M3 Halftrack Restoration

[Dirt71]

Well I had a guy make me an offer on all of my 10 ton stuff, so I'm swicthing gear's a bit. This M3 came across my radar over Labor Day weekend and I think I'm going to grab it. I've wanted a halftrack forever, have'nt finalized the deal but hope to have it at my place next weekend. It need's a good bit of TLC but over all it's in good shape. Engine run's like a dream. It also has all of the original armor, so I'm told. I don't know much about halftrack's but I will be learning.

 

[73m819]

are you saying you sold ALL your 10 tons, hope thay went to a MVer not a logger, if a MVer can you say who ?????

 

[dittle]

Rear door isn't authentic, missing mounts for MG bipods.

 

[Dirt71]

Rear door isn't authentic, missing mounts for MG bipods.

OK here we go. As I said I dont know much about halftrack's, so what's an MG bipod? Pic's please.

 

[dittle]

Machine gun bipod. There is a fixture that mounts to the back of that door the bipod hangs on when not in use. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow morning of the one on the museum's M3A1 halftrack.

 

[Dirt71]

Machine gun bipod. There is a fixture that mounts to the back of that door the bipod hangs on when not in use. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow morning of the one on the museum's M3A1 halftrack.

You see I did'nt even know that MG was short for machine gun. This is going to be a ride restoring this thing.

 

[dittle]

Its all part of the fun. You'll learn a lot, enjoy it as you go.

 

[clinto]

I can't wait to see the bare frame on 4 jackstands in your shop.

Bring it to the Ga Rally before you take it apart!

Congrats-I love WWII stuff.

 

[zout]

is this it Dittle

 

[Dirt71]

Its all part of the fun. You'll learn a lot, enjoy it as you go.

**** Yeh, that's what I'm talking about thank's

 

[dittle]

is this it Dittle

That would be it Z, plus thats our halftrack. Where did you get that picture from? I know when that was taken but didn't know you had been up to the museum.

 

[zout]

ahhh - I looked on Google under M3A1 halftrack museums and wandered a few links down and found it
How is that for an Irony - very cool.

 

[dittle]

Another view of the rear door with the bipod mount. This is after we got it painted.

 

[yd328]

Very nice halftrack, good luck with it and of course more pictures.

Gary

 

[Wayofftrack]

Go for it David I'll help you out with anything i can. I think it still has the data plate on the dash so that should have the manufacturers serial number stamped on it. Some halftracks that were rebuilt in the 50's have a generic data plate with WHITE stamped on it. Some of these were really built by white and some were built by Diamond T and Autocar. They carried over the original frame serial number to the new plate. As I recall in my discussions with Tom at the time he indicated the serial number on the plate was M3xxxxx with WHITE as the maker. I determined it was actually a Diamond T. Any halftrack or scoutcar built by White will have a serial number that starts with the number 2 with the exception of some EXTREMELY rare early vehicle serial numbers beginning with 1. On the G503 somewhere is a detailed discussion of halftrack serial numbers. Looks like it has lots of potential.
As far as I'm concerned the maker does not affect the value much one way or the other and most people commonly refer to them all as WHITE halftracks since it was designed by them. Oddly enough they were not the low bidder on the original contract once the design was accepted for standardization. Then WW2 came along and the rest is, as they say, history.

 

[Danger Ranger]

Subscribed, hope this turns out as nice as all your other stuff did.

 

[Dirt71]

Well I went up and got the M3 today. I don't know when I'll be tearing into it, I've got alot of loose end's to take care of with these 10Ton's. For right now I'll be making a grocery list of part's and minor repair's that need to be done. First is the brake's, they don't work at all!!

 

[Danger Ranger]

So the 10 ton in the shop is going? Just double checking...

 

[nkawtg]

The last picture emphasizes that you are "downsizing!" Waiting patiently for an awesome thread!

 

[M215]

Halftrack

Hey Dirt71,
Welcome to the halftrack club! Halftracks are the iconic ww2 vehicle, coolest vehicle ever. Plenty of help available here and at halftrackinfo - Index

Let me know if I can be of assistance.
Karl