It’s well-established on The Autopian that my life has changed a lot over the past 30 months. In 2023, I was single and had nothing but time, but now I have a family to look after and an increasingly-complex business to run. Caught in the midst of this transition are a bunch of amazing vehicles that I simply no longer have time for. So it’s time to make some changes to my fleet, and my newest plan is… a bit convoluted, but possibly ingenious.
OK, so it makes sense to start with a list of vehicles I currently own.
First, I own this Nash Metropolitan:
I also own this 1985 Jeep J10
I own this 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee five-speed:
That ZJ Grand Cherokee is a bit of a project, so alongside it I have this parts Jeep:
I also have my brother’s 1966 Ford Mustang:
Plus I own a BMW i3S:
And I own a 1989 Chevy k1500 pickup truck:
Plus I have a 1991 Jeep Wrangler YJ:
Back in Michigan, I have a Jeep Cherokee XJ that once looked like this:
And in Germany, I have a diesel, manual Chrysler minivan:
My goodness. How do I still have 10 cars?! I just sold my Willys CJ-3B! Anyway, this is all a bit… much. But the good news is: I have a plan.
The Plan Is A Bit Complicated, But It Might Just Work
First off, I’m giving the Nash away as soon as I find the right home, and the diesel, manual Chrysler minivan is basically my parents’ at this point. Should they decide to sell it, they can. My first car, my XJ, will remain in Michigan for a bit. And my BMW i3S is my daily driver; I have no plans to get rid of it. My 1991 Jeep YJ was my wedding vehicle, and it’s the ideal convertible for SoCal, so it’s sticking around, too. I have to keep my brother’s Mustang, as well.
As for the others… well, the J10 — after 10 years under my ownership — finally has to go. I won’t be happy with it until its minor rust is fixed and it’s repainted, and that’s expensive; what’s more, the J10 will never pass California emissions. And, as I’ve found that it is almost completely worthless in California due to it having minor rust, I’ve decided I’m going to ship it to Michigan.
That’s right; I’m planning to pay $1500 to ship my J10 to Michigan to see if the value delta between the rust-belt and here is enough to actually net me a significant profit. Stay tuned.
My bbeloved 1989 Chevy K1500 350 5-speed is probably going to be sold. Part of me likes that it can seat five and that it can tow, and it’s comfortable as heck for a truck, but I’m not a Chevy truck man. And so that leaves me truckless — a problem that I will remedy with the purchase of another pickup. I have already committed to my J10’s/K1500’s replacement; I’ll let you guess what that is in the comments. Hint: It’s extremely cool.
As for my two Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJs? I’m debating replacing both of them with an already-running and driving ZJ. Is it worth spending 5 big-ones on a beautiful Jeep that’s done versus me building the ultimate overlanding vehicle? I’ve amassed years worth of parts for that project, which — with its crank windows and manual locks — really is the ultimate overlanding budget-Jeep. And speaking of money: I paid basically nothing for that red ZJ, plus my kittens were born in it.
Should I keep it and hope I can someday finish the epic project, or should I buy a minty fresh one that unfortunately has power windows and locks, but at least runs and drives today? It’s not that I really need a running, driving ZJ to get around, so maybe keeping the immobile hulk for a while isn’t the end of the world… so long as I can convince my wife that we can store it in our driveway (this is proving difficult).
So that’s the plan right now. I’m keeping:
- i3
- Mustang
- YJ
- [New truck that I’m buying]
- Either my ZJ project or that new $5000 ZJ
- My original XJ (stored in Michigan for the foreseeable future)
On the chopping block are the K1500, J10, Nash, and maybe the two ZJs to be replaced by the minty one.
A logical man would just get rid of the ZJs and not replace them, but I’m obsessed with manual Grand Cherokees, so that’s just a step too far for me at the moment.
Expect news on my exciting new truck soon, and on whether shipping my J10 to Michigan made sense or was a giant blunder. Oh, and expect news on what I’ll do regarding the manual ZJs… I remain torn.
Did you buy the Lordstown Endurance on BAT a few months ago?
First, I’d try to keep the ZJ project, but if possible reduce to one shell. The manual trans and windows make it a keeper for me (and the I-6). What’s left to make this a weekend driver for you?
Second, the new truck: Dodge Dakota convertible (you said it was cool), Jeep Gladiator (personal connection from engineering days), Slate (early tester?), or…?
Thanks for bringing us along, DT!
Using a Smyth Ute kit to turn the Grand Cherokee into a truck?
Also I echo many folks thoughts here that project cars should go away for a while until the youngin’ is old enough to help wrench on them, there’ll still be plenty of cars to have as a project in 10-15 years.
David, My suggestion is to list the pickups in Northern Arizona, no smog, you can drive them and they will be gone in days, especially the jeep. Save shipping costs! Get rid of ALL projects. Time is finite and your family time is paramount. Good luck.
Ray
I was thinking similarly, list them in Utah…
That Nash…. I wonder what it would take to get it to drive to NY? Or to Sedona and get my dad to tow it the rest of the way…
I support all of this! I have an idea what the new truck might be knowing you. Get a 21 slot.
Keep the rare ZJ parts for whatever one you get.
You’re buying a 3rd truck BEFORE selling the other two?????????
