Auction: Melbourne Tank Museum

[zemsi]

... what a shame that the whole collection is going to be sold. I hope the treasures will remain in Aussie. Although this WW2 Ward-la-France was a former Swiss Army one, it still has all his German/French tags. How did he get to manage this truck half around the world?

I was luckily enough to visit John's Museum last year with my personal tour guide Keefy! Find at my best shots at wheelsandtracks.com

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Holy crap, that's a lot of stuff.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Just had a request from elsewhere whether anyone in attendance can get the serial number of the AC1 for the record. The chap has seen that particular example before but neglected to record the information; he can tell you where to look if necessary.

Thanks,

Geoff

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Just had a request from elsewhere whether anyone in attendance can get the serial number of the AC1 for the record. The chap has seen that particular example before but neglected to record the information; he can tell you where to look if necessary.

Thanks,

Geoff

BTW, the chappie is in Tasmania.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Just had a request from elsewhere whether anyone in attendance can get the serial number of the AC1 for the record. The chap has seen that particular example before but neglected to record the information; he can tell you where to look if necessary.

Thanks,

Geoff

I'll have a bo-peep next week.

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Thanks, Keefy.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Age: Tank lover ends a 50-year affair

Tank lover ends a 50-year affair
By Sasha Shtargot
October 24, 2005

A LITTLE toy tank was the beginning of John Belfield's lifetime obsession.

"I blame my mum for it all. When I was six she bought me that tank, so I was indoctrinated then," he says, smiling.

As a child growing up during World War II, Mr Belfield listened with fascination to talk about soldiers and battles. On his way to school he passed the air-raid trenches dug along St Kilda Road near the Victoria Barracks.

A ride in an army Bren gun carrier when he was nine cemented his passion for military vehicles and memorabilia.

Mr Belfield, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Pat, have for 12 years run Australia's largest private army museum, the Melbourne Tank Museum, from their eight-hectare property at Narre Warren.

It is a labour of love that began 50 years ago when they picked up and restored a small military truck after visiting an army disposals depot.

Now the couple, both in their 70s and in poor health, want to sell their collection of 25 historical tanks and assorted military vehicles, artillery guns and other memorabilia.

Among their prized possessions are an M3 Stuart Tank, which saw service at the World War II battle of Buna in New Guinea, an English-made Matilda tank, which was also used by Australia in New Guinea, and a Saracen armoured personnel carrier.

Neither the Federal Government nor any state governments contacted by the Belfields has shown interest in buying the museum and they fear breaking up the $1.1 million collection and selling each item individually.

"We want a new permanent home for the museum, for someone to buy it as a complete collection," Mr Belfield said.

"What we have here is part of our national heritage, our military history, part of the Anzac tradition.

"If we have to auction the lot off, much of it could end up overseas."

Mr Belfield painstakingly restored each of the exhibits, spending years scouring scrap yards, farm yards and military surplus depots across the country.

After World War II, many tanks and other military vehicles were sold cheaply to farmers and used as tractors and bulldozers.

"A lot of what we found was rusty and smashed and we'd repair it," Mr Belfield said.

MUSEUM HIGHLIGHTS
- M3 Stuart tank
- Vietnam War Centurion battle tank
- General Grant tank
- Matilda tank
- Sentinel cruiser tank
- World War II radar van
- Centurion armoured recovery vehicle
- White half-track armoured vehicle
- Saracen armoured personnel carrier
- Military mobile kitchen

[Keith Webb]

I went there yesterday...



Unrestored Morris



Here is one of several pages of images.

[Keith Webb]

The second page has some nice things such as the Welbike.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
I went there yesterday...

Unrestored Morris

Keith,

Morris looks like a C4 15cwt, not a PU.

The brush bar supports on a C4 are two piece on each side and CS8 has one piece with holes punched in them.

Richard

[Keith Webb]

Thanks, Richard

As you can see, I'm no expert with the Morris. I'll amend the page.

Thanks.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
As you can see, I'm no expert with the Morris.

Keith,

and I am no expert on CMP's

I look on your website for guidance

[Keith Webb]

Just uploaded another couple of pages of pictures I took at the Melbourne Tank Museum.



Here's page 4...

[gjamo]

Anyone know what is happening with Johns extensive range of unrestored stuff?

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by gjamo
Anyone know what is happening with Johns extensive range of unrestored stuff?

He's hanging on to it, and also not selling many of the vehicles he's restored in the past 10 years or so, such as the LP4 armoured car , Marmon Herrington gun tractor, Linn Catruck etc.

The exception I can think of is the Jeep he acquired at Col Anderson's auction.

Having said all that, he has sold a number of things from the yard in the past few years.

[alan coulson]

I believe he is selling these vehicles to make it possible to restore other vehicles to refill the museum,some new attractions etc!

[Keith Webb]

The sale today saw some amazing prices paid... here are a couple of stand-outs:

The Ferret which had an expected range from $8k to $10k made.... wait for it...$40k!!!

And the M20 BSA bike which was expected to make between $2k and $4k made... $18k!

More results soon...

[zemsi]

Keith, any pics of the amazing buyer crowds? What did YOU buy? Have you already informed your wife ;-)

cu
Chris

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Keith Webb

The Ferret which had an expected range from $8k to $10k made.... wait for it...$40k!!!

And the M20 BSA bike which was expected to make between $2k and $4k made... $18k!

Keith,

Sounds like the value of MV's is rising in Australia, with conversion to £ Sterling, these examples are well above what market prices are in UK. If an M20 is worth that much, I may think of shipping one over for Corowa next year, then selling it there

Will be interested to hear prices of the armour and where it is going to.

