The WWII-era Swedish Landsverk IKV-73 had a 7.5 centimeter main gun along with 2.1"-thick armor protecting its crew of four. A 325-horsepower engine moved the 25-ton beast at more than 25 mph. ($212,750) Courtesy of Auctions America
The WWII-era Swedish Landsverk IKV-73 had a 7.5 centimeter main gun along with 2.1"-thick armor protecting its crew of four. A 325-horsepower engine moved the 25-ton beast at more than 25 mph. ($212,750)
The Soviet 8K11 Surface-to-Surface Missile (designated as the SCUD-A in the West), was a 42-ton mobile short-range ballistic missile loosely based on the German V-2. The nuclear-capable SCUD-A never saw combat. ($345,000) Courtesy of Auctions America
The Soviet 8K11 Surface-to-Surface Missile (designated as the SCUD-A in the West), was a 42-ton mobile short-range ballistic missile loosely based on the German V-2. The nuclear-capable SCUD-A never saw combat. ($345,000)
This M5 Stuart Tank, serial number 610, was built in September 1942 by Cadillac in Detroit. 1,470 M5's were made by Cadillac in 1942, first seeing combat that year in Africa. ($310,500) Courtesy of Auctions America
This M5 Stuart Tank, serial number 610, was built in September 1942 by Cadillac in Detroit. 1,470 M5's were made by Cadillac in 1942, first seeing combat that year in Africa. ($310,500)
The German Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track is one of the rarest vehicles in the collection. With more than 12,000 built between 1934 and 1944, the truck was used to tow medium artillery while providing for bench seating for 11 gun-crew members. It could tow up to 17,600 pounds. ($1,207,500) Courtesy of Auctions America
The German Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track is one of the rarest vehicles in the collection. With more than 12,000 built between 1934 and 1944, the truck was used to tow medium artillery while providing for bench seating for 11 gun-crew members. It could tow up to 17,600 pounds. ($1,207,500)
This M37 105-mm Howitzer Motor Carriage was built in October 1945 by the American Car and Foundry. It was used as a training vehicle at Fort Knox until the mid-50s, and, after a complete restoration, the auction house says this M37 is the best in existence. M37's saw heavy service with U.S. Army field artillery units in the Korean War. ($195,500) Courtesy of Auctions America
This M37 105-mm Howitzer Motor Carriage was built in October 1945 by the American Car and Foundry. It was used as a training vehicle at Fort Knox until the mid-50s, and, after a complete restoration, the auction house says this M37 is the best in existence. M37's saw heavy service with U.S. Army field artillery units in the Korean War. ($195,500)
The British 72-ton FV214 "Conqueror" Heavy Tank was built in 1952 to counteract the Soviet IS-3 Stalin heavy tank. Equipped with a 120-mm L1 Riffled Cannon, the commander could acquire and range a target independently of his gunner, allowing for faster firing. ($287,500) Courtesy of Auctions America
The British 72-ton FV214 "Conqueror" Heavy Tank was built in 1952 to counteract the Soviet IS-3 Stalin heavy tank. Equipped with a 120-mm L1 Riffled Cannon, the commander could acquire and range a target independently of his gunner, allowing for faster firing. ($287,500)
This M4A3(75) Sherman Medium Tank was built by Ford in October 1942. None of the 1,690 units built by the company were deployed overseas initially, but they ended up seeing action as replacements following heavy losses after the Battle of the Bulge. ($299,000) Courtesy of Auctions America
This M4A3(75) Sherman Medium Tank was built by Ford in October 1942. None of the 1,690 units built by the company were deployed overseas initially, but they ended up seeing action as replacements following heavy losses after the Battle of the Bulge. ($299,000)
The American M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage Anti-Aircraft Half-Track carried the M45 turret with four .50-cal heavy machine guns. While mainly designed as an anti-aircraft weapon, it was highly effective against ground targets and were very popular in the Korean War. ($201,250) Courtesy of Auctions America
The American M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage Anti-Aircraft Half-Track carried the M45 turret with four .50-cal heavy machine guns. While mainly designed as an anti-aircraft weapon, it was highly effective against ground targets and was very popular in the Korean War. ($201,250)
Some military buffs like touring old battlefields, reading Stephen Ambrose or David McCullough, or just watching Patton on repeat. Jacques Littlefield, on the other hand, collected tanks. And this weekend, much of his arsenal was put up for auction, giving wealthy buyers the rare opportunity to take home a Sherman tank, an anti-aircraft half-track from World War II, or a restored Howitzer.
Littlefield, a multimillionaire and lifelong lover of military history, spent 30 years building his collection, starting with an M3A1 Scout Car and eventually adding tanks, armored cars, self-propelled artillery, and other machines. He founded the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation to house the roughly 200 vehicles, dating from World War I to the Gulf War, and share them with the world.
Following Littlefield’s death at the age of 59 in 2009, his collection, which covered various military artifacts as well as vehicles, was transferred to the Collings Foundation, a non-profit educational and military history foundation based in Stow, Massachusetts. The remaining items, including 108 vehicles, were sold by Auctions America this weekend in Portola Valley, California. The more than $10 million in proceeds are going to the foundation, which is planning to build a new 64,000 square foot facility that will house 80 of the vehicles for public display.
The one-of-a-kind Littlefield Collection made for one of the largest and most diverse sale of military vehicles ever staged. Amy Christie, spokesperson for Auctions America, said it was “truly unprecedented” with “numerous, spirited bidding contests throughout the day.”
One of the highlights was an extremely rare German 8-ton half-track Sd.Kfz. 7 sold for more than $1.2 million. Built in 1942, the 12-man crew transport, one of 12,187 built by German manufacturers, was used to tow medium-sized artillery while transporting 11 gun-crew members and ammunition.
Another was the Soviet 8K11 surface-to-surface missile—better known in the West as the SCUD-A—that sold for $345,000. Capable of moving at 23-mph thanks to a 520-horsepower V12 diesel, the 6-man, 42-ton SCUD truck was a mobile missile platform loosely descended from the German V-2. It was capable of carrying a short-range ballistic missile with a 1,500-pound nuclear warhead that could be launched as far as 93 miles. It is no longer capable of firing, of course.
Not everything was sold: A few listings are still up for bid because reserve pricing has not been met yet. If you’re interested in a Panzerkampfwagen IV tank that was built in 1944 and bought by Syria in the 1950s, check it out. The tank was captured by Israel during the Six Day War in 1967 and was used for training by the Israeli Army before being sent to the Israeli Armor Museum and obtained by Mr. Littlefield in 2003. It currently has a high bid of $1.75 million.
Check out the gallery above for photos and details about the most impressive Littlefield items that are now in private hands.
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