Centurion Mk V 370/450 MBT
The Centurion is a British tank from the post-World War II era. Regarded by some as one of the finest British tank designs of its time, its origins trace back to the Second World War. All thought currently a non-runner, this Centurion is powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine – the non-supercharged version of the famous Merlin engine used in WWII Mustang and Spitfire warbirds. Owning a true Main Battle Tank for the price of a luxury SUV; it's almost too good to be true.
Movie: Centurion Mk V MBT
Register and bid
Registration is required prior to bidding. So, make sure you have completed the registration.
Details
conditions
This Centurion Mk 5, was delivered in April 1953. All thought currently a non-runner, this Centurion is powered by a Rolls-Royce Meteor engine – the non-supercharged version of the famous Merlin engine used in WWII Mustang and Spitfire warbirds.
Older restoration;
The gun is fully demilled (Breech fully cut, barrel was welded with plug) and can be sold in the USA without restrictions. In case of export an export license must be applied;
Wiring for the commander override starter has burnt out;
One magneto cover is removed;
Rough interior but very complete;
Has dummy shells stored in turret, possible permit required.
Technical details
- Manufacturer
- Leyland Motors, Royal Ordnance Factories, Royal Arsenal and Vickers
- Model
- Mk V 370/450
- Manufacturing date
- April 1953
- Serial number
- WD nr. 12.BA.97 K
- Length
- 32 ft 3 in (9,83 m)
- Width
- 11 ft 1 in (3,38 m)
- Height (top up)
- 9 ft 7,75 in (2,94 m)
- Weight
- 112. 436 lb (51.000 kg)
- Max. speed (land)
- 21, 5 mph (34,6 km/h)
- Operational range
- 62,5 mi (100 km)
- Main armament
- 105 mm L7 rifled gun (deactivated)
- Secondary armament
- 1x cal .30 Browning machine gun. Not included.
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce Meteor 4B V12 cyl., 650 hp
- Crew
- 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
- Armor
- 2 – 6 in (51 – 152 mm)
- Production numbers
- 4.424 (all models)
History
The development of the Centurion Main Battle Tank began in 1943 when the British Army asked for a new cruiser tank equipped with at least a 17-pounder gun. They wanted a fast tank that, even though heavily armored, would perform well in cross-country travel. Six prototypes of the new tank, known as the A-41, were built and sent to Germany in 1945, but the war ended just a month before they saw combat. Initially, they were equipped the 17-pdr (76.2-mm) cannon which was one of the best tank guns used by the Western Allies during the war. By the time Centurions saw combat in 1950 during the Korean War, they had been upgunned to the more powerful 20-pdr (83.4-mm) cannon. This remained the standard gun on Centurions until the early 1960s when they were upgunned with the 105-mm L7 cannon.
The four-man crew of the Centurion was well-protected with armor up to 6-inches (152-mm) thick. Stowage bins mounted on the turret sides provided standoff protection from HEAT rounds while skirts along the suspension helped protect against anti-tank rockets. Various upgrades throughout the years allowed the Centurion to stay in service with many countries well into the 1980s.
The Centurion has been exported to numerous countries including the Canada, Denmark, Israel and South Africa. They saw action in numerous wars including the Indo-Pakistani Wars, Arab-Israeli Wars, the 1956 Suez War, and various conflicts in southern Africa between South Africa and Cuban forces.
Between 1946 and 1962, 4,423 Centurions were produced, consisting of 13 basic marks and numerous variants. In British Army use it was replaced by the Chieftain.
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Note to buyer
LOCATION
The location of any Lot is indicated with the specific lot number. Specific address details will be provided upon request and to the successful bidder / Buyer.
INSPECTION(S)/ VIEWING DAYS
Inspections (viewing days) are on:
USA: Friday April 5, Saturday April 6 and Friday April 19, 2024.
Given the fact that these are often very special items whose condition, no matter how hard we try, cannot always be described 100% completely, we really recommend that you make use of this.
IMPORTANT DATES
Bidding Open: Friday April 19 2024 00:00 CET (Dutch American Friendship Day),
Bidding Ends:
Saturday April 20 2024 (Part 1 vehicles)
TIMES
Amsterdam NL (CET): 06:00 PM (18:00)
London: 05:00 PM (17:00)
New York USA: 12:00 AM (12:00)
Sydney AUS: 04:00 AM (04:00),next day
BUYER’S PREMIUM
On all lots a buyer’s premium of 16,5% of the hammer price is charged. Over this buyer’s premium a 21% sales tax (VAT) will be applicable.
PARTS, ACCESSOIRIES & MILITARIA
The batches of spare parts, various accessories and militaria are sold in as-is condition and delivered without any guarantee of functioning.
VEHICLES & VEHICLE RELATED EQUIPMENT
Cars, motorcycles, trucks, cannons or howitzers, armored vehicles, and tanks are sold in as-is condition, with no technical guarantee and guarantee of authenticity and with or without registration.
ARMS & WEAPONS
The Auction House will not supply ANY item unless the correct paperwork and licensing – if needed – has been supplied by the Buyer in full.
