Picture day at the shop

[Soup DeVille]

My old man wanted some shots of his collection of old army stuff for a calendar his club is doing, so I spent a day moving things around so we could get some pictures- some highlights are here

[giant_mtb]

That's awesome. Do they all own their own vehicles and pay as a group for the storage spot or what?

[Soup DeVille]

That's awesome. Do they all own their own vehicles and pay as a group for the storage spot or what?

Those are all my old man's. There are three more in the building that belong to other people.

[shp4man]

Deuce and a half central! Multi-fuel?

[Soup DeVille]

Deuce and a half central! Multi-fuel?

Yep. They'll burn anything. Badly, but it'll burn.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I want one, but it might not fit in my driveway.

[giant_mtb]

Those are all my old man's. There are three more in the building that belong to other people.

Oh damn. Nice.

[Soup DeVille]

I want one, but it might not fit in my driveway.

I'm sure the mule would, or the Mighty Mite...

[FoMoJo]

Great collection.  Do they all run?

[Soup DeVille]

Great collection.  Do they all run?

Yes. Some more than others. The M37 (the smaller truck all the way to the right) has been repowered with a Detroit Diesel, and has power steering and AC and could likely go across the country tomorrow. The big wrecker on the other side has no brakes (which I found out as we pulled it out), and the tires are unsafe. There's a big air leak somewhere too. The gama goat (the weird 6 wheeler) runs well, but is the hardest thing to steer (no power steering and both the front and rear axles turn) and is loud as hell.  The mite (the tiny jeep-like on) is just too small for anybody over about 5'6" to drive.

There are some other vehicles that don't run at all- most because they're lacking some odd part.

The fact is, my dad is in his mid '70s and slowing down, and the collection is too big for him to look after- its all he can do to keep the batteries charged and air in the tires.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Which one can be traded for a Jeep XJ?

[Soup DeVille]

Which one can be traded for a Jeep XJ?

Well, its not up to me, otherwise I might think about it.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Well, its not up to me, otherwise I might think about it.

Is good Jeep. Only 2wd, but always 2wd. Only leaks a little oil. Would jump in and drive to California.

[AutobahnSHO]

My old man wanted some shots of his collection of old army stuff for a calendar his club is doing, so I spent a day moving things around so we could get some pictures- some highlights are here

I was licensed and drove that middle one (2001-2004)

[Soup DeVille]

I was licensed and drove that middle one (2001-2004)

Was it an A1 or A2 (stick with duallies or auto with the modern diesel and the big single tires?)

I would have thought it was mostly LMTVs by then, no?

[AutobahnSHO]

Was it an A1 or A2 (stick with duallies or auto with the modern diesel and the big single tires?)

I would have thought it was mostly LMTVs by then, no?

Auto. It was a 6x6. The Unit I was in was supposed to be "way behind the front lines" so we got the older stuff, just one step up from Reserves/ National Guard.

I was in a different signal unit in 2007-2008, I had an M16 when everyone around us had M4.

[Soup DeVille]

Yeah, so what you drove was basically a remodeled version of these M35s. Same body and frame, but they replaced the multi-fuel engine with a normal diesel, the four-speed stick with an automatic and went to single tires on the axles instead of the duals; also gave them all power steering, which makes them much easier to drive around the parking lot.

[cawimmer430]

Nice pics. Which model of jeep is this?

[Soup DeVille]

Nice pics. Which model of jeep is this?

Its an M422 "Mighty Mite." Basically, its a miniature Jeep meant to be carried by a helicopter before the Marines had any helicopters that could carry much (basically only the H-19 Chickasaw)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M422_Mighty_Mite

[Eye of the Tiger]

Its an M422 "Mighty Mite." Basically, its a miniature Jeep meant to be carried by a helicopter before the Marines had any helicopters that could carry much (basically only the H-19 Chickasaw)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M422_Mighty_Mite

That's awesome. I would seriously daily that. Trade for Jeep, yes?

[Soup DeVille]

That's awesome. I would seriously daily that. Trade for Jeep, yes?

I can't fit in it comfortably at all. One would have to be about 5'8" or less to find it tolerable.

It has a top speed of about 60 MPH, and no heat or provisions for a top.

Its an AMC built air-cooled V4 from the '50s, and about 3000 of them were ever built. Finding parts is- well, interesting.

And its not mine, and I doubt he would.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I can't fit in it comfortably at all. One would have to be about 5'8" or less to find it tolerable.

It has a top speed of about 60 MPH, and no heat or provisions for a top.

Its an AMC built air-cooled V4 from the '50s, and about 3000 of them were ever built. Finding parts is- well, interesting.

And its not mine, and I doubt he would.

Those things are worth decent money in good condition. Probably $20K judging by the picture.

My old SJ410 topped out at 63 MPH on flat ground with just a driver. That thing was a blast.

[Soup DeVille]

Those things are worth decent money in good condition. Probably $20K judging by the picture.

My old SJ410 topped out at 63 MPH on flat ground with just a driver. That thing was a blast.

I would guess closer to 30k.

One of the odd things about old military trucks is that the little ones are often more expensive. Its a logistics thing. Not everyone has a place to store a 5-ton wrecker or a HEMTT; not to mention the tools required just to maintain them, or even change a tire.

[cawimmer430]

Its an M422 "Mighty Mite." Basically, its a miniature Jeep meant to be carried by a helicopter before the Marines had any helicopters that could carry much (basically only the H-19 Chickasaw)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/M422_Mighty_Mite

Cool, nice.