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Need to pick someone's brain: Forlorn rotting M275/M48?

71DeuceAK

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Long story...

So last fall while walking/jogging around exploring some unpaved dead-end back roads outside Fairbanks (more like Ester) I spotted a M275 (or maybe it's an M48) sitting in a yard full of old semi's, trailers, dead pickups, and the like. I thought "That'd be an interesting one to try to save and restore" but then I frankly forgot about it completely about it for like six months. Now that the school year is winding down and the weather is warming up (It was 55F in Fairbanks today, yay!) I've been back outside on weekends going for a run/walk. I remembered seeing it and walked far enough down the muddy dirt road to see that it was indeed still there but somehow something peaked my interest. I'd been meaning to return and try to get pictures and finally managed to do so. Talked to two guys there, but didn't really talk about the truck and I also didn't want to sound naggy, you know the deal. Hence I also didn't get any decent pictures of it so somebody could tell me what it even is I was looking at.

Anyway, long story short, just HOW rare are the Deuce tractors? This one is in pretty rough shape, but is it worth trying to save? I frankly have no interest in a tractor variant in general, much less a Deuce (I'm an M939 series 5 ton person instead, they're what my love for MVs is all about) but would it be worth trying to save? I lack the tools, knowledge, space, and money to completely bring one back like this, even to just-roadworthy condition, much less restored, so I'd probably sell it at cost to another military vehicle hobbyist who would have intentions of restoring it and bringing it back. (Granted it's also in Alaska so if anyone ever wanted to acquire it from me they'd have to either fly up and drive/tow it back or ship it, which could get quite expensive quite quickly to say the least).


Anyhow, anybody care to chime in and tell me more about these and if it's 'Really' worth trying to maybe save? I doubt it's going anywhere anytime soon, it's not like every vehicle on the lot is getting hauled off and crushed on Monday, LOL.
 

71DeuceAK

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Fairbanks, Alaska
Edit/update: I also looked on Google Streetview, which around my area hasn't been updated since July, 2011 (and is thus actually helpful for seeing what usto be in a given place 6 years ago or even 10 years ago if I scale it back to 2007) and it wasn't there yet. So it either drove there or was towed there sometime between July 2011 and October 2016...
 

gimpyrobb

dumpsterlandingfromorbit!
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Not really that valuable. Someone might want one for a collection, but they are hard to find. If its in rough shape and you want a 939, forget about it.
 

Recovry4x4

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If you seek one they are expensive. If you're trying to sell one, they bring a pittance. The M48 is rare as hens teeth. hndrsnj has the only M48 I've ever seen. Does it have a spare tire carrier on the porch?
 

SETOYOTA

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Very hard to tell but it looks like it has the 5 ton intake on the right hand side. Maybe a m52?
 

SETOYOTA

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Yes m52s are more common but not like thry use to be. Either way that truck is worth getting. Convoy lights, hard cab. Etc. see if you can get a better pic to help identify. If it's a m48 that would really be something. I have never seen one in person.
 

71DeuceAK

Well-known member
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Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
Alright, might be a few months but will try to get a better photo; if I could score it for 500 bucks I just might. Like I said it'd be mainly to sell at cost to someone else.
 

71DeuceAK

Well-known member
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Location
Fairbanks, Alaska
I did talk to the guy at the time and learned apparently it has a Ford engine and transmission in it, thoughts? Kinda ruins the stock appeal but does that make it anything unique?
 

dependable

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As a collector, it would ruin it. If for a work truck, it would depend on what motor and tranny were in it, and if installed correct. If it has a Ford 7.8 and an Allison, for instance, it might be a great truck.

If it is a hack job, I'd leave it where it is.
 

MuleMac01

Military vehicle collector
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The 2 1/2 ton tractors are rare. M48 is the Rarest and very hard to find. The M275 truck tractors is rare and not hard hard to find. Now finding gasser truck tractors are rare. Most have been converted to mutifuel.
 

cattlerepairman

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I did talk to the guy at the time and learned apparently it has a Ford engine and transmission in it, thoughts? Kinda ruins the stock appeal but does that make it anything unique?
I would believe nothing until I saw the data plate on the dash and took a peek under the hood. People "know" a whole lot of things, some of them may even be right.
 

Katahdin

Active member
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Scarborough, ME
Go back and take some better pics! :D

I bought a M275A2 last month with original multifuel and spicer tranny....the seller told me it had a Detroit and an Allison!
 
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