Long story, but I will keep it short. Not mine but a friend of mine's cousins Jeep. It's a 1991 Jeep Wrangler, 80K miles, purchased in Germany, spent it's whole life in Germany.......still in Germany. Highly customized and with a matching trailer. As you can see it won't appeal to most people and will return only a fraction of what it cost to modify it. The owner purchased it shortly after getting married and he and his wife spent years customizing it and traveling from show to show with it. Multiple award winner all over Germany/Europe. His wife recently passed away from illness and the owner can't even look at it now. It's currently stored but he wants it gone and arrangements have been made to ship it to America to his cousin, my friend. My friend has to find a place to store until he can find a buyer. I recommended a few sites to post it on as will as different auction companies. Anyway, any thoughts on it's value or possible avenues to sell it? I think the owner is willing to accept $20K-$30K range. Shipping is $5K. It's a tough one.
It's coming from Germany to the US just to then sell it? And, it costs $5k to get it to the US?
Sell it in Germany. There it is American unique. Here it might be German wierd. Even if you pay $5k for an auctioneer/dealer/broker to sell it for you in Germamy it's a break even.
John Welsh said:It's coming from Germany to the US just to then sell it? And, it costs $5k to get it to the US?
Sell it in Germany. There it is American unique. Here it might be German wierd. Even if you pay $5k for an auctioneer/dealer/broker to sell it for you in Germamy it's a break even.
I agree. Those are the facts though and that's what is going to happen. The owner never wants to see it again and apparently it has to leave Europe to ensure that he never will.
Sell it in Germany. Or Europe is you want to me more broad minded. I assume there is a Euro version of BAT?... if not, someone needs to open one.
I agree, that's different enough to make BaT angood channel. BaT lists lots of cars that are currently in Europe, with the understanding that the buyer will pay shipping, so you wouldn't need to front the money and hope to make it back.
Another thought (without picking sides)...
The Jeep seems to be a European take on Americana, bright and lots of chrome with American Indian influences. In this day of changing the name of the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Indians, etc, a Jeep called Big Red with Indian scenes might not really play well everywhere in the US. It may continue to play better in Europe.
The Euro-take of Americana with all the chrome might not really be a big seller in the current US Jeep market which is much more focused on faux-verlanding.
Again, sell on that side of the pond. The euro-caravan will sell better on that side too.
I understand that he wants it gone. I would be concerned that in a year or three or five from now he will want it. He will want it more than anything in the world. At the moment memories are just to painfull to even process. But that will change. If he does not need the $$$ maybe a friend should be it's custodian until he has had a chance to sort out things. He is still hurting really bad at this point.
I would try and sell it in Europe or maybe Russia. This is a unique jeep and camper that I doubt would find much love in America, the 30K price tag seems like a bonkers price tag to me.
In Europe, they won't care that it has "square" headlights.
Feedyurhed said:The owner never wants to see it again and apparently it has to leave Europe to ensure that he never will.
Sounds like most recovering Jeep owners I know.
I have a British co-worker who bought a Jeep the second he moved here.
Sell it in Europe. The Swedes love Americana like this. I saw a whole gang of people and their cars near Stockholm that looked like a scene from Happy Days or American Graffiti.
Keep it in Europe, and probably Germany. Weirdly, Germans have a thing for American Indian stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_German_popular_culture
Pop it on retro rides, it'll find a buyer
Personally, I would not want to drive that in the U.S. -- the whole Western Hemisphere really.
I agree with the "sell it in Germany" part - especially if all of the mods (that probably have no value over here in the US) are recorded in the paperwork. Which I expect them to be given that it has a plate. If they are it would also make it easier to register the vehicle in other EU states. Plus I suspect that he'll have an easier time at least getting close to the bottom end of his price range in Europe. I don't see that happening over here.
Based on the engine bay photo I'm guessing it's the 2.5L boat anchor as well, which makes sense in Germany and a lot of places in Europe as taxes for older vehicles were calculated based on displacement, and the 4.0 was rather expensive as a result.
The trailer looks to me an Eriba Puck, which is a pretty common camping trailer in Germany but I have no idea if you can get spare parts for them over here. You probably do from supplier in Germany and have them shipped over here.
I'd also try to sell it in Sweden, they have an even bigger classic car scene for US cars than Germany. Probably the biggest in Europe, and pretty legendary.
You'll need to log in to post.
