Question for the armored vehicle guru's - Steel Soldiers::Military Vehicles Supersite

Djfreema · 12-04-2008, 23:45

I had a co worker call me today and tell me about an armored vehicle that is 6 wheel drive, has a chrysler engine in it and looks like the armored vehicle from the movie "The dirty dozen" only its bigger, thats the only info I have. Anybody have any idea of what might fit that profile? I wanted to do some research before heading down to look at it because the person that has it doesn't know or care what it is. Thanks in advance, Devin

Elwenil · 12-05-2008, 01:12

Nothing I can think of off the top of my head fits that description. Any idea what era it is from? Some of the Cadillac Gage vehicles had drivetrains based on Chrysler V8 engines but most of them that were larger than 4x4 models got a diesel of some sort. Same with Mowag vehicles, a few of them used Chrysler engines but nothing in a 6x6 or larger configuration. Might be some sort of a prototype that didn't make it into my books (yet) but if it's Mopar powered, I'm definitely interested in learning more about it. If you go check it out, please take a camera!

There are several vehicles that are Cummins powered, is it possible he might be thinking Dodge truck Cummins and making that sort of connection? I'll keep looking as some odd APC have been built that used Chrysler engines (quite a few in Europe) that I didn't read up on too carefully because of the odd chance one might have made it to the US in some form. The book that goes into the most detail is all text, and is not indexed for searching so it may take me a bit but I'll post up if I see anything related.

mikes47jeep · 12-05-2008, 01:15

it could possibly be a M8 greyhound

http://www.armyrecognition.com/europ...wn_2005_01.jpg

tractor · 12-05-2008, 01:17

or m20 is the only thing i can think of

Elwenil · 12-05-2008, 01:35

The M8 Greyhound was Ford powered and I'm not sure what the M20 is. The only M20 reference I have was a 12 ton British truck that pulled a M19 trailer for tank retrieval.

EDIT: Nevermind, my book has the M8 Greyhound listed but only mentions the M20 in passing since it was a "Utility" model without a turret and just a MG on a ring mount. Either way both models were built by Ford and are Ford powered.

Elwenil · 12-05-2008, 01:51

So far all I've found are several light armored 4x4 models from Israel, Belgium, Chile, South Africa as well as the before mentioned Mowag from Switzerland and a few tracked models from West Germany and the US. I would guess that either this is an experimental model that was either never adopted, or was repowered during evaluation to a more powerful engine an thus the information available lists the production engine, it was repowered after it's release from the military or the finder is mistaken in his identification of a Chrysler engine. There have been many models powered by GMC, Cadillac, Hercules, Ford and a few other US based engines that were built around the world but most are 4x4 models or very old 6x6 models that sometimes use dual engines.

Djfreema · 12-05-2008, 02:03

Thanks for the info. It is second hand from my co worker and I will be contacting the owner tomorrow to see about looking at it and will provide pics and details when I get them, hopefully I can go look at it tomorrow.

Elwenil · 12-05-2008, 02:16

Good deal. I know you will keep us posted. If possible, pics of the usual views will help us put a name to it. Usually the details of the front plate, light arrangement, side panel configuration, exhaust outlets, cooling vents, hatches and ports and the wheel type and spacing are the best ways to ID an APC since most are simply copies of other APCs or variations of a similar theme. If there is a Mopar (I am assuming big block) powered 6x6 APC out there, I'd love to learn as much about it as possible.

rmgill · 12-05-2008, 04:00

What is the age?

It COULD be a prototype from WWII OR a more recent test bed vehicle.

M813rc · 12-05-2008, 04:02