case for the part-time 4WD. Deep dish metal wheels fill every arch and are fancied up with a little bit of paint that makes it seem the truck is sporting white-wall tires. Everything appears recent and the vendor claims all of it to be in “Excellent condition.” A mere 10,134 miles present on the odometer and the truck comes with a clear title. The asking value is a flat $20K.
What’s your tackle this celebration-ready Jeep and that $20,000 asking? Does that appear like a good deal for a restored little bit of navy historical past? Or, does that value pee in your parade?
You determine!
Richmond, Virginia, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
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Source: jalopnik.com