Richard

[Keith Webb]

These prices are in $A and exclude a buyer's premium of 13%. This is only a selection of the lots sold.

Centurion MBT made $34k
LVT4 Buffalo - $32k
Matilda Frog (the one inside) $20k
M3A1 Stuart $40k
M2 Halftrack $24k
M3A1 White Scout car $21k
T17#1 Staghound $54k (and it was missing an engine)
The very rough GPA minus engine made $12k
Australian Dingo $13k
LP2A Carrier $19k
Ford Lynx $27k (against an estimate of $8 to 10k)

More soon...

[Keith Webb]

Who me?

No, I don't have that sort of money! Also I made a decision not to bid, as I'm making a documentary about the sale process and I felt this might compromise it.

[Keith Webb]

Here's just part of the crowd... the place was packed, and it was cold and wet outside.

[Keith Webb]

AC-1 Sentinel $55k
AC-3 "Thunderbolt" $22.5k
US6 Studebaker $5k
Mk3 ACCO $5k
Austin Champ $4.5k
3.7" Mk2 AA gun $30k
No.27 Limber $7k
25 pounder $11k
6 pounder AT gun $17k
2 pounder AT carrier (unrestored) $6.5k
Guy Quad Ant (unrestored and rough) $4k
Dodge Weapons Carrier (unrestored) $3k
Fordson Tractor (unrestored) $1k
Australian experimental light tank (unrestored) $5.5k
Diamond T 980 $5k
F30 Ambulance (unrestored) $2k
Humber 1-ton (unrestored) $3250
Morris Commercial (unrestored) $5.5k
Burma Dodge (unrestored, missing engine) $2k
Cletrack high speed airfield tractor (unrestored) $2,250
Topaz OT62B (unrestored but a runner) $12k
Ceremonial 25 pounder $4.5k
Standard Tilly $4k
MB Jeep (unrestored, but repainted in house paint) $12k
C60X Workshop No4 (unrestored) $6k
F60S with Holmes wrecker (unoriginal) (unrestored, but repainted) $9k
Outside of note:
The Valentine made $26k
M113 A1 (with Vietnam mine damage, unrestored) $17k
Matilda Frog $45k
The very rusty DUKW made $4k

[Tony Smith]

I bought a catalogue! Seems a bargain at $20.

[alan coulson]

You got ripped!! i only paid $15..^_^..

[Richard Farrant]

From the auctioneers website, there is a complete list of prices attained. It looks like the total comes to over 1.4 million Aussie dollars !

Richard

[Hanno Spoelstra]

From the auctioneers website:

Spectacular Results as Over 1000 people attend the Auction of The Melbourne Tank Museum
21 April 2006


On the eve of Anzac Day, a 50 year old military museum has been dispersed at auction outside Melbourne with spectacular results. Over 1000 people turned up for the auction of the Melbourne Tank Museum - a life long collection of military tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and anti aircraft guns, compiled by an ex-serviceman, John Belfield. They came from far and wide with their trucks and trailers hoping to take back a piece of the museum. Bonhams & Goodman had hired 15 mobile telephones to cope with the unprecedented phone bidding from interstate and overseas.

"It was an extraordinary auction. Although we had little idea of how to value the tanks as they so rarely come to auction, the result was more than double our expectations, "said Bonhams & Goodman Chief Executive, Tim Goodman.

Private collectors and dealers traveled from England, the Netherlands and the USA to attend the auction which grossed AU$1.47M including buyer's premium of 13.5%. Highlights included Lot 49, an M3 A1 Stuart Light Tank which made $45,000 to the UK trade. Lot 56, a Staghound Heavy Armoured Personnel Car, fetched $62,000 - an incredible price in that it is missing its engine and had pre-sale estimates of $15,000 - 20,000. Lot 61, a lightweight folding Wellbike Motorcycle sold for $6,200 and will remain in Australia. Lot 70, an Australian made Bren Gun Carrier made $21,500 which was an international price. Lot 144, a WW2 anti aircraft gun, at $34,000 was about 30% over the international expectation for that lot.

The wet, freezing cold weather on the outskirts of Melbourne failed to discourage the crowd. Hundreds stayed as the sun set and the light dimmed to bid on the final lots. John Belfield was delighted with the result and now plans to travel on a long trip overseas with his wife Pat as they enter into their retirement. At least four Australian museums and government departments attended the auction and acquired lots. It is unlikely that this event will ever be reproduced in Australia as it was one of the most unique military museums in the world. John Belfield had attempted to sell the museum in its entirety over the last 8 years without success.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Don't be too harsh on the prices guys, I counted at least 4 trucks that went for nearly reasonable$$ The jeep guys I was with were rubbing thir hands and busily recalculating their collections net worth. Besides its not every day an auctioneer nearly gets flattened by an irate bidder (wonder if he would have had to pay buyers premium on that)
Obviously most of us were outgunned by the big boys....

Richard.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Richard Coutts-Smith
Don't be too harsh on the prices guys, I counted at least 4 trucks that went for nearly reasonable$$ The jeep guys I was with were rubbing thir hands and busily recalculating their collections net worth. Besides its not every day an auctioneer nearly gets flattened by an irate bidder (wonder if he would have had to pay buyers premium on that)
Obviously most of us were outgunned by the big boys....

Hi Richard

Yes, I filmed that little episode - he was quite irate.

As for bargains, I thought the Dodge Weapons Carrier went quite cheaply; also the Jailbar 6X6 Marmon-Herrington.

[Phil Waterman]

When I see a bunch of military vehicle stuff go for prices higher than I'd pay, kind of shake my head and say well at least it’s not going for scrap.