If required and applicable (fire)arms can be made inoperable or permanently disabled by BAIV in The Netherlands as being a licensed Arms & Weapons Dealer Registration Nr. NL20191618779. In this case all relevant cost will be charged to the Buyer in addition and have to be paid in advance in full. Collection by appointment only!
MARGIN/ VAT
However, for most of the lots 21% sales tax (VAT) over the hammer price will be not applicable, it might be that in some specific cases sales tax (VAT) over the hammer price will be charged. In such a case this will be specifically specified in the lot description. For all other lots the margin scheme will be applicable. For more info see our General Conditions of Sale Article 9 on our website; www.tracksandtrade.com
COLLECTION
Due to our participation in the commemorations of D-DAY in Normandy France collection of all lots is scheduled for the period June 17 till 28 2024. However, for buyers who want to participate with their purchased lot at the 80th Anniversary Commemorations in Normandy this can of course be deviated from. In such a case please let us know soonest.
import and exportDepending on the destination and content of the Lot the Buyer shall obtain an International Import Certificate / End User Certificate. Some of the items listed in the auction may require special licenses or permits or existing documents must be prepared for export. If this is relevant, Tracks & Trade will take care of this. The applicable costs will be charged to the successful bidder. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns. No item will be allowed to be collected without 100% of all legal requirements being fulfilled.
Delivery
Removal of lots must be completed by June 28, 2024 after full payment and 100% coverage of all legal requirements. No storage fees will be applicable until that date.
Shipping and packing costs and special costs that arise for loading special items, such as crane costs or costs for hiring special equipment etc., will be charged to the Buyer on the basis of actual costs + a surcharge of 10%. Naturally, you can count on us when it comes to the shipment of your purchases. We are happy to take care of that!
STORAGE
Lots not picked up by Buyers before June 28 2024 will be returned to secure storage at Buyer’s expense. In this case storage fees will be applied as follows:
Parts & accessories: € 25,- / lot / week.
Cars and motorcycles: € 50,- / lot / week.
Armored vehicles, tanks, cannons etc. € 75,- / lot / week.
Listed storage fees excluding 21% VAT.
NOTE
If you have any specific questions, please contact us either by telephone (+31 6 518 22 502) or E-mail ([email protected]). We are happy to help and support you through the entire process. We will do our utmost to please and comfort you.
So, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
GENERAL CONDITIONS
All information and transactions are subject to the general terms and conditions (Version 2.0 dated 29-04-2022). For more detailed information visit our website.
Shipping Information
After buying a classic military vehicle or other items such as cannons, planes, howitzers and tanks, there are several steps you would typically need to take:
Legalities
In principle, no special permit is required for unarmored wheeled and tracked vehicles. In many cases, an export procedure that is comparable to that for exporting classic cars and motorcycles is sufficient. Military collectables older than 75 years and with a value over Euro 50k are often considered National Heritage. In such cases an export permit must be requested from the National Ministry of Culture of the exporting country. Tanks, howitzers and self-propelled or towed cannons often require specific permits that are highly dependent on the country of shipment and the country of destination. In such a case first ensure that you apply for the necessary permits, licenses, and other paperwork required to own and operate such an item in your jurisdiction. This may involve registering the item with the appropriate authorities and complying with any regulations regarding its ownership and use. In such a case it is advisable to contact us in advance because we have many decades of experience in the import and export of Classic Military Heritage. Based on this experience, we can generally quickly provide feedback on what applies to you. This is especially relevant because regulations in this regard change every now and then and sometimes, we also have to deal with export-restrictions. In short: if you want to be sure, contact us in time to avoid difficulties in a later stage.
Storage
Find a suitable storage location for your collectable, preferably a secure and legal place where you can keep it when not in use. This could be a garage, warehouse, or even a specially designed storage facility or museum.
Transportation
After you have all paperwork in place next step will be the (oversees) transport to your desired location. This may involve hiring specialized transport and broker services due to permits, size and weight. Als in this case we can support you with organizing the transport or make sure you get in contact with some experts.
Maintenance and Restoration
Depending on the condition of your military collectable our partner BAIV can help you with maintenance and restoration work to ensure that it is safe and operational. This could involve relatively easy maintenance and repair, service till a Class-A restoration. In such a case please contact BAIV (link to BAIV website).
Training
If you intend to operate a vehicle then make sure you have manuals that describe how the operate vehicle. Nowadays there are numerous reprints available on the Internet that explain you in a playful way how to drive and operate your vehicle. This is often a team effort, which makes owning such a vehicle extra attractive. If required, you can also involve hiring a professional instructor or attending specialized training courses to learn how to drive and maintain it safely. In such a case, our partner BAIV can also support you.
Insurance
Consider obtaining insurance coverage for your vehicle to protect yourself against any potential accidents or liabilities that may arise from owning and operating it. Often there are specialized insurance companies offering these kinds of services. Local military vehicle clubs often also know their way around the specific options offered by insurance companies.
Enjoyment
Finally, once everything is in place, you can enjoy owning and, if permitted, operating your classic military vehicle, cannon or howitzer. Whether it's for display purposes or for participating in historical reenactments, owning such a great unit can be a unique and rewarding experience.
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