Overview of Military Vehicle Restoration and Collecting
While military vehicles are not around in abundance, they are certainly available and at prices which ordinary people can afford (well, maybe a tank or HMMWV is a bit pricey). In fact, if you are willing to put in the time and effort, a military vehicle can be considerably cheaper than an ordinary family car which isn't 1/10 the fun. By the time you finish with this section of Olive-Drab.com, all of the issues will be in perspective and you will be able to make the right moves to buy, restore, maintain, and sell military vehicles, even at a profit.
Much of the discussion of military vehicles is focused on the equipment of US forces. During WW II the Allied nations were supplied with many American vehicles from the huge US production and so they are the probably best known around the world. However, there were large numbers of Canadian and British vehicles produced and they are highly prized by collectors. The famous German vehicles of WW II, from the Kübelwagen to Tiger tanks, are very valuable today but exist in much smaller numbers. Recently some vehicles from the former Soviet Union are appearing at MV shows to open up whole new areas for reenactors, collectors, and preservationists. Whatever your interests, Olive-Drab.com will bring you the best information available to help you find and enjoy the vehicles.
To get you going right away, do all of the things suggested in the Quick Start section. That is the way to get familiar with the basics of the vehicles, begin a good flow of information from the magazines, and get in touch with people who can sell you vehicles and help you with any problems.
If your interest is drawn to armored vehicles, be sure to visit Doug Greville's Heavy Metal site in Australia. His "Hints for Enthusiasts" is a priceless introduction to what it takes to own armor whether as a gate guard (static) display or to run on the streets. There are a lot of things to consider about tanks that you don't have to worry about with a jeep; Doug is the voice of experience.
Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith USMC (right) takes jeep tour of Saipan airfield, July 1944.
Find More Information on the Web
There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.
For good results, try entering this: jeep military or army. Then click the Search button.
