We often bring attention to some of the more interesting listings found on Bring a Trailer's car bid site. BaT was recently acquired by Hearst Autos, so a large influx of cash could expand the site's offerings. But they and we will have a difficult time listing a more unusual vehicle than this. It will definitely require an enormous trailer to take home, a 1943 M4A1 Sherman tank for sale out of Los Angeles.
Those Are Not Michelin Tires
According to the listing, this tank was built at the tail end of World War II and is now for sale with replica and demilitarized armaments including a 75mm main gun, a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on the turret, and a .30-caliber machine gun on the forward hull. Of course, just the massive tracks add to the presence of the tank, which certainly stands out from BaT's typical lineup of vintage Porsches.
Power And Performance
This tank is powered by a 975ci Wright Whirlwind radial engine built by Continental, which allows for up to 40 inches of wading depth. The engine routes power to a front-mounted five-speed manual gearbox that serves as part of the front-ends armor and can be removed for repair.
Cramped Interior, But Refreshed
The M4A1's rugged construction, featuring a single-piece upper hull and an armor-plated lower hull, results in a cramped interior space for the crew of five operators. The interior and exterior were both recently refreshed, including the white paint seen above. While the seller states that this Sherman figures as one of fewer than 20 running examples around today, many commenters have pointed out that this could be a Canadian-built Grizzly, which could reduce the value. Nonetheless, bidding already sits at $250,000 with 11 days remaining until the final gavel.
Sources: bringatrailer.com and autoweek.com.