Lot number 423

M3A5 Grant

With its dual barrels and armor plates adorned with rivets, this tank is easily recognizable. In its current condition, it is ideal for a museum display. To become a remarkable showpiece, a fair bit of TLC will be required. A rare tank, it stands as a splendid example of the early stages of tank development during World War II.

Movie: M3A5 Grant Tank

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Location
Wichita, Kansas, USA
Year of construction
May 1942
Country of origin
United States of America
Manufacturer
Detroit Tank Arsenal
Type
M3A5 Grant
Estimated price
€ 270.000 - € 350.000
Condition
Cosmetically restored / runner

Details

conditions

With its dual barrels and armor plates adorned with rivets, this tank is easily recognizable. In its current condition, it is ideal for a museum display. To become a remarkable showpiece, a fair bit of TLC will be required. A rare tank, it stands as a splendid example of the early stages of tank development during World War II.

  • Engine Detroit 8V92T diesel (not original engine) but starts on the button and runs good.

  • Original 75 mm barrel.

  • In nice running condition. Has been running and ddriving in March 2024.

  • No batteries installed but can be slave started.

  • Starts on the button (only engine shut down mechanical on engine)

  • Tracks are worn.

  • It looks neat on the inside, but it is quite bare and many specific accessoires are missing

  • M3A5 has a 75 mm barrel but no breech.

  • The 37 mm gun is a full replica and has no breech.

  • Turret has no turret ring mounted.

  • Minimal electrical system

  • Can be sold in the USA without restrictions. In case of export an export license must be applied for.

Technical details

Manufacturer
Detroit Tank Arsenal
Model
M3A5 Grant
Manufacturing date
May 1942
Serial number
T468/WD nr. T-23877
Length
18 ft 6 in (5,64)
Width
8 ft 11 in (2,72 m)
Height
10 ft 3 in (3,12 m)
Weight
64.057 lb (29.250 kg)
Max. speed (land)
26 mph (42 km/h)
Operational range
120 mi (193 km)
Main armament
1x 75 mm gun in hull, 1x 37 mm in turret
Secondary armament
3 x cal .30 Browning machine guns
Engine
Wright-Continental R975, gasoline, 400 hp
Crew
6 (commander, gunner, loader/ operator, driver, hull gunner/hull loader)
Armor
1,5 – 2 in (38 – 51 mm)
Production numbers
6.258

History

The result of the blitzkrieg in France came as a real surprise and immediately triggered a complete re-thinking of US tank design. Shortly after the battle of Britain was over, war engulfed North Africa. The British industry was not able to deliver enough tanks to defend both the homeland and the empire, and notably its vital crossing points, like the Suez Canal. As the Lend-Lease act was passed, on March 11, 1941, President Roosevelt famously declared that the USA should become the “arsenal of democracy“. And the M3 Lee quickly turned into its most tangible symbol.


The M3 design process began in July 1940, as a derivative of the T5 Medium Tank prototype, the T5E2. The rushed design then entered production, being required both by US Army needs and the United Kingdom’s demand for 3,650 medium tanks. Ready as it was for mass-production, 4724 units M3s were built in the first batch, starting from mid-1941, and the second batch of 1334 units was built until December 1942, encompassing the M3A1 to the M3A5 versions.
The last production (591 units), mostly fielded by the British army, was the M3A5, equipped with the twin GM 6-71 diesels, but with a riveted hull and Lee turret. Strangely, they were called “Grant II” in British service. Due to the many contractors involved, notably the cast turret foundries, these variants showed further variety in the shape of the hull, turret and details, notably due to different casting procedures.


The M3, as a basis for further developments, was incredibly successful. Not only did it allow the long-awaited M4 Sherman to be designed and produced faster, thanks to the many parts it shared with the M3, but the same chassis also served for other vehicles, including the Canadian Ram tank, the M7 Priest, 155 mm Gun Motor Carriage M12, the Kangaroo armored personnel carrier, and the Sexton Mk.I self-propelled gun.
With a production running only one year and a half and an obsolete, awkward design, the M3 was not supposed to be a frontline tank during the entire length of the conflict. But it nevertheless saw service until the very end, thanks to some qualities, redeployment in more suitable campaign theaters, and conversions to other duties.


The British, although reluctant, pushed for it since it was the only model suitable for instant mass-production, and it became the warhorse of the British VIIIth Army during 1941-42, especially during the worst period of the campaign. Although the high silhouette and main gun position were despised, the Grant was reliable, very sturdy, had good armor and, overall, generous firepower. Through Lend-Lease, 2,855 units were sold to the British and 1396 were supplied to the USSR.

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 export

  • Depending 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.

Feel free to get in touch

Ivo Rigter Sr.