“Don’t bother bringing anything,” my friend Fred Williams (the off-road legend) told me when he heard I was moving to LA. “You’re going to find better options out here; there is no point in bringing your rusty cars out west,” said. It was advice that I immediately ignored, because I loved my 1985 Jeep J10, I thought my 1979 Jeep Cherokee Golden Eagle was the bee’s knees, and come on — my manual Jeep ZJ is basically rust free! Plus I bet I couldn’t afford replacements in California. Now, a few years later, Fred asked me over the phone: “That advice I gave you a few years ago… was it… good advice?” Yes, Fred. Yes it was.
I don’t think I fully understood California’s old car market when I moved here in early 2023.
Just a few month prior, some guy from here had stopped in my Troy, Michigan driveway and aggressively tried to get me to sell my brother’s 1966 Mustang, responding to my refusal with, essentially, “Just call your brother; everything in this world is for sale.”
This, plus just the general sentiments that many in the midwest have towards California had me thinking I wouldn’t have enough scratch to find a decent Jeep J10 or other classic out west. The prices would be inflated, I figured.
But I was wrong. In fact, I’ve written all about how I wrong I was in an article aptly titled “I Was Totally Wrong About California Craigslist.” See, while average salaries are higher in California, and while the upper end of the income distribution is absolutely through the roof, the reality is that owning a car in California is hard for most people.
Most don’t have the disposable income to buy a weekend-driver Jeep J10, and if they do, they don’t have the space for it. It’s for this reason that I not only regret having brought my J10 to the west coast, I actually regret having bought it in the first place from anywhere else. I should have bought all my project cars from here.
The cars in California are just better. So, so much better, and they are not more expensive.
That’s what I didn’t understand when Fred gave me that advice. Craigslist here is filled with rust-free gems for dirt-cheap. It’s only the minty-fresh, shiny cars that command an absurd premium. A sun-faded XJ that needs a headliner and maybe a little dent on the hood repaired is $3000. In Michigan, $3000 gets you that, plus rusty rocker panels that would cost four-figures to repair, and even then the rest of the car will have already started its journey towards becoming a pile of brown particles
All of this is coming to mind because I’m currently in the process of choosing which truck to keep. There’s the Jeep J10, shown above (that’s how it looked 10 years ago, and it hasn’t improved), and then there’s my Chevy K1500, which I had no plans to keep when I bought it.
I love the J10; I think it’s more interesting and soulful than the K1500. But folks, just look at this:
Aside from the exhaust, only the chassis has even a tiny bit of surface rust. otherwise this truck is MINT. I don’t have to worry about sanding or priming or cutting bits out or sections of it possibly starting to perforate — a major concern on my Jeep J10 exacerbated by a design flaw.
No, the K1500 should last for the rest of my life if I just do routine maintenance and avoid collisions. It’s rock solid, and it was relatively cheap at $4,900. In Detroit, this truck would have cost more.
My having ignored Fred’s advice means I’m in the unenviable position of possibly having to sell a slightly rusty machine in California, and this is extremely difficult. Folks around here don’t do rust. I’m not joking when I say: Vehicles that in Michigan would literally be described as “rust free” would be considered “rusty” here. That’s because, in Michigan — where older vehicles are expected to have huge rust holes in their floors, frames, and rockers — surface rust doesn’t really count as rust. In California, surface rust is a big deal; it spells the beginning of the end, and people run from it.
So finding a home for my J10, if I am able to get myself to part ways with it, isn’t really going to happen here in California unless I give it away. Especially since it won’t pass SMOG.
The thing is, even though the J10 has a few rust holes, once those are patched, this thing’s body will be in great shape overall. It doesn’t need much, which is why part of me wants to just sell the Chevy for a decent sum after detailing it and dialing it in, and then giving the J10 the love (and perhaps fuel injection) it deserves. Because I worry nobody else around here will.
Anyway, this was a random little article, but this is on my mind right now: I should have listened to Fred.
If I was in your shoes, I’d definitely have had the same impulse to bring the fleet out to wherever I was moving to. Nowadays though, after seeing and helping quite a few people move, I’d do what my uncle did when he retired and moved to Sebring.
Estate Auction. Sell every last thing except whatever is going to transport you to the new digs. Have some money in your pocket when you arrive and enjoy the freedom that comes with being able to start over.
As a guy who worked in a mid-western body shop for a number of years, a little drool may have seeped out of the corner of my mouth while looking at those under-body shots of your K1500. I really need to shop for my next work-truck in a rust-free state.
I brought a badly rusted ’67 Beetle from MA to CA only because my first employer paid for it to be shipped. Yeah, I know, crazy! Even so, it was a mistake, although I was able to sell it a year or so later in 1981. I keep cars for many years (15 to 25) and the enemy here is UV and not rust. Now, I’m beginning to consider new tires because of UV rather than tread depth. After retirement, I don’t put many miles on our vehicles.
As an Arizonan, rusty cars stick out like a sore thumb. It’s always a surprise to see one, and it only happens once or twice a year. OK, you people in the northern Midwest, you’ve been appropriately informed.
