Buy Antiques Now, Have No Regrets Later

Posted by jim sturgill
Member # 11292
On Oct 05, 2008

<Editor’s Note: In this time of extreme financial turmoil, antiques are holding their value. Buying today might mean no remorse down the road—plus providing a nice hedge against bad economic times. Worthologist Jim Sturgill writes about the one he let get away.

When I was 8 years old, I saw the most beautiful car ever built. It was a 1949 Willy’s Jeepster. I remember the Jeepster as being painted red with a white convertible top, big whitewall tires and shiny hubcaps with a large letter W in the center. It also had a spare tire mounted on the rear deck with that shiny hubcap with the W in the center. What a car!

1949 Willy’s Jeepster

The Jeepster was a civilian-modified Jeep of World War II vintage. The Jeepster was manufactured to be marketed to the hundreds of thousands of GIs returning from military service.

When I was 18 years old, I wanted to buy one but could not afford it because of college costs. Now I regret what I did not do when I was 48. I had a chance to buy a Jeepster but did not. I can’t recall why I did not. But I do remember what a banker friend told me when my wife and I were first married and needed a washer and dryer: “You can buy things now on time and enjoy them long before you can save up the money to buy them.” The washer and dryer are necessities for a young family. The Jeepster is not a necessity, but it is something that is enjoyable for a lifetime.

Jeepster from the back

So I have regretted not enjoying the Jeepster for almost 20 years. But I did it last week. I bought a 1949 red Jeepster with a white convertible top, big whitewall tires and shiny hubcaps with a large letter W in the center. It had been in dry storage for too long, and every gasket and seal is leaking. Thank goodness I have friends with automotive garages who are fixing it for the road as I write this piece.

Jeepster from the front

I look back over time and remember many things I should have enjoyed but did not. My wife and I collect some antiques, and we do not regret any piece we have purchased. Each of us must weigh the enjoyment of doing something like collecting antiques today with working too much or doing something we are not happy with.

The Jeepster’s big shiny hubcaps with the W remind me of WorthPoint. WorthPoint’s staff and resources will help you enjoy antiques now. Don’t have regrets later. Buy that antique today.