Automotive Enthusiast Has a 50-Plus Jeep Collection
David Tracy of Jalopnik.com tells the story of Ron Hattner, a Jeep enthusiast from Toledo, Ohio. That’s an appropriate place for the fan to live, as the brand’s relationship with the city goes way back. As the author notes, the Toledo, Cherokee XJ, Wrangler, even the World War II MBs were produced at the city’s plants. With the brand playing such an important role in the city’s economy and culture, we’re sure some other Toledo residents are just as obsessed with Jeeps.
_To learn more about Hattner’s vast collection of Jeeps, continuing reading below. You may be inspired to pursue your own used Jeep for sale , restoring it back to its original glory… _
We doubt that any of those previously-mentioned, Toledo-based fans have a similar collection to Hattner’s. He’s been collecting Jeeps on his Michigan property for years, and he admitted that he lost count of his vehicles once he reached 40 or 50. Some may refer to Hattner as a hoarder, but Tracy is skeptical about handing out that classification. After all, the term “hoarder” is accompanied by a variety of negative connotations, and Hattner’s hobby (according to the writer) shouldn’t be attributed to an “addiction” or “inability to tame oneself.”
Instead, Hattner collects these Jeeps because he loves the brand. For example, he purchased a Jeep Gladiator that was headed toward the junkyard. Instead of seeing the classic vehicle disappear forever, Hattner forked up the money to save the Jeep. He didn’t (and still doesn’t) have any intention of restoring or driving the vehicle… he just wanted to assure that an original Gladiator was kept intact.
Hattner is also looking to help out his fellow Jeep-loving friends. Sure, many of his vehicles may look a bit beat up from the outside, but they still contain many of their original parts. While it may be difficult for the Jeep enthusiast to sell his individual vehicle, he can certainly provide a fellow Jeep fan with original parts to complete their restoration projects. Of course, if someone wanted to purchase the vehicles, they could easily get the vehicles back up to working condition. After all, the interiors still seem to be clean and intact, and we’d assume the engine and mechanics have all been taken care of.
Among Hattner’s most impressive vehicles is the 1963 Willys panel truck, which could be the best-preserved vehicle in his collection. Featuring “warn overdrive, power brakes, electric wipers” and a “full frame-off restoration,” the vehicle truly looks like it just came off the production line. The collector also has a 1946 Willys CJ2A (with only 1,100 miles on the odometer), a pair of Jeep fire trucks, and a rare CJ6.
There aren’t many collections that can rival Hattner’s. The enthusiast’s property is littered with Jeeps, new and old. If you’re looking to restore a used Jeep but can’t find a specific part, you should consider visiting Toledo, Ohio. We’re pretty sure you’ll find whatever you need. If you can’t, Hattner will certainly be able to point you in the right direction.
Previous Post Battle of the Subcompact SUVs: 2016 Jeep Renegade V. 2016 Honda HRV Next Post Which Used Jeep is the Best Rock-Crawler?