M151 Jeep

The old style Jeep, the M151, successor to the WW2 “jeep” that were manufactured in such mass quantities, was relegated to junk status many years ago with the adoption of the , the “Humvee” in 1985.

According to CNN Money, the Marine Corps. has contracted for over 400 new vehicles called the “Growler”. This is essentially a refurbished M151, and in their article they allude to using M151 parts. Pointedly the article leads off with the fact that these vehicles cost $100,000 apiece:

The Marines budgeted to buy more than 400 vehicles, called Growlers, under a contract that could total $296 million including ammunition, USA Today said, citing Pentagon records.

Interesting don’t you think, that 400x$100,000 only comes to $40 million. That’s umm, $256 million for ammunition, and are we assume that the ammo is for these Growlers? That’s some expensive bullets, nevermind the Growlers!

The article lays out that the Growlers are special because they are made from refurbished parts, and yet at the same time, up to date with “modern automotive parts”. Also, the Growlers can fit inside a V-22 Osprey. Well, as long as they fit inside that thing that crashes so much …

So anyway back to this $100,000 Jeep. I went looking. What I found was amazing - the TimesDispatch carried an article from May 2nd, 2005, about these Growlers. Now, remember that these are built using refurbished parts so you would expect some of the cost of a “new” Growler to be offset by that contribution, right?

From the TimesDispatch article:

When in full production, each strike vehicle will cost about $50,000, compared with $70,000 to $130,000 for a new Humvee, depending on options.

So, a NEW one would cost $50,000. Why then, is CNN Money reporting that the Marines are paying $100,000 for one that is built using refurbished parts?

I really hope someone takes a good long look at this, what a waste of money, and especially at this time when we’re fighting wars and dealing with disasters. It seems to me that the Government and the taxpayer are both getting the shaft. Because there’s a war on that justifies this company charging double or more?