distributor rotor, distributor cap, a condenser and breaker points.
In this case the Jeep was a civilian model. As most experienced
military vehicle hobbyists know, most of the above-mentioned items
would be twice as hard to find, and probably at least twice as expensive,
for the military M170 version of the same Jeep. But, this gentleman
hadn’t been looking for a classic vehicle, so one probably shouldn’t
blame him for unrealistic expectations or not doing his homework before
buying the Jeep.
On the other hand, if somebody is looking for a vintage vehicle, then
it is certainly up to him or her to educate themselves well in advance of
making a purchase. Aside from scanning the Internet, buying service and
operator’s manuals for the vehicle or vehicles you are interested in
would be a wise move, and far less expensive than ending up with a
vehicle that you don’t want or can’t use.
For those who are new to the hobby
If you are a newcomer to the vintage vehicle hobby, or want to be,
you should know that about the only commonly collected vehicles that
even come close to performing like modern SUVs are pickups or Chevy
Blazer-type vehicles. However, these trucks often lack the rugged
military look and battlefield mystique of fully tactical (or “combat”)
military vehicles, which this article focuses on. However, the workings
of a breaker-point system are similar to those of passenger cars of the
same era.
Because everyone is an individual, the military vehicle experience
means different things to different people. One can certainly appreciate
the time and effort required to fully restore a classic military vehicle to
its original factory specifications. But to many folks, the real pleasure of
owning an MV comes from getting behind the steering wheel and driving
it.
Tune-up before venturing too far
I began my association with military vehicles when I was 16. I bought
a Korean War-era M38 Jeep at a city auction. This was back in the day
when four-wheeling was virtually unknown to the American public, and