[jeepster]

as a jeep-head i was on a look out for a 4x4 jeep.
dad bought a 1990 gypsy 3 years ago but i was not interested in it.

fast forward to 21 feb,i was packing my bags for a friends wedding (on 22 feb), but on the day we were supposed to leave for the journey i had some health problems & decided not to attend the wedding.

all plans canceled started my PC & started to surf the T-bhp & Google.
i have 5~6 auction websites bookmarked on Firefox so started to go through them & came to know about the auction in my city.

i had seen the lot before but i didn't know that it was scheduled for auction so soon. (following pic was taken on 13th feb )

i printed the details & reached the site where all the vehicles were stocked. but the guard dosent let me in & asks for get pass.
determined, i go strait to their office & arrange a gate pass.

satisfied the guard opens the gate & first thing i see is the white armada.
i knew that there were some mm540 , cj 500, commander (ht & lwb) but definitely no Armada.

i checked out all the vehicles quickly & took some pictures, but not all were in good condition.
the best of the lot was armada.
same day i uploaded the pictures on my Facebook account.
& i got a surprise again.

to be continued..

[Sudarshan]

CONGRATULATIONS :

Jeepster finally has his Very Own Jeep , to play with

Carry on Armada

Sudarshan

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by Sudarshan

CONGRATULATIONS :

thanks raju bhai, for your guidance, tips, suggestions & offline calls.

[Thar4x4]

Congrats Nikhil !

Waiting ffor more details.

Thanks,
Vishal.

[Kandisa]

jeepster, you have been one of the most dedicated jeep enthusiast of Tbhp and you truely deserve becoming the owner of a jeep. Glad that you finally got something to your choice, though i thought you were probably going to pick up a THAR, especially after waiting so long. Best of luck for the job ahead and looking forward to a great restoration project.

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by Thar4x4

Congrats Nikhil !

thanks.

Originally Posted by Kandisa

though i thought you were probably going to pick up a THAR, especially after waiting so long. Best of luck for the job ahead and looking forward to a great restoration project.

yes, i too wanted Thar but decided not to because of following reasons.

jeeps are not bought they are built.
a quote of a t-bhpian from Facebook.

1) Jeep in scrap /auctions 90,000 max + 2) books, tools, equipment ( simple one ) 1,00,000max + 3) all the spares & parts 1,00,000 Max ( actually half ) + your labor for weekends ( for about an year & half =... a wonderful Jeep of which you know' every' nut & bolt. This saves you 50,000 worth of mechanics labor & earns more knowledge of your vehicle then anyone else , & all this totals to 2,90,000 ( your tools remain with you for life )

i just celebrated my 24 birthday a month ago.
so until i turn 40 i have decided not to buy a 4x4, instead build one.

Edit:
@ DMehta:
yes its not that bad & as far as the restoration is concerned, i am planning slow & steady restoration with a lote of DIY things.

[DMehta]

Waiting for the continuation, A jeep in this condition, will surely need a lot of work and time. I hope you are ready for that.
You are right, jeeps are not bought, they are built

Looks like an exciting restoration process is on the cards. Any specific ideas?

[sreejeshmp]

CONGRATULATIONS jeepster.

So whats the plan a simple restoration or a rebuild with some.. ?

- Sreejesh

[gautamkhadse]

I love the way the armada looks from the front . Am not sure if I missed the price , but how much did you pay for this baby and how much are you planning to invest on it ? I personally love the bolero and someday when I have the money and the right deal I'll get myself one and build it to my liking . As for now am hooked on to this thread and look forward to your Jeep Buildoff . All the best buddy ! and congrats !

[Kandisa]

Originally Posted by jeepster

...yes, i too wanted Thar but decided not to because of following reasons.
jeeps are not bought they are built.
a quote of a t-bhpian from Facebook.i just celebrated my 24 birthday a month ago.
so until i turn 40 i have decided not to buy a 4x4, instead build one..

That is quite an old and famous saying for jeeps. If you have rejected the THAR and bought the armada just to enjoy the build-up experience then really hats off to your spirit.

[scphanse]

Jeepster/Nikhil,
Congratulations on your acquisition. Will definitely be glued to this thread to see the transformation from the duckling (won't call it ugly -EVER. Jeeps can never be Ugly) to a Swan. Do keep on posting.
Wishes for the restoration.
-salil

[ElantraGT]

Originally Posted by jeepster

jeeps are not bought they are built.
a quote of a t-bhpian from Facebook.

True statement buddy. Congrats on your purchase. I am glued to the thread. What are the mods that is planned for this Armada?

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by sreejeshmp

So whats the plan a simple restoration or a rebuild with some.. ?

first a simple restoration & then some mods.

Originally Posted by gautamkhadse

IAm not sure if I missed the priceand congrats !

i have not stated the price yet.
will do when i complete the paper work.

Originally Posted by Kandisa

If you have rejected the THAR and bought the armada just to enjoy the build-up experience then really hats off to your spirit.

yes thats the reason.

Originally Posted by scphanse

Wishes for the restoration.
-salil

thanks salil.
as i said earlier, the build up will be slow but stedy.

Originally Posted by ElantraGT

What are the mods that is planned for this Armada?

a simple 4 seater stock armada for at least 6 months & some OTR's.
then will decide the mods according to my needs.

a casual offroader or another extreme offroader.

[jeepster]

as i up loaded the pictures on the facebook.

i saw the pic of Tc & it didn't looked like T18.

it was borgwarner manual shift transfer case.

it was a Armada 4x4

• XDP 4.90
• KMT90
• BW manual shift
• NGCS
• 53 inch FFRA
• 57 inch closed knuckle axle
• front disc brake
• MRCBT steering

so after some calls with sudersahn vaidya & Gajanan chitale (bhpian to be) i decided to increase the bidding amount.

23-02-2011

i was the first one to register for auction with token no 1.

& around 12.30 the lot no. 22 was called for bid.

another shock for me was planned here.

the armada didn't had any papers available.

so decided to reduce the amount previously decided amount.

i started from 16K but due to some bidders from nanded & mumbai the bid went up & up.

tanks to my dad who was accompanying me placed the highest bid & the deal was final. (20K more where i stopped my bidding)

when i was paying the 25% of the bidding amount & 12.5% vat, my hands were literally shaking.

YouTube - latur auction

28-02-2011

paid all the remaining amount & completed all the formalities.

called my mechanic & decided to tow the armada with our voyager.

when we reached the yard, we came to know that the steering isn't working.

so called for a tow vehicle & towed it to our MIDC plot.

YouTube - lift up

YouTube - armada being towed 1

YouTube - armada being towed 3

YouTube - armada being towed 4

YouTube - armada being towed 5 last

[starter]

Congratulations Jeepster. So, you finally have a Jeep now.
From your last post, i see that most of the internals your Armada has, seem like the must have in Arka's recipe for a good jeep

I am sure you shall bring it to top shape. All the best with it.

Cheers,
Deepak