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classified ads => ebay and craigslist ads => Topic started by: cal.bar on October 17, 2017, 01:59:15 PM

Title: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: cal.bar on October 17, 2017, 01:59:15 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW-2-Half-Track-81mm-Mortar-Carrier-M4A1-1941-/332409525190?hash=item4d6526d3c6:g:muoAAOSwdTdZ3oTp&vxp=mtr

Looks pretty nice, but not sure about the high gloss paint.  What's the deal with that?
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: Darth_Kitten on October 17, 2017, 08:03:58 PM
Not a fan of the high gloss either, but there are some pretty good detail shots.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: RB-058 on October 17, 2017, 10:02:29 PM
Is it a knight in shiny armor??
Pretty decent restoration, but not a fan of the paint as well.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: WayOffTrack on October 21, 2017, 01:40:55 PM
I can't help but wonder what that would sell for at one of those high end car auctions.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: steve-0 on October 21, 2017, 02:49:20 PM
I thought it looked familiar

looks like he cut Gary out of the deal and offering it for a lot less.  ;D

https://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=264971
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: warbirdrestorer on October 22, 2017, 04:07:50 PM
Spoke with the owner of this, I guess his health is not that good and is forced to sell.
He is willing to deal, at the price he offered it to me I would probably be an idiot to pass it up.
It would be a lot of work repainting it but someone would get a pretty good deal on it.not running at this time and drivetrain was not rebuilt.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: WayOffTrack on February 25, 2018, 11:38:31 AM
This M4 is in Florida now I got to inspect it yesterday at the First Florida Chapter MVPA rally. It's still in the glossy paint. When they converted M4's to M4A1 did they swap the rollers out for winches?
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: col.halftrack on February 27, 2018, 11:05:09 AM
No roller to winch conversions that I have heard of. I.E. All the M3 and M15s converted post Korea to M16A1 retained there roller. Seller states it is a M4A1 and it would be interesting to know if it was a M4 conversion or a factory built M4A1. Does the vehicle retain the original data plate? There are ways to tell by how the rear frame is set up as to whether it ever was a M4.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: WayOffTrack on February 27, 2018, 03:14:55 PM
It must be an M4A1 then, the serial number was 250xxx and I checked its not on the list. Must be an early M4A1.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: col.halftrack on February 28, 2018, 10:38:09 AM
I think the 250XXX series were M4s. Mine was converted from M4 and is 250322.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: WayOffTrack on February 28, 2018, 11:10:40 AM
I stupidly forgot to get a pic of the dataplate or even look at it. I finally got this pic out of my phone I thought it was corrupted. 250559 or maybe 250359? The top rear rivet on the frame extension above the mount for the front shocks is missing on both sides and there looks to be something like seam sealer in between the front frame rails and the winch frame extensions.

(http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/1007/shiny-m4a1-serialnum.png)
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: col.halftrack on March 01, 2018, 08:28:08 AM
 Thanks for the photo. I read it as 250359 which I have added to the G503 list. That's only a few after my track 250322. If anyone can acquire the data plate info it would be a big help! Very few M4 or M4A1 data plates survive. The ordnance number is very important to establishing a key number for the White manufactured tracs.
 You mention winch frame extensions have seam sealer. Is this a winch model? Or do you think the frame extensions have been added?
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: WayOffTrack on March 01, 2018, 09:03:38 AM
It's a winch model. I imagine they just filled the seam in during the resto to pretty it up a little but since it is missing the upper rear rivets on each side of the extension I wondered if maybe it was converted from a roller at some point. I never thought that they did roller to winch conversions in the Army but I'm starting to rethink that after seeing the Wylie M3A1 photos from New Mexico.
Title: Re: HT on E-bay (restored)
Post by: col.halftrack on March 01, 2018, 09:10:49 AM
 I suppose it is possible that Army conversions happened especially if the roller unit was damaged when there were few half-tracs in the inventory (i.e. post 1952) A lot of work though for a almost obsolete vehicle. Any chance someone who knows the vehicle can get a pic of the data plate that shows serial and ordnance number?