What they say about California is true: The cars are completely rust free! And what’s wild is that, even though everything is expensive in California, old cars aren’t really much pricier than they are in Michigan, in large part because people don’t have a place to store and maintain old vehicles. Needless to say, I have been tempted. Very, very tempted. And now — not two months after buying my beloved BMW i3 — I have fallen into my old ways.
Behold:
I’ll be doing a full introduction tomorrow.
Thank you all for being members. More exclusive content is coming!
Also… What happened to the Golden EVgle! You don’t need more distractions David!
Came in the hope that it was an SA/FB RX7 (even tho the FC is really the one you want)… Leaving disappointed
I keep wanting to buy a cheap RX-7/8, then I scare myself from pulling the trigger. Seems like all of the cheap ones are broken, soon to be broken, or rusty.
Hey Mercedes, sorry I didn’t stop to chat more at David’s moving party (I’m the tall guy who wandered in the front door two hours late after a full day of driving and rally cross, and I just had a splitting headache and wanted to say bye to David and get home. No offense was intended when I walked off in search of David, I was just really exhausted). Anyway, if you’re interested, I can help you check out options, or help demystify the engine. I’ve rebuilt the engines in both my FC and RX-8, and have a (homemade) compression tester. The only caveat, I’m in SE MI, and kids make it difficult to travel.
Anyhow, avoid the rusty ones, everything else is fixable. I got a great deal on a 2009 RX8 because the dealer flooded it and just couldn’t be bothered to deal with it. $4500, an hour to go through it and properly pull the plugs etc to de-flood, and I had an 85k mile S2 base that held up for a couple years of track days and ice racing before a side seal let go.
I echo what Peter said. Avoid the rust at all costs. If you can’t buy a pristine example that was low mileage, find one where everything seems to be in order except for the engine. They’re incredibly sensitive to maintenance and care, so if you have one rebuilt, *you* can take care of that engine from day one and help it live a long and happy life revving to 9k every day.
Is it stick? That’s all I want to know.
David, David, David. You have fallen into the trap. This isn’t REALLY the jeep you want, what with the square headlights and all: it’s just that you are used to Michigan rust buckets, and so you have jumped on the first pretty face (aka rust free Jeep) you’ve encountered. It’s a lot like marrying the first girl who will kiss you.
It’ll be over in a year as you discover that there are a lot prettier fish in the sea. I don’t begrudge or criticize your choice but I predict a short relationship between you two.
I’ve always liked the square headlights.
Yeah, I think that’s actually one of it’s best features. Rectilinear baby!
Trade it for a battle tested XJ?
That is one clean YJ. Are you finally turning a new leaf and leaving the rust behind?
Looks sweet! That really takes me back – when I was in HS in the late 90’s my friend’s dad had one of these in silver with a grey hardtop. Stickshift. It was glorious to look upon! Even though it looked cool, we rarely wanted to ride in it because of the punishing ride quality. If it was that bad when I was a kid, I can’t imagine trying to go any distance greater than a mile in it today.
Could you take the top off and do a Clueless homage with it?
And the cycle continues! In about 6 months we’ll get another car-hoarding article with DT as the subject. Keep up the good work.
Hell yeah!
Now that’s more like it1
I just realized that having an office in a car dealership would be agonizing, as every day I’d be scouting the fresh trade-ins.
I literally do!
Congratulations on a solid looking shell.
Any consideration of a wrap with fake rust to make it look authentic?
It looks like a show jeep as it is.
I don’t know that a clean, unmodified YJ in white could ever be a foolish purchase…
That right there is one of the most perfect starting points for a solid trail rig there is…
A Jeep? Who would have guessed?
I also have a Chrysler-built, white-on-tan 2-door convertible (Sebring)! We should compare and contrast, DT.
Pssh, it’s no Suzuki Sidekick ;P
Please give it the Daisy Duke treatment
The jeep you mean, not his wardrobe? Please mean the jeep….
His latest i3 video shows that David is not afraid to show a little skin.
That would be a CJ-7
Raise your hand if anyone is surprised. Anyone? Anyone at all? Raise your hand? I don’t see any hands…anyone?
I’m a bit surprised by the lack of rust and generally well-kept appearance of the vehicle.
Maybe it is radioactive or something? There must have been some hidden jankyness that captured his attention.
It’s not rotted out and barely running, so yes, I am surprised.
It certainly appears to be in good cosmetic condition. Hopefully the mechanics are just as good, but that wouldn’t scare you off anyway.
Aaaaaaand, the Jeep collection starts again! Just with much less rust! Can’t wait to see what shenanigans this gets involved in.
Woohoo! That looks really nice – looking forward to the full intro.
Please give it a vinyl wrap in Project POStal livery. 🙂
She’s a beaut! As my beloved Grandpa would’ve said.
No visible rust? California has changed you, David. Do you even eat shower spaghetti now?
I knew it was a Jeep before scrolling down. DT is still our beloved DT, just slightly more rust free.
Honestly I don’t think this one is foolish. Well not foolish by your standards at least.
My older cousin had a red one of these – the first vehicle I drove with a stick shift!
Congrats on this new rust-free life, David!!
White YJ
So have to be member to get the whole story?
I think we just get an early look at all sides. Unless his full introduction tomorrow is also member-only.
Members get a look at all sides. EVERYONE gets the full skinny tomorrow.
Just trying to add a little value to members. The full story will come tomorrow, but we want to give members a sneak peek of what we’re up to.
Thanks for not locking out the comments