Why are Hotchkiss Jeeps in better condition than original WW2 Jeeps?
1. In many cases they have only recently been released from military service. 2. Hotchkiss Jeeps have been maintained on a no expense spared basis by French military. 3. Mileage tends to be low, and war usage has not occurred. 4. Quality of parts tends to be higher than original, due to superior modern materials and more accurate manufacturing techniques. 5. Most WW2 jeeps in England have been out of military hands since the 1950s or 60s, and then used commercially as a workhorse until they dropped. Then they have stood derelict until restored. Restoration in most cases done by the enthusiast to a budget does not match army rebuild standard. (Remember the starting point is usually very poor.) Prices: Rebuild projects start at around £2500, for a basket case example up to around £4500 for a running/driving example requiring a lighter restoration. Restoration projects do not tend to be a cheap option and we would advise that in many cases, cost of restoration exceeds the resale value of
