[slodave]

Here is what I found:

Military vehicles purchased by Government auctions are subject to a "de-mil" requirement (referring to demilitarization). This means that you have to remove certain parts (such as weapons, communications gear) or, in the case of M151 jeeps or HMMWVs, you have to destroy the vehicle. That's right, you have to totally crush and destroy a perfectly good vehicle before the resulting scrap pile can be removed from Government property.

and

Here is what the US Government has to say about surplus jeeps on a DRMS website:

"DoD does not sell the M-151 series of vehicles commonly referred to as jeeps. The Department of Transportation has ruled that jeeps are built for off road use and could be unsafe at high speed. Therefore, for public safety, we render them inoperable prior to sale (i.e., cut or crush the unitized body and suspension system). All M151 series vehicles, including jeeps, are unsafe for public highway use. These vehicles are made unusable by removing major components and destroying the unitized body so it cannot be rebuilt. False stories often advise that jeeps are available for unusually low prices. Such stories should be brought to the attention of the DRMS Public Affairs Office, ATTN: DRMS-DB, 74 N. Washington St., Federal Center, Battle Creek, MI 49017-3092."

Dave