Lot 1069

The Littlefield Collection

Humber Mk IV Armored Car

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$97,750 USD | Sold

United States | Portola Valley, California

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Identification No.
47082
Addendum: PLEASE NOTE: This lot is being sold on Bill of Sale only

Weight: 7-tons (6,350-kg)

Length: 15' 1” (4.57-m)

Width: 7' 3” (2.22-m)

Height: 7' 10” (2.38-m)

Crew: 3

Armor:

Hull front: .6” (15-mm)

Turret front: .6” (15-mm)

Weapons:

-Primary

37-mm Gun M6

-Secondary

1x 7.92-mm Besa machine gun

-Ammunition

69x 37-mm

x .30-cal

Engine: Rootes 6-cylinder, 90-hp

Power/weight: 12.9-hp/ton

Fuel Capacity: 30-USG (113-l)

Range: 200-miles (321-km)

Speed: 50-mph (80-km/h)

The armored car being offered, Humber Mk IV Armored Car, WD No. F117981, was built in 1942. It is an older restoration that was well done. It is still in very good condition inside and out. The engine runs well, idles nicely and restarts easily. It runs off of its own fuel tanks. The controls function normally. The tires are excellent. The turret components elevate and traverse manually.

The Humber Mk IV armored car became one of the standard armored cars for the British Army from 1943 until the end of the war. Built in four different versions, the earlier Mks I-III were all equipped with a 15-mm Besa heavy machine gun. This weapon was never entirely reliable and very prone to stoppages. The Mk IV replaced this weapon with the American built 37-mm M6 gun. The 37-mm M6 was a well-proven weapon having armed numerous American light and medium tanks along with armored cars. It provided the Humbers with a reliable weapon that packed a bigger punch than the 15-mm Besa. The replacement of the 15-mm Besa by the 37-mm M6 resulted in the crew being reduced from 4 in the earlier Mks to 3 in the Mk IV.

Production of the Humber Mk IV began sometime in late 1942 with the first vehicles entering service in 1943. Issued to Armored Car regiments in the British and Canadian armies in Europe, they were used until the end of the war. They were also issued to British and Indian recce units in the Far East who used them against the Japanese in Burma. A total of 2,000 Mk. IV's were built. Post-war users included Denmark and Portugal.

Please note, this lot is a registered Destructive Device. Bidders for this lot must meet certain qualifications; please review the BATFE guidelines posted at Aucitonsamerica.com/littlefieldDD.

Transport Cost to Storage: $924