State of the M-151 hobby

a place to discuss anything of interest to owners of M151 jeeps

Moderators: rickf, raymond, Mr. Recovery

lpcoating
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by lpcoating » January 1st, 2018, 3:29 pm

Don't worry guys, we're going to continue to make body panels! Sales continue to grow year over year for us.

Guy
M151 Body Panels - http://www.m151bodypanels.com/

'68 A1 - Under full resto

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rickf
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by rickf » January 1st, 2018, 6:38 pm

That is the MAIN problem with the 151 so keep it up. I still remember you asking me if I thought people would buy them if you made them.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

CentraSpike75
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by CentraSpike75 » January 1st, 2018, 7:40 pm

Rick,
I hope you stick with the 151, you have been so helpful to so many people working on these little beasts. My off roading days are done, I just plan on cruising in mine when it is done (Although I want selectable lockers bad for some reason)
Guy,
Thank you for making the body panels!! I will be getting in touch soon.
The Mutt has a powerful draw, heck people welded them back together just to have one.
Happy New Year!!
Corpsman, even Marines need heroes
1965 M151A1
M151 A1 parts vehicle
1951 M37
2010 M-Gator A1 Sold
2003 M-Gator Sold
M100 Trailer Sold
M105A2 Trailer Sold

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rickf
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by rickf » January 1st, 2018, 9:13 pm

I have no intention of going anywhere. At one time many years ago Ron Reitford had writ ups on all kinds of neat mods for M-151's. Headers, a modification to use a Suzuki Samurai Lock rite locker in the M-151 differential. I remember there was something about machining the side gears to make things work.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

on-to-berlin
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by on-to-berlin » January 2nd, 2018, 7:15 am

I think there is no reason to worry about spare parts. At the moment I think there is some sort of transition phase when original parts become more and more rare and repro parts are good for nothing.
That was the same when I restored my Harley WLA 20 years ago. I only bought original parts because repro stuff didn`t work or simply fell apart after a couple of miles on the road.
Now it is the complete oposite. Original parts that are still left are worn or crap. The newly made stuff now is really good even exceeding the quality of original made stuff sometimes. And I think it will will be the same with M151s. At one point there will be somebode making stuff to keep that old finless brown trout running.
In fact there are more Mutts registered and on the street then 10 years ago. Just keep in mind the 200 Mutt from Portugal or the 400 Mutts that Morlock Motors in Germany had. They are mostly sold. They have to be somewhere and that is in private collections, garages etc. There is plenty of vintage stuff around but people do not not want to use it or drive it. On the military scene I think because
most meetings where held on former army bases and they mostly closed down.
1939 Harley Davidson U
1944 Harley Davidson WLA
1944 Willys MB
1969 Ford Mutt A1
1973 AM General Mutt A2

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by m3a1 » January 2nd, 2018, 11:02 am

rickf wrote:Yes, in the past I tried to steer people towards the CJ as a trail vehicle since the 151 is not really as good off road as it is made out to be. It is adequate but not a fantastic off road vehicle. CJ's are getting ungodly expensive themselves now so I guess there are other choices.

I am curious, How many of you are buying one for off road use and how many are buying it to use as a historic military vehicle? When I think of the M-151 "Hobby" I think of restoring them for use as a restored military vehicle to represent what it was and did in it's real life. Using one to bash around the rocks is kind of a different hobby.
To answer your question - I don't use my HMVs for bashing around. When it comes to wheels, I like having something different than everyone else around and I don't have the kind of money where I can lay out a bunch for vehicle and then use it up (or modify it) until there's nothing left. Even if I did, I wouldn't do that. That's what civilian vehicles are for! :lol: So, I would have to say my HMVs are fairly representative of their former life.

Now that the HMMWVs are no longer a rarity, I'm leaning toward the M1098 because it would provide me with more utility than the Hummer and frankly, I think they're going to be cheaper which is a win-win, in my book. I'm still weighing one against the other but I will say having a closed cab with plenty of room (and a heater) has its merits.

Colder than ....well you know. Perfect day to bundle up and go for a MUTT ride!

