From: GOTAM35 (gotam35@sc.rr.com)
Date: Thu Jan 23 2003 - 18:33:24 PST
All this talk this past week about the difference between tanks, tank
destroyers and SPG's really got me wanting to bond with a big piece of
Armour.
So here's the deal. I have been looking for a Sherman tank in the, say,
$1000 range. Of course I haven't found one and future prospects don't look
good. I did find a dozen Sextons at SECO (at least he had a dozen a few
months ago). I think at $5000 a pop they are about as reasonably priced
"tank like" vehicles a person is likely to find. I can't afford even that
much on a project vehicle, but maybe some out there in List ville can.
I have no professional attachment to SECO but I would like to try and
promote there Sextons and M75 APC's for all to consider. I am also offering
a hand to anyone that would purchase such a vehicle for the sole purpose of
getting to be a part of such a restoration project. For anyone in the
central South Carolina area, I could make myself and some of the equipment
"the Family" has available to assist in removing and repairing most things
on a 25 ton vehicle. Unfortunately I don't have a way to haul more than 20
tons. The truck and trailer my brother uses can move a M75, but not the
Sexton. I have at my disposal a portable air compressor with 1/2" to 1"
drive guns for easy removal of most things as well as portable welding and
of course a backhoe for removing things like 9 cylinder radial engines.
As for SECO's fine products you can check their web site,
www.secoaugusta.com for pictures of the stuff. For anyone that doesn't know
what a Sexton is, it's a 25 pounder gun mounted on a Canadian Ram tank
frame, I think. Here's a web page with lots of technical info on them:
http://www.wwiivehicles.com/html/canada/sexton.html . It's not a Sherman,
but for $5000 you can get WW2 "tank" that is complete and ready to be
restored. Don't get me wrong, it would be a money pit I'm sure. I have no
doubt some of the experts on this list will point that out.
My point: If you can't afford a toy, talk someone else into getting one and
hope he lets you play with it. If any one out there (central SC) is
thinking of getting a big heavy toy and is looking for a sucker to help work
on it, I'm you man.
In closing, I was talking with the budget and control board (wife) and I
actually got her to get some conditions for the purchase of just such a
vehicle. Maybe next year I will be getting one of these myself. Next:
talk the "family" into getting a low boy.
Joe Trapp
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