A rare 1943 Ford GPA amphibious jeep netted a $160,000 price at the Chet Krause Historic Jeep Collection auction.
The 35 vehicles sold Friday, Aug. 13, included the most complete collection of U.S. Army jeeps known to exist. The auction included many prototype and extremely rare jeeps. Also sold were command cars, weapons carriers, ambulances and mules.
Chet Krause, 86, of Iola, claimed he was not upset to see the collection dispersed.
“Buying and selling is what collectors do,” he explained. “I’m happy that the jeeps are going back to other collectors – they’re getting good homes.”
The top priced jeep was purchased by Brent Ducoing, a car collector from Anaheim, Calif.
Krause purchased the 1943 amphibious jeep in 2006 from Jack Miller, of Wolfeboro, N.H. It is probably in the best condition of the six known to exist of this model.
The jeep underwent “the finest GPA restoration in North America”, according to the auction catalog. Every mechanical device was restored, all interior bracing was replaced and the entire skin is new. The “ground up” restoration was completed in March 2008 by L’Cars of Cameron, Wis.