Having left Michigan…I agree. To be honest the only vehicle I should have sold was the motorcycle.
Use the Chevy to tow the Jeep back to Michigan to sell it there.
Boom. End thread.
Or do the EV conversion on the J10 you didn’t get to do on the FC. No smog problem.
Upcoming stories:
* The K1500 is the greatest sleeper tow rig of all time
* How I almost got Thomas and Mercedes kidnapped in the woods while selling my rusty Jeep
* The cheap jerk who offered $1500 for a practically rust-free holy grail Jeep can get bent
* I brought a mint XJ with a seized motor and broken axle home from Troy with my K1500
I’ll never forget back in 2001 when I was buying my 1985 Ford LTD (which I still own) in San Diego that my dad pointed out a small patch of surface rust on one of the doors and asked “Are you sure you want this? It’s a rusty car.” Anyone in the rust belt would have considered it absolutely pristine.
It illustrates how spoiled we are here in that aspect, but on the flip side passing smog can be a real headache.
Just sayin… I’ve always wanted a holy grail ZJ, though I’m sure you wont have any issue finding that one a home.
Counterpoint: Leno’s law looks like it’s going to pass, so it might be worth doing the bodywork on the Jeep and upgrading the engine. Then you can either enjoy it or sell it for actual money.
The bill still has a lot of hurdles to clear, most notably the governor’s desk.
David. You’re one of the heads of an auto enthusiast site for christ sakes – get your head together. You have the kid friendly EV and the cool Wrangler, so you’re covered with those 2 for regular rides. Sell the 1500 & fix up the Jeep. A reliable, patina’d up, injected J10 is what matches the persona. It’s also what you will be happier with in long run – it’s got history!
I recall everyone in the comments telling you not to bring them all with you. Some things you just have to figure out for yourself.
I seem to remember it wasn’t just Fred who gave you that advice.
No joke.
The J10 may be more “interesting,” but the Chevy is a better truck. It just is. Trucks are for doing truck things, and the Chevy is a much better choice for that.
Keeping the Mustang was never a mistake. The big problem with the J10 is owning a vehicle in California from the purgatory period from 1976 through ODBI era cars, which are an absolute nightmare to smog (ask the guy with an ’88 Jag who knows and my Jag runs as clean as anything from that era possibly could). But the J10 is awesome (I’ve saw it at the first anniversary meet) and I understand the pain.
Ooh, fuel injection on a J-10! That sounds like great content! Plus getting an old car smogged would be a boon to enthusiasts who have to deal with smog checks.
Just do us a favor and ask the Mrs first. If Elise (not her real name) is on board, go for it. Be sure to budget it out for money and time. Communication is critical!
It would be interesting to see how much trouble it would be for David to try a Sniper setup on the J10. some hate the systems, but so many more say they are simple and really easy to live with.
Holley Sniper is not CARB approved for any vehicles, so that would be an instant smog check failure. However the last time David posted about this, someone did find an EFI conversion kit that is CA legal. I can’t recall what company it’s from, but not Holley.
That is surprising. Holley being local and the systems having lots of factory style carb replacement options.
Holley being local? They’re in Kentucky, I visited their headquarters in Bowling Green last year.
My bad, I was thinking Edelbrock. Southern California R&D Tech Center located in Cerritos, CA. and Edelbrock Sand Cast and Permanent Mold Manufacturing foundries which are located in San Jacinto, CA. though I think even edelbrock has carb plants on the other side of the US.
Sell them both, get a J20. https://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/cto/d/los-angeles-1977-jeep-truck-4×4/7856719131.html
I have no idea what the mail boxes on the bed are for and it kind of looks like it might be from the Set of Cheech and Chongs next…next movie. Basically don’t set those body panels on fire, but a 3/4 ton stick V8 Jeep. Hell yes.
That thing is sweet!
I love how it says California car, no rust. It’s keyword optimisation specifically for david.
Keep the Silverado and re-home the J10 with a new owner. The J10 is a rare enough rig that someone out there will be tickled to buy it and give it a new, loving home. Flip side, the Chevy is near-Peak Pickup and wouldn’t take that much more TLC to make it really nice and still not be *too* nice to use as a proper truck.
David, when I did the big clean out of the shop here, I had many of the same thoughts. The one thing I came up with that REALLY helped get rid of old projects was “34-year-old Carl doesn’t get to decide what 52-year-old Carl is going to do with his time”.
I filled a 40-yard roll off – it was magnificent.
David, I know things are very different now to how they were in Michigan, but I’d really try to avoid selling your J10 unless you absolutely have to. You’ve owned it 10 years, you’ve made all sorts of memories with it in that time, it’s been there throughout lots of changes in your life – you won’t get that with your Chevy. A car in that condition in California won’t stand a great chance either – I’d say you do need to think about whether or not it might get broken for parts. After all that, it deserves a second chance at life with you, if that can be possible.
Put a cap on the K1500 and tell everyone (including yourself) it identifies as a Jeep without rust.
So… Good advice that you just didn’t take? Who would have thought, it figures.
