I feel to Deuce is bulletproof, seems like the M1009 is a sad example of Chevy know how in the 80's. Based on the $ that Uncle Sam put into the Deuce, the M1009 should be going for about $1000. Please prove me wrong...
OK, that's easy to do.
The value of any item is not established by it's original cost, it's utility, functionality or any other factor but one. The value of an item is determined by what a willing buyer will pay for it at any moment in time.
As a proportion of original cost and functional capability smaller vehicles will always trend more expensive than larger ones. More folks can store one,, have a place to work on one, can visualize themselves owning one, can afford parts etc. As already stated, most CUCV parts are available through any parts outlet while there a relatively few outlets for MV specific parts. Additionally, many folks just don't have the inclination to buy a bigger truck.
We see this played out throughout the used vehicle world. A WWII jeep cost 2-4 times what most cargo trucks do. A 1968 Mustang will sell for more than a 1968 stake rack cargo truck etc.
It even plays out in the new vehicle world. A while back I delivered some stuff to a buyer outside Philadelphia, PA and picked up an M101A1 trailer from a different seller. On the way home I stopped at a Ford truck dealer that specialized in commercial vehicles. I wanted to look at a utility truck as a replacement for my current work truck.
They had a pair of crew cab F550s. They had front captain's chairs, 6 disk CD players, dual zone heat/AC, diesel engines, auto transmissions etc. The bare chassis were priced at $37K and the 12' walk in fiberglass utility boxes brought the total price to $49K.
The F350 crew cab diesels pick up trucks (no utility box-standard beds) were in the $48-54K range.
I asked the sales manager what the story was. He stated that the pick-up truck market lets them use a 30% or higher mark up for the factory price for a light truck such as the F350 and folks are willing to pay it but the F550 is in the medium truck class which has a lot more manufacturers. As a result the F550 mark up is very much less.
The moral of that story was that even though the F550 is a far more capable truck there would have been far fewer willing buyers at the higher price.
Lance