Right? He’s using “subtraction by addition”.
It’s a Telo
Could the new, cool truck be the epic wrenching escapade David is supposed to undertake as part of a partnership? Like, a classic truck or something?
DT’s new truck will be an AMC Eagle Wagon that’s been backhalved and lifted.
You need to replace your pickups with something smaller. How about a Crosley pickup?
$1000 kei truck?
https://www.beforward.jp/subaru/sambar-truck/by696001/id/11848134/
Not unless they’ve changed the laws in California!
Oh, I forgot about smog checks!
That is your Inner Grownup speaking, I suggest you listen.
I’ve learned over and over that I’m happier listening to that f’in square.
Oh hey! You’re getting close to what I suggested so very long ago!
Maybe the K1500 would also sell for more in Michigan. I’d imagine rust free GMT400 trucks are fairly rare there these days.
That would be gone in a few days here. You’d make bank David
…
Time for another road trip with a car-hauler!
Well, this time DT will need a family-hauler! Can’t imagine it would be easy with all of his other obligations to spend several days on the road to MI, especially without the Ms and Jr.
Drive it back, see some old friends, sell it for nice money, take Greyhound home and make the company pay for it by writing an article about the journey.
Yup use the Chevy to tow the Jeep and of course document it all and make it into a series of posts. Seems the best way to salvage some real value out of those vehicles.
It’d be better content to use the Jeep to tow the Chevy.
You are correct, that would be more torturous and thus better content.
This! Do it for the clix!!
It certainly will. I tracked down the one that originally belonged to my grandfather, trying to buy it back, and the guy wanted more than I would have paid for a 2024 Mazda 3 turbo premium plus with 8k miles last summer. No way.
Edit: Part of that may have been he’s now had it for 15 years and was teaching his son how to maintain it, so it was asking a ridiculous price I wouldn’t pay, but the fact remains. He can probably get double what he paid for it.
Perhaps a Dodge Ramcharger might fit in your driveway? I mean, should Stellantis ever actually get around to building them. And what about that Scout reservation?
Keep:
Sell the others. Because, let’s be honest here, you will want to pick up some other project car of xyz brand down the line anyway. Might as well thin the herd now.
[New truck that I’m buying] – Next article: Why I bought this Chysler Pacifica, the greatest minivan ever made.
Van truck is best truck.
It is so much better at 99% of what 80% of truck owners use their trucks for than trucks are.
Here’s an idea: use the Chevy to tow the J10 to Michigan, sell them both, and fly home. 😀
… but film and write up every agonizing hurdle met during that trip.
Can the Chevy tow a 4,300 pound truck plus a 2,300 pound trailer? That’s no joke.
-DT
Okay – This is a good start.
But you may have noticed that nobody in LA drives trucks unless they’re gardeners, pool boys or cardboard recyclers.
You’re none of the above.
People who drive trucks in SoCal live in the Inland Valley or Huntington Beach – and they are not cool.
If you need to haul something larger than will fit in your CG – There’s an app for that called “Lugg”
Works well, no insurance or repairs and fits in your pocket.
Or you could borrow one from a Press Fleet
Either way – Save your money for college.
It’s none of our business, but you made it our business when you made it your business to tell us your business, so I say:
“Flush as much as possible and build back later.”
Obviously you have to keep the Mustang, you need a Daily (i3), and the Wedding Wrangler and Original Cherokee have too much sentimental value to sell, but everything else is something you can let go and pick up down the road when you have time, money, and space.
I’d hold off on the shipping just advertise it with the suggestion it is better outside the state. Just remember it was once owned by a celebrity.
List it on BAT
Let the buyer ship it wherever they want it.
You should ship both pickups back to Michigan to sell. The Chevy is very clean, and would do even better than the J10, right?
If the J10 is “rust free” by Michigan standards then how would David even advertise the Chevy? Rust-freer?
That’s a real issue, there.
I suspect the words “immaculate”, “holy”, and “grail” would feature prominently in the ad.
Personally, I would sell all current ZJs, and get one that doesn’t need to be rebuilt from a pile of parts. As I’m getting older, I’m finding that I value time more than money. I can make more money, but time is something I will never get back.
In your case, time is now a scarce resource. Not only are you running this wonderful site, but you have a kid and a wife, too! Besides, you can always teach little Delco…uh, Delmar, how to wrench on smaller projects on the Mustang, BMW, and working ZJ.
(Yes, I just briefly thought that the Bogus McFakename of David’s kid was Delco for a moment there.)
Yes but the only way to make more money is to spend time working so that time is taken away from the things you want to spend time on. It is the old saying Time is money
It’s such a horrible conundrum, isn’t it? But yes, I often see time and money as being fairly equal forms of currency. 🙂
Don’t you own like 37 vehicles?
David is somehow transferring his car hording into Mercedes.
42, 67, or 33, something like that. lol
New truck?
Are we waiting for 25-year rule to be repealed so you can get a Fiat Fullback?
Comanche, right? Gotta be a Comanche.
My thoughts exactly. He should just get a manual one and let that replace the trucks and the ZJ’s.
I dunno, he wants a truck for towing and Comanche isn’t fullsize. Plus he already has an XJ.