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how many cj8 do you think are left out there?

4X4JOE

Legacy Registered User
City
BROOKLYN
State
NY
after looking around to find a good cj8 to build. i have found about 6 so far that are not even road worthy anymore.. all of them the frames are shot rear back.. was it bad steel they built these things out of? 3 of them had no floorboards anymore and 2 the beds where all holy.. i was just wondering if i seen what was left of these 6.i wonder how many where crushed to be sent to china or just went back to mother earth.. i think these trucks are going to be worth real money one day. just the fact that i think almost half are gone already. how many do you think are left?
 

jeffs396

mini Scrambler
City
NE
State
OH
When talking "original" AMC born Scramblers, I'll bet only 50% or so of the original production still exist. But since aftermarket support is so strong for CJs, there are thousands more that have been created with repo steel, glass, & aluminum tubs using original & aftermarket frames.

I think you must provide a VIN to be a SOA member...that would be a start in finding out how many with enthusiast owners are out there left anyway...
 
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revho

$9.00 vanilla malt
Lifetime Member
City
beaverdam
State
MI
I would agree with 50% or less what I would consider somewhat road worthy. More than 50% if you consider the 6 that were looked at by 4x4 Joe that are rotting away in people barns or back yards.

Even better yet...how many postals are left out of 230?
 

cjgoode

Legacy Registered User
City
Central
State
FL
Might be better to do something like that on this site since it is much more dedicated to cj8's. A lot of the ones like you described are found and brought back to life.
 

bigwalton

Alaskan Postal nutjob
FORUM MANAGER
SOA Member
City
Dexter
State
MI
I'd agree roughly 50%. I disagree with them being worth a lot of money one day. Those very few that are pristine restorations, sure, but on the whole the "normal" runners/trail rigs aren't going to be worth a lot. I always point out that no one should buy one of these thinking that it's going to appreciate in value.

Maybe right now, simply because of the economy, you could get one real cheap, do nothing at all to it, and sell it for a profit in a few years, but I don't think it will be "worth real money".

Even better yet...how many postals are left out of 230?

:thumbsup: ;) I've thought that one through in my head over and over... curious what you think.
 

PetesCj-8

CJ-8 Member
City
slatington
State
pa
after looking around to find a good cj8 to build. i have found about 6 so far that are not even road worthy anymore.. all of them the frames are shot rear back.. was it bad steel they built these things out of? 3 of them had no floorboards anymore and 2 the beds where all holy.. i was just wondering if i seen what was left of these 6.i wonder how many where crushed to be sent to china or just went back to mother earth.. i think these trucks are going to be worth real money one day. just the fact that i think almost half are gone already. how many do you think are left?

1/2 sounds about right for restorable ones. Solid all the way around candidates from the get go probably drops that # drasticly. Maybe to about 1/3. I may be being negative being on the East Coast and seeing what road salt has done to the majority of them around here



Even better yet...how many postals are left out of 230?

Now theres an interesting question. Itd be nice to find an answere on that one.
 
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Dave K.

Legacy Registered User
City
Milwaukee
State
WI
If you find a nice original I would either maintain it as original or spin it if your thoughts are of making it into a trail rig. The originals are scarce and I cringe when I see originals butchered up for trail rigs to be pounded. Likely I will get a lot of birds for this but the people with money that see Scrams want originals for the scarcity, novelty, nostalgia, uniqueness of them and don't buy others dreams. That's the reality.

My 99% original one is always a hit with both collectors, trail runners and so on. I wish I had a dime for everytime someone with a lifted, re-engined, bobbed, chopped, 8 said they wish they had kept their's original.

The whole thing with rock crawling is a fad and who knows how long it will last but with the direction this country is taking I think many recognize the importance of nostalgia and getting back to when things were a little simpler and a little better. To take a cruise in something that hasn't been fitted with every 4WD hardware "upgrade" (yeeesh, most of the marginal stuff they sell is anything but an upgrade!) is to truly enjoy what the 8 is and was when it was first introduced to the marketplace. As we get older I guess we tend to appreciate these things . . . . the wise learn it earlier than I did!

Thus endeth my sermon . . . . . .

As for the number of originals left--I would put it much lower--less than 1500--based on what you see on eBay. When I say original I mean correct engine, trans, transfer, body, etc. . . Many say "restored" but they are far from this having been "up-engined" and so on. Rust has taken it's toll on these and many have gone to the scrapper.
 
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cjgoode

Legacy Registered User
City
Central
State
FL
Supply and demand, supply goes down every day as they are wrecked, trashed, or used as a parts vehicle for another one. Demand I think will go up as more people who wanted these in the 80's move into middle age and want one. I think price now is more impacted by the economy they supply and demand. I think some of the restored ones are way over priced, I saw one a ways back on ebay for a buy it now for 35k not same place has it listed again for 19k, it was never worth 35k so I would not say the market went down that much. Restoring one for a profit is not likely a good idea, holding on to one as an investment also not real good. Holding on to one hoping the value will hold or go up some, and you really enjoy having one and driving it is a great idea.
 
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