Hey, it was a free ride but he already paid. It’s just one of things you oughta know, ya know?
Isn’t it Iron(oxide)-ic?
When I was shopping for my C10 I didn’t even look in my home state of Michigan, not seriously at least. Ended up making a trip to pick up a south Carolina truck and have zero regrets. I’ve got rust free cab corners, if I had bought in Michigan it would basically be assumed they were rusted.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again:
The J10 is an uncommon sight, certainly less common than a GMT400. Attempting to get it to pass California emissions wold be content, but I’d bet on the man who got Project Krassler through a notorious TÜV inspection, and who got Project Cactus deemed roadworthy again.
But
The K1500 needs nothing since you tightened up the steering column, and is properly equipped for towing, whereas the J10, both down on power and with the wrong axle ratio, struggled hauling the WWII Jeep.
Don’t get me wrong. I understand the sentiment. I’ve held on to my ’84 Fiero which hasn’t moved in 17 years because “I’m the only one who’ll fix it”, but I’m also single, no kids, and have the garage space to get away with that.
Find a place to stash the Jeep, or let it go. Because you have a new kid. Having a family makes it very clear why people want cars that just work and don’t care if they’re boring. “Exciting” cars get in the way often when all you want to do is something other than work on a car or worry about getting stranded or put your family in something you wouldn’t have blinked twice about on your own but you now realize is really not fit for duty.
Wanting a car that just works is how our family ended up with two Toyotas as our DDs.
When my wife and I were dating she originally had a 2wd 5.spd Ford Ranger and I had 1st.an 84 GTI then a 90′ GLI.
She sold the ranger and got another Ford, this time a Contour.
I then got another VW and got a Jetta TDI
Just before the 1st kid, we replaced her Contour with a Sienna XLS as the “family car”.
I kept my TDI as long as I could stand keeping up with the maintenance (12 years in my ownership) at which point the TDI was too rusty (it was 20 years old at that point living it’s life in MN). So the TDI was replaced by a plug-in Prius.
After 13 years owning the Sienna it was donated (it was also 20 years old total) and replaced with a Prius Prime.
Now (this summer) the 74 MG B GT is being brought out of its Long (24 year) garage slumber!
Inversely – Don’t bring a CA car to Michigan.
When I was a young lad, Dad was reassigned from the old Mather AFB in Sacramento to the old Kincheloe AFB south of Sault Ste Marie in the UP. So we packed up and drove cross country in our ’69 Ford Galaxie 500 2 door hardtop.
That first winter of 1971-72, Mom tried to take the Galaxie to work after a particularly bad storm. First the doors would not open. Dad poured water over the doors to get them unfrozen – and sent Mom on her way. First corner – The driver’s side door swung wide open. Second corner – the passenger door swung wide open.
Just a few years of CA sunshine and heat had rotted the window seals, allowing water and snow into the door cavities, which then froze and disabled the door latches and locks.
This went on all winter. Mom became a seat-belt fanatic that year – and if I rode up front, it was my job to hold the door closed.
That spring Dad went out and ordered the new ’72 Monterey.
And when we moved back to CA – our cars were always stored in the garage.
Pretty sure door seal tech has improved since 1969.
Please let us know whats the zipcode in California to look for nice cars to buy there. I am tired of rusted cars in my area (48187) lol
If you’re looking for a nothing special car with low miles – San Francisco is where you want to look. It’s the land of 20+ year old beige/silver Camrys and Accords with under 70,000 miles on them – because people don’t drive them to work, so they sit parked for days on end.
If you’re looking for a special car with low miles – That’s LA. It’s the land of well-kept midrange and senior Mercedes, BMWs, Bentleys and Porsches – however those low miles are mostly idling in traffic and at the valet stand.
Palm Springs is were you go to get special antique and collector cars. They’ve been hauled in from all over the country, restored, polished and waxed to better condition than when new – and are parked out in front of MCM showplaces as vintage driveway ornaments during Modernism Week or whenever a house is being photographed for sale – otherwise they’re squirreled away in garages and warehouses out of the damaging sun and heat. They are only occasionally seen driving around as impromptu one-car parades – but if a convertible, will very likely be seen in the November Gay Pride Parade.
My favorite High School English teacher retired to Palm Desert with his wife and bought a brand new cherry red unmodified Honda S2000 that he only uses on nice days. Pretty sure he puts way more miles on his golf cart than the Honda.
Ahhh – Palm Desert.
The land of $25,000 golf carts.
This is spot on. I lived in LA for over 15 years and now live in the SF Bay Area. Been to Palm Springs many times.
Last year I bought a 20 year old Toyota Highlander with zero rust from the original owner. UV has destroyed much of the paint but the interior and mechanicals are in tip-top shape.
Ahhh – The Avenues.
Where cars sit at the curb and don’t get moved until it’s time to go to the Safeway, take Mother to her Doctor, or for street cleaning.
We’re just glad you found the i3 instead of dailying that transmission-swapped Nash Metropolitan. A flaky daily driver on top of the effects of LA traffic and the standards of punctuality I’d reckon from your background is a recipe for frustration if I ever heard one.