This Week on Hagerty Marketplace: A Half-Track, a Truck, and a T-bird
Welcome to This Week on Hagerty Marketplace, a recurring recap of the previous week’s most noteworthy cars and significant sales from the Hagerty Marketplace online auctions.
Hagerty Marketplace offers a variety of cars and trucks, so even though this week’s picks are all American classics, we’ve got three very different vehicles that would appeal to completely different buyers. Let’s take a peek at this week’s selections.
1943 Diamond T M3A1
Sold for $64,200
The M3 half-track was built by Autocar, White Motor Company, and Diamond T, and served in all theaters of WWII, seeing action in the Pacific, against Rommel in Africa, and all across Europe, even playing a role in Operation Overlord, the allied invasion that centered on D-Day. Initially designed to tow an artillery piece and haul its crew into battle, the robust machines were put into several other roles and served various military forces into the 1990s, highlighting the versatility and reliability of the platform.
This example is an M3A1, an improved model that featured a machine gun ring above the front right seat meant to mount a Browning M2. More roomy and practical than a Sherman (we have a flexible definition of “practical”), this half-track is a very cool part of WWII history and is seldom seen. It would be a fascinating collectible to own and would make the ultimate Veterans’ Day parade cruiser.
1955 Ford Thunderbird
Sold for $37,450
Ford’s first foray into sporty personal luxury cars was a home run, as the Y-block-powered Thunderbird found an audience immediately. The 1955 models were perhaps the most elegant, lacking the air vents that debuted on the ’56 or the larger fins of the ’57. The sporty, Italian-inspired exterior has never gone out of style and remains an instantly recognizable classic.
This formerly Torch Red model was restored and repainted Fiesta Red, a factory 1956 color, in 2016 and still looks great with only a few imperfections accrued since then. Its driving comfort and safety were also addressed during its restoration, and the drop-top now sports a 12-volt electrical system, front disc brakes, a modern aluminum radiator, and Vintage Air air conditioning. Its sale price is just shy of a #2 (excellent) value of $39,200, reflecting its recent restoration that is still holding up nicely.
1987 GMC Sierra R1500
Sold for $13,375
GMC’s “Square Body” pickups debuted in 1973 and lasted until 1987, with a major sheet metal refresh and a host of grille changes along the way. Under the skin, powertrains changed even more, as you can imagine for a vehicle that lasted more than a dozen years. With a totally new and sleek replacement coming in 1988, the 1987 models were not forgotten, as they received a slight bump in power and throttle body fuel injection (TBI) to give the last of the line a proper sendoff. The crude but reliable TBI system would last until the final iteration of the Gen 1 small-block, branded Vortec, launched in 1995.
While it may look like a well-preserved survivor, this Sierra has more than 100,000 miles and has been treated to a lot of TLC over its life to keep it looking and performing in top condition. It was repainted in 2019 and its interior was also refreshed. It’s also seen plenty of mechanical upkeep, with a solid record of tune-ups and repairs over the past several years. Its sale price is a bit above a #3 (Good) value and seems like a solid buy for a comfortable, dependable workhorse to keep handy.
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I don’t know that I’d lay out sixty-four grand just to drive in a Veteran’s Day Parade once a year. But I do think putting this half-track to work on the ranch might justify at least thinking about it vs. laying out that much or more on a new heavy-duty truck. That winch alone makes it look like a helluva stump-puller, plus it comes already outfited with Jerry Can and ax holder.
3 good choices here. I’d take them all but lean to the Tbird for my favorite.
I have always loved W.W.II half tracks. They are the coolest, badass looking machines! I have two models of them. I wish they were still in the Army when I was in the Army in ’63 to ’66. For awhile I was assigned a three quarter ton truck with my name plaque on it. I liked driving it, it had four on the floor like my ’60 Corvette at home and independent suspension, rode nice. I would have asked to have a half track assigned to me if they still had them then.
Half-tracks were phased out when better wheeled and fully tracked vehicles became available. More capable in some terrain than wheeled, but pretty complicated and not that great for over the road running. Dual axles with dual wheels works just as good in all but the most extreme cases and is much easier to maintain.
I actually rode in one in Germany 4/2 Armored Cavalry Regiment 1992 it was the only military vehicle left when the base went to desert storm it was the mascot vehicle in front of the motor pool never moved in years before that 6 volt batteries we drove in a snow storm and felt like a huge snowmobile.
The ’55 Thunderbird, still a beautiful car and still modern looking. Red or maroon is the only color on them for me. The first one I ever saw was red. I was watching Jeopardy on tv the other day. One of their questions was “What is the name of this car?” They showed a picture of the car. It was a ’55 Thunderbird and none of the three got it right! I couldn’t believe it! They must have no interest in classic cars. Me, I am a old car lover! Most of them!
I thought the porthole window wasn’t made available until 56. I prefer it without, although expected in a baby bird.Then again almost everyone puts the Continental kit on all these. Though fortunately not this one. Still I’d forgive anyone for bolting on a Paxton to a 292, correctness be damned.