“Make me an offer” 1952 m1a1.

ok. Guy says "make me an offer". Engine needs rebuilt. Looks like it's been sitting awhile. I know NOTHING about Jeeps. Learn me, especially what to offer without being insulting. 

In reply to Definitely gone now :

Don't know what it's worth. But that looks like an M38A1 army jeep.

M1A1 can designate a semiautomatic rifle, or a heavy tank.

In reply to FJ40Jim :

I absolutely clicked on this expecting an Abrams. 

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

I still wouldn't know what to offer lol. Is $1,000 insulting? Start this guy low and work up from there?

Definitely gone now said:

In reply to CrustyRedXpress :

I still wouldn't know what to offer lol. Is $1,000 insulting? Start this guy low and work up from there?

If its all original, or even mostly original, I'd feel that would be insulting.  $3000 to start, maybe?

Here's a semi-recent thread about one that is more modified https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/cars-sale/1946-cj2a-project-4500/173827/page1/

My coworker is looking for one of these.

In reply to yupididit :

In oregon if he wants it. 

We're way in Northern Virginia lol. Do you have a link to the ad?

Number one rule in negotiations is never ever set the first price.

"I don't know.  Tell me what you think is the pie in the sky price."

Let them set the first price.  If they come in way too high then you can start low.

"Wow $4k?  I'm seeing them online in this shape for a lot less.  Like closer to $1k."

That then get's them to set realistic expectations and you can work from there.

I've also had someone say "It's really a piece of junk how about $500?"

I'm straight up and I'll respond "You're setting it low.  It's actually worth about $800 to me."  Then they are happy to take your offer.

Do those have the 24v electrical system?

yupididit said:

We're way in Northern Virginia lol. Do you have a link to the ad?

No ad. It's an aquaintance. 

In reply to Stampie :

Excellent neg. tutorial. 
I once told a pretty good friend to make me a fair offer on something he wanted to buy from me. I've never forgotten his reply these 40 years later... "I never price another man's stuff."

I've had the chance to use it a number of times through the years. Works more than it doesn't.  

yupididit said:

We're way in Northern Virginia lol. Do you have a link to the ad?

Epic ride and drive !!

In reply to 03Panther :

I've used that line also although I say "I learned a long time ago to never put a value on another man's stuff."

In reply to Stampie :

Much smoother wording 

Stampie said:

Number one rule in negotiations is never ever set the first price.

Let them set the first price. 

I learned this young.  A lady was selling an old kids red wagon with no price and I replied I had no idea what to offer.  She then says fifty cents work?  Yes.  

In reply to Definitely gone now :

Does it drive? 

Love the calendar-worthy photo! 

Stampie said:

Number one rule in negotiations is never ever set the first price.

"I don't know.  Tell me what you think is the pie in the sky price."

Let them set the first price.  If they come in way too high then you can start low.

"Wow $4k?  I'm seeing them online in this shape for a lot less.  Like closer to $1k."

That then get's them to set realistic expectations and you can work from there.

I've also had someone say "It's really a piece of junk how about $500?"

I'm straight up and I'll respond "You're setting it low.  It's actually worth about $800 to me."  Then they are happy to take your offer.

But this is negotiations viewed as a competition. 

I generally figure out what something is worth to me and what it might be worth top dollar (clean, good pictures, well placed ad, willing to wait a few weeks for a sale, etc). 

Then I tell the seller both numbers and let them decide. I rarely budge from my "this is what it's worth to me" price because above that, I'm simply no longer interested.

I guess occasionally I may spend more with this method than the seller was willing to take, but if I'm paying what it is worth to me, who cares?

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

That's good with a quality seller. But most quality sellers have advertised their asking price, and is open to kind negotiations. 

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Oh yeah my negotiations vary depending on the other party.  I hate being asked to make an offer.  Last time I got into that situation the lady text me for a couple of days asking for an offer and me refusing.  It's their property and they should be aware of what it's worth.  I'd say that at least half of my buys are yep it's worth the asking price here's my cash.

With a vehicle such as this, before entering into communications with regards to pricing, you need to know the history of the vehicle and the seller, not due to condition but due to value. If the seller is a collector and picked it up because they thought it was nice or looked cool or was a piece of history then negotiate as you will. However, if the vehicle is an heirloom passed down from a grandfather, who was a vet and had one while in the service and now the family lineage has no potential owner of it, that changes things and how you intend to utilize it will likely matter more than price.  

For referrence, here's an older more beat up model.

In reply to Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

Definitely. I basically had to be approved for adoption for my latest big Cadillac. Owners didn't want Grandpa's car slammed and rattlecanned black. I made sure to send the family a followup pic of the big guy enjoying the sunshine about six months later.

The good news is that this sort of Jeep is pretty unlikely to be turned into an offroad junker, so it's pretty likely it will be restored or at least maintained in the current aesthetic.

In reply to Keith Tanner :

Current aesthetic would be my goal. Engine rebuild would be about it. Unless it's a rusted out clunker, then I rat rod it.