What would a redone/restored M416 fetch? And any too collectible to wheel? (1 Viewer)

[e9999]

an acquaintance of mine says he has a "restored" M416 that I may want to buy. I don't know yet what that means but from a blurry pic it does look nice and freshly repainted and reportedly came from a military collector. Has the little military stencils for tire pressure etc on, so maybe was done seriously, I don't know yet. No idea yet what the year and manufacturer are either. From the pic it seems like it has the original light plug so may well have the 24V lights etc too.

I do recall reading here and elsewhere about prices for 416s going roughly from $400 to $1000, but those were mostly potential offroaders with much work to be done on the low end of that reange, it seemed.

So what would a nice redone or even restored one, say- fetch, realistically? I am after this for wheeling, though, not for military parades so I would want to know if there is any real collector value to it so as not to destroy a piece of history and also not pay more than needed for a wheeling one that I may end up banging or modding. Any particular years or manufacturers that should for sure not be modified and kept original?

I'm thinking if it's really well restored, it should best not be used for wheeling and I should probably stay away especially since it won't go for a song.

Conversely, if it's just a straight original milsurp that's just been repainted, is clean but is not show quality either and could be actually used to carry stuff, what should one expect to pay on the high side?

TIA

 

[Brian in Oregon]

A lot depends on how far the restoration went. Was it cosmetically painted or stripped to bare metal and properly primed and repainted? Was the hubs and brakes completely gone through? Is it in factory stock condition or has it been modified?

A blurry photo ain't gunna cut the mustard. Heck, I got tired of the worn paint and light surface rust freckling on my M100, so I camo'd it with a few cans of Rustoleum. A photo from 20 feet away makes it look like a Jim Dandy restoration, but it ain't.

 

[e9999]

I haven't seen it yet but I want to have a good idea of upper-limit prices so I can make a realistic offer on the spot.
I'm thinking overall:

- piece of rusted crap: $400
- rusty in places, needs serious body work, a few missing parts, needs lots of paint: $600
- mostly in great shape, no rust through, minor body work needed, just about all there, could use some paint: $800
- very nice, all there, painted, no previous or current rust visible: $1000
- frame off redone for utility and wheeling: $????
- frame off restoration for military parades: $?????

(keep in mind this is California so prices are likely higher than in the sane states...)

does that sound about right? what say yall?

 

[Blueegg]

Your numbers sound reasonable.

My limited experience with M416s over the past couple of years has been that most come up for sale around here are repainted with the rust repaired or covered over. Those with okay to almost new tires and maybe a spare have sold for $700-1200.

Really rusty floors with big holes and bad tires are usually go for much less. $200-400 at most.

Off frames with no rust, good tires and proper military paint go for $1500 or more.

 

[Tobiasinla]

I am after this for wheeling, though, not for military parades so I would want to know if there is any real collector value to it so as not to destroy a piece of history and also not pay more than needed for a wheeling one that I may end up banging or modding. Any particular years or manufacturers that should for sure not be modified and kept original?

Maybe if it was an M416B1....and perfect condition. I found this info when I had a chance to buy one earlier this year, but it had no title, so no dice in this state...... That one had a tailgate cut in it and the lunette cut off of it already. The only tell tale left was the really offset big hole wheels and lifting loops. Now if these pictures will post I stole off G503....

M416B1, note the wheels with the larger holes. They are M422 Mighty Mite wheels. The lifting loops on the standard USMC trailers are 3/4" while the M416B1 has 1/2". Bottom shot of the 1/2" lifting loops.


http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww241/BillHollinger/M416/PB100062.jpg
http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww241/BillHollinger/M416/PC230011.jpg

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

A trailer as posted above is good for around $2500.00 to a serious collector. for the off road bunch EHHH