Ripley Military Museum

[David]

A couple of weeks ago I camped at Lindbergh State Park in Little Falls. Ripley is only seven miles away, so we went up there to take a look at the Military Museum. I have to say they have one of the best military weapons collections I've seen in Minnesota! Examples of American and captured weapons from pretty much every conflict in the 20th Century. Everything from Krags to M249s, and captured weapons from WWI Maxims to Zastavas from Kosovo.

It's not just the variety, either. There's very little that they don't have two or three of at least. I lost count of the number of Lugers, MG42s, Enfields, and 03s they had. Most of these are collector grade as well; very little that is badly beat up or mismatched. They had an Enfield that looked as though it had been underground for years; and it was captured in Afganistan. It wasn't pretty, but it worked, after a fashion.

The vehicle museum is nice, too. I've decided I want a WWII Willy's Jeep! Anyone got one around here?

[1911fan]

I know someone who has one but was going to restore it, but I think he ran out of motivation. I know he paid nothing for it, but not sure if he wants to sell it..... let me know

[meltedeyes]

I've heard that you can get the old Willy's for $200 a pop. The catch is that you they come in lots of ten and you have to figure out how to ship them. My dad was telling me about a group at his church that was doing this, rebuilding them and then sending them to missionaries. I've been wanting one for years, so if the stories are true and you want to get a group buy together, I'm in for one.

[princewally]

I've heard that you can get the old Willy's for $200 a pop. The catch is that you they come in lots of ten and you have to figure out how to ship them. My dad was telling me about a group at his church that was doing this, rebuilding them and then sending them to missionaries. I've been wanting one for years, so if the stories are true and you want to get a group buy together, I'm in for one.

For that price, I would be in, but it's apparently just an urban legend.

[David]

I looked around a bit and they seem to be all over the place for a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. Unfortunately, I'm not really into restoration projects, so I'm sort of looking for one that's already been lovingly restored, or most of the way there. I haven't found any of those yet.

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

I do a bit of volunteer repair and gunsmithing for Fort Ripley Museum. The machineguns are not in great condition. Many are missing vital parts or are in bad need of cleaning and restoration. Most LOOK good from the outside, but need a bit of work to get them running. The MG-42 is coated with some crap that looks like crackled paint. Gotta clean that one up sometime. I own a MG-42 myself and it looks like brand new. Sad to see that specimen in the museum.

[W0THK]

I've decided I want a WWII Willy's Jeep! Anyone got one around here?

There's a little place on Hiway 12 in Dassel, MN that deals with old Willy's vehicles.

TomK
Mpls, MN

[Pat]

I do a bit of volunteer repair and gunsmithing for Fort Ripley Museum. The machineguns are not in great condition. Many are missing vital parts or are in bad need of cleaning and restoration. Most LOOK good from the outside, but need a bit of work to get them running. The MG-42 is coated with some crap that looks like crackled paint. Gotta clean that one up sometime. I own a MG-42 myself and it looks like brand new. Sad to see that specimen in the museum.

I just happen to know a guy...

Please PM if interested.

[Don L]

I was a member of a military vehicle collector's group for many years. At the time, I had a '53 Willys M38A1 Jeep that was completely restored right down the the serial number it had in the Army. Four years ago it sold for $10,500.00. The WW2 Jeeps in the same fully restored condition were bringing $13,000-14,500.00 at that time. The "basket cases" were running from $800.00 (not running, many parts missing) to $5000.00 (still needed lots of work). The good news is that any parts you need for restoration are available, either NOS (new old stock) or reproduction. A person can build a brand new "old" Jeep, if they wanted to, and their pockets are deep enough. Get ready for a whole lot of work with any of them, unless you can afford to have it done.

[David]

Wow! It sounds as though this might not be as hard as I thought. Thanks for the info, guys!

[Leech]

FYI

http://www.olive-drab.com/od_mvg_auctio ... hmmwv.php3

[W0THK]

I've decided I want a WWII Willy's Jeep! Anyone got one around here?

There's a little place on Hiway 12 in Dassel, MN that deals with old Willy's vehicles.

TomK
Mpls, MN

I drove by this place yesterday and there's what looks to be an WWII-era Willy's sitting out front that might be for sale.

TomK