1943 International Harvester

This 1943 M5 half-track was built by International Harvester and is said to have been used by the British military and a civilian construction firm before it was refurbished by BAIV of The Netherlands in 2016. The truck is finished in olive drab, and power is provided by a 451ci Red Diamond gasoline inline-six linked with a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. Features include vacuum-assisted drum brakes, manually operated radiator shutters, folding window armor, a front winch, and seating for 12. Purchased by the seller in 2015 during its refurbishment, this M5 is now offered in Tennessee with a clean title in the seller’s name listing the vehicle as an HFTR M59. The M5 half-track was similar to the contemporary M3 and had thicker .31″ rolled homogeneous steel armor along with rounded corners at the rear. It was manufactured in several configurations by International Harvester between 1942 and 1943. This example was refinished in olive drab with military-style graphics during the refurbishment. Equipment includes folding armor on the windshield and side windows, manually operated radiator shutters, a front winch, side storage racks, and street lighting. The machine gun shown in the photos is not included in the sale. Multi-piece 20″ front steel wheels are mounted with 9.00-series Deestone M Master military-style tires, while each rear track drive is equipped with a front drive sprocket, four road wheels, a support roller, a compensating idler, and rubber-coated steel treads. The suspension features leaf springs up front and vertical volute springs out back. Braking is handled by hydraulically assisted drums. The cockpit houses individual seats with green canvas cushions accompanied by diamond-plate steel floors and body-color sheet metal. Features include push-button start, a locking storage compartment, and instructional placards. Centrally mounted instrumentation includes a 60-mph speedometer, a 4k-rpm tachometer, an auxiliary gauges. The five-digit odometer shows 4k miles, though true mileage is unknown. The rear passenger area is outfitted with seating for 10, under-seat storage compartments, and a pedestal for mounting a weapon. The International Harvester Red Diamond 451ci gasoline inline-six was overhauled by BAIV in 2016 and was factory-rated at 143 horsepower. Power is sent to both axles via a Spicer 1856 constant mesh four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case. The vehicle is titled in Tennessee under VIN M5928ORD11683, which is a composite of the manufacturer serial number M5928, the letters ORD, and the ordnance serial number 11683 as shown on the reproduction chassis tag pictured above.