New guy - may be a new M715w/w owner shortly
Hi all, I figured this would be the most appropriate place to post an introduction and explanation of the title.
First off, my name is Matt and I am from Richburg, SC. I have been an MVPA member since I bought my first M38a1 back in 1996. I did a body off restoration of that Jeep (finished in 2012 after I started my family) http://wilfreeman.wordpress.com. I bought a second (keeper) M38a1 in January - it is a 1964 USMC (contract) M38a1 http://m38a1usmc.wordpress.com which I am in the process of doing a "rolling restoration" on now. I have owned a few other M38a1s in the meantime which I sold. I still own an M101a1, M100 and M100 chassis. My brother and I bought, restored and bobbed an M35a2 a few years back - sold it a couple of months ago (http://duecem35a2.wordpress.com). Some of you might know me on the other forums (Steel Soldiers, Willysmjeeps, G503) as wilfreeman. I attend the Denton, NC Military Vehicle rally (yearly) and the Georgia Steel Soldiers rally (been a couple of years). I also attend a couple of car shows per year with my Jeep. I have won a couple of awards (no trophies though) on the Jeep and we won the "Coolest Ride" trophy on the deuce a few years ago.
Last week I ran across this M715 that hasn't officially come up for sale. I have known the family that owns it for 30yrs. The owner was a WW2 Marine pilot who passed away a few years ago. He also owned a WW2 WC53 which the family donated to a local Transportation Museum. I stopped by on Friday to do a preliminary inspection. I was shocked with the condition - good and bad! I thought it was being stored in a building, but as it turns out, it has been sitting out in the weather for 6-7yrs! Crack (the Marine vet) would be turning over in his grave. With that said, it is not rusted up! The only rust through I found was a 1" hole in the floor at the rear of the driver seat. Doors and rockers, toolbox, bed floor are good. I would say it is 80% complete and original. The tailgate, air cleaner and half of the troop seat and top bow hardware is missing. The front bumper is modified, rear step bumper added (rear crossmember is there and not cut up) - bumperettes missing. Engine is free, but hasn't been started in years. Converted (hacked) to 12v.
I took a bunch of pics, but I couldn't figure out how to create an album and upload them. I posted a request for help over on Steel Soldiers as to what to offer the family for the truck. I posted the pics there and got a few helpful replies, so I have a general idea of what to offer. The plan is to do a "rolling restoration" if I get it since it is in decent condition.