Cheers,
TJ

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by njjeeper » January 2nd, 2018, 11:38 am

I know I am late to the game on this post but I will toss in my 2 cents. I have had my 718 for about 10 years now. The hobby around the M151 has changed a lot even in that small amount of time. Back when I got in to these trucks, there was(and still is on the 503) a forum section about modifications. Folks were cutting up Mutts and modifying them for all kinds of stuff. Diesel engines, lockers, etc. Now, prices really prohibit that type of behavior. So, for the folks who got into Mutts as reliable and fun off road vehicles that they could ford water with and beat up offroad, I think that part of the hobby is dead and wont be coming back. The price of entry and repair is just too high now to justify an original body trail rig 151.

However, there is a plus side to that price jump. For example, prices today allow Guy to make panels. The main reason there were never panels before was because there was no money in making them. Who's gonna pay 200 bucks for a new floor to weld into the $500 jeep they just bought? Now that you can sell a decent Mutt for 7K, its worth spending enough money on panels that Guy can make some profit on them. The more valuable the vehicle, the better the aftermarket gets. Looks at the WW2 trucks as an example.

As for parts scarcity, ask anyone on this forum with Armor of any kind and they will tell you that by comparison, there is a mountain of parts available for the M151. It's not cheap anymore, but is still widely available. You just have to work a bit harder to find the good stuff. For myself, the stuff I needed for my 718 was the definition of unobtanium, even back then. Took me the better part of 6 years to find the ambulance bits for my truck. NOS top, horseshoe, litter rails, etc.

Anyway, I think the M151 hobby will be just fine. In fact, the price jump ensures that these trucks will be taken care of and sought after in the future. Nobody frets over junking a $500 trail rig, but nobody junks a $7k jeep in the same condition.

acudanut

Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by acudanut » January 9th, 2018, 3:02 pm

I think there are 200 parts per Jeep out there. Problem is the Mutt Vehicle itself ( for sale) , seems to have all dried up.

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by rickf » January 9th, 2018, 5:16 pm

I see a lot of them for sale, I think it is Surveyor that is always putting up the craigslist finds.

http://www.g838.org/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11090
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by buttanic » January 9th, 2018, 11:30 pm

I am 73 years old and relatively new to the M 151 and stumbled into it by accident. I had ridden Harleys for 35 years and a few years ago I started having balance issues and infrequent vertigo. Better sense told me it was time to give up the bike. My wife who liked to ride asked what would I do if I sold the bike. I told her I wanted an old jeep. Her idea of an old jeep was a 10 year old Wrangler, I said no I want an old military jeep. I found an M 151A1 about 50 miles from me. I really wasn't looking for a m 151, didn't know anything about them. This one had been cut, it was not 100% correct but it ran and looked reasonably good so I bought it, probably paid too much but I broke even with the sale of the Harley.
I drive it 3 or 4 times a month, don't go mudding with it. I would like to replace the non original body panels and fix some under body rust but I have neither the desire to do it my self or the money to pay someone to do it. I have no problem doing mechanical and electrical repairs. I probably spent about $800 on it replacing brakes, rebuilding the 2 diffs, seals and suspension bushing and seat cushions. Tranny rebuild lies in the future. I will probably have it until it or I am dead.
Image

acudanut

Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by acudanut » January 10th, 2018, 12:59 am

Nice looking Jeep !!

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D Pizzoferrato
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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by D Pizzoferrato » January 10th, 2018, 9:01 am

Is that pic taken in Kenner LA? If so, I used to own that boat.

https://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=160618 Scroll about halfway down for the story.
http://www.pbr6927.com/Other-Boats.html
Visit our Website! www.odcloth.com for your Canvas needs

Visit our AM151A2 restoration page http://www.odcloth.com/mymutt/1979am151a2.html

Visit our PBR Restoration Site. http://www.pbr6927.com

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by buttanic » January 10th, 2018, 11:50 am

Yes, Veterans Memorial Park in Kenner.

acudanut

Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by acudanut » January 10th, 2018, 8:52 pm

Cool boat. Can't imagine the price tag on it.
Anyway, who makes frame repair kits and floor pans ?

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Re: State of the M-151 hobby

Unread post by Surveyor » January 10th, 2018, 10:54 pm

acudanut wrote:Cool boat. Can't imagine the price tag on it.
Five-fiddy!
1960 M151 Run #1
"There is one nut on a M151 that is very difficult to remove....." - K8icu
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