1943 International Harvester M5 Half-Track Personnel Carrier

Lot details
Registration No: Un-Reg
Chassis No: M5-2696

- Used during the Allied liberation of Europe most likely by the Polish forces

- Subsequently seconded to the French Army who stationed it in French Guyana, South America for decades

- Brought back to France in the 1980s and sold to Belgian collector, and Supreme Court Judge, Mr Louis Amerijckx who stored it in the grounds of his chateau

- Acquired from Mr Amerijckx by Ivo Rigter in Summer 1987 and treated to a 2,500-hour, 'chassis up' restoration over the next twenty-seven years!

- Correct-type engine was overhauled by the Bugatti works during the 1960s (and again as part of the refurbishment). Genuine parts were used wherever possible and sourced from all over the globe

- Vehicle is liveried in the markings of the Polish 10th Regiment Dragonders and as a tribute to the famous Polish SOE Agent Maria 'Krystyna' Janina Skarbek. Surviving WW2, she became a British Citizen and took the name Christine Granville

Conceived as a high-mobility infantry vehicle capable of resisting small arms fire and shell / mortar splinters whilst carrying a dozen troops at speeds in excess of 40mph, the M3 Half-Track was also considerably easier to drive than a Full-Track machine. Despite the best efforts of the White, Autocar and Diamond T Motor Companies, demand was still outstripping supply by mid-1941. Approached by the US Army's Ordnance Department, the International Harvester Company of Chicago, Illinois designed its own version. Utilising 5/16-in homogenous armoured plate (as opposed to 1/4-in face hardened steel), the resultant M5 was heavier than the M3 but compensated by featuring a strengthened chassis and hull, tougher 'banjo' axles and more powerful International Harvester RED-450B straight-six OHV engine. Credited with developing some 143bhp and 348lbft of torque, the latter was allied to four-speed manual transmission. Visually distinguished by its flat-section front wings and rounded rear corners, the M5 is deemed by many to be the ultimate Half-Track. Over half of the 4,625 IHC Half-Track M5 Personnel Carriers made came to Britain to be distributed under the Lend-Lease programme.

Delivered on April 27th 1943, this particular example - serial number M5-2696 - is believed to have been used by Polish forces during the Allied liberation of Europe and thus may even have participated in the capture of the Kriegsmarine naval base at Wilhelmshaven. Known to have been in Germany following the cessation of hostilities, it was thoroughly overhauled by the Mercedes-Benz Works before being reallocated to the French Army. Stationed in French Guyana, South America for decades, the Half-Track returned to France during the 1980s where it was acquired as surplus by the Belgian collector Mr Louis Amerijckx. Then a Supreme Court Judge and chateau owner, Mr Amerijckx took some persuading but eventually sold the M5 Personnel Carrier to Dutch enthusiast Ivo Rigter in 1987. Determined to return the IHC machine to factory specification and condition, Mr Rigter scoured Europe and the United States in search of correct parts. Some twenty-seven years and 2,500 restoration hours later, the Half-Track was finally completed to his satisfaction.

Despite their Mercedes-Benz overhaul plaques, the pre-refurbishment engine and gearbox were found to be too heavily water damaged to reuse. Another RED-450B straight-six OHV engine was duly found (and turned out to have been overhauled by Bugatti during the early 1960s), while Mr Stel from Radio Kootwijk provided a replacement gearbox. The rear tracks were sourced from Portugal and any truly obscure components made from scratch by Mr Rigter and his team. A hobby that turned into a business, by the time M5-2696 was completed Mr Rigter had founded the BAIV BV International Trading Company (BAIV standing for British and American Invasion Vehicles). The quality of the work which has gone into rejuvenating the Half-Track has to be seen to be appreciated but an idea can be gleaned by viewing the following YouTube link: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVZjReelx9dNWmoaewpMIZk7-XFGI-kSK Sporting the markings of the Polish 10th Regiment Dragonders, the M5 Personnel Carrier also has the name 'Krystyna' emblazoned on its doors as a tribute to Christine Granville (nee Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek) a remarkable Polish lady who served as a Section D and SOE agent during WW2 and who may or may not have inspired the character of Vesper Lynd in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel 'Casino Royale'!

Driven less than 1,000 miles since the completion of its painstaking restoration, the use of modern materials means that its rear tracks appear all but unworn. Participating in the Dog Green Camp Omaha Beach 2014 meeting, the IHC machine has also been used by the vendor for taking friends to the pub! Potentially road legal once UK registered, it would make a hell of a statement at the Goodwood Revival! Only coming to market because the vendor wishes to reduce the size of his military vehicle collection, this fabulous Half-Track is offered for sale at somewhat less than its restoration would cost to repeat today.

PLEASE NOTE: THE GUNS AND EXTRA EQUIPMENT VISIBLE IN THE PHOTOS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE SALE FOR LEGAL REASONS