Lot 1114

The Littlefield Collection

M62 5-ton Medium Wrecker Truck

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$2,875 USD | Sold

United States | Portola Valley, California

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Addendum: PLEASE NOTE: This lot is being sold on Bill of Sale only

Weight (gross): 22.6-tons (20,559-kg)

Length: 29' 0” (8.83-m)

Width: 8' 1” (2.46-m)

Height: 10' 7” (3.22-m)

Crew: 2-3

Armor:

None

Weapons:

None

Ammunition:

None

Engine: Continental R6602, 6-cylinder, gasoline, 224-hp

Power/weight: 9.9-hp/ton

Fuel Capacity: 78-USG (295-l)

Range: 200-miles (321-km)

Speed: 52-mph (83-km/h)

The truck being offered, M62 5-ton Medium Wrecker Truck, serial number 4874, was built by International Harvester Corp. and delivered on December 1, 1952. It is in original and unrestored condition. It is currently painted in olive drab. The exterior paint needs to be restored. This M62 is the soft-top version and is missing the driver's canvas cover. It currently does not run. The front winch has cable, but its operational status is unknown. All front lights are intact, but functionality is not known. The left taillight cover is broken, but bulbs are present. The hydraulic crane has cable and a hook. However, it is not know if the system functions. All tires are serviceable. The driver's instrument panel appears complete. Some switches or lights on the dashboard appear to be missing. All windows and doors function normally. The front passenger seat cushion needs to be replaced.

The M62 5-ton medium wreck truck belongs to the M39 series of 5-ton trucks that first went into production in 1951. Designed as a replacement for the wartime Diamond T 969 and Ward La France M1 wreckers, the prototype XM62 was completed in 1951. It was quickly accepted into service as the M62 and continued in production until 1957.

The M62 had a 179-inch wheelbase. Mounted on the rear of the chassis was a hydraulic crane and winch assembly. Austin Western produced the crane on the M62. The M62 had a 45,000-lb capacity rear recovery winch. In addition to the rear winch, a front-mounted, 20,000-lb capacity self-recovery winch is also mounted. Both the front and rear winches were mechanically driven by power take-offs from the truck's engine. The hydraulically-powered crane could be extended out from 10- to 18-ft and could lift loads up to 20,000-lbs. A similar truck, the M543, was identical to the M62 except that it used a Gar Wood produced crane instead of the Austin Western.

The M62 was used by the U.S. military well into the 1980s and was eventually replaced by the M816 5-ton wrecker truck.

Transport Cost to Storage: $2,640