Com-Central.net

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111194716247?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

described as an original Hetzer, or at least a vehicle restored to fit an original Hetzer. Any guess?

Pierre-Olivier

I'd have it in my garage!

This is a G-13, it has a StuK 40 gun, not a KwK 39. You can spot it since the first part of the gun barrel that's visible outside the gun shield has a conical profile. That's something that only StuK 40 guns have.

The claim that Swiss variants all have diesel is totally wrong. They all shipped with Praga gasoline engines. Later on many, but not all of them,
were updated with Saurer diesels.

The German stamps on the hull, again, means nothing, if you look inside a G-13 you see plenty of Waffenampt markings (with the typical eagle), because they were mostly assembled out of parts that were manufactured during WW II.

Some time ago a guy contacted Walter, complaining we were claiming it was a G-13 and they pretend it was an original Hetzer. They became quite aggressive after my first email, so I stopped arguing with them, I felt no need to go into a debate.
Now I understand why they did, they want to claim it's an Hetzer, because that makes the tank more valuable on the market. It could even be that they are in good faith, yet, they are wrong.

Czech experts like Francev and Kliment published books on the subject that document Hetzers and G-13s in a very clear way (see titles published by MBI and/or Schiffer). Based on that and the knowledge I gained from Swiss sources and the many G-13s I have seen, I am absolutely sure this is not an Hetzer.

Massimo

This is indeed the same one Massimo !

An amazing price. I seem to remember that the Swiss government actually gave them away!

Hopefully, anyone serious about purchasing this AFV will do the research prior to making an offer.

Just noticed, different rear idlers on either side, 4 & 8 - hole variants.

- Massimo_Foti

The claim that Swiss variants all have diesel is totally wrong. They all shipped with Praga gasoline engines. Later on many, but not all of them, were updated with Saurer diesels.

Massimo is correct. Only about 2/3 of the 158 G-13 were converted from Petrol to Diesel engines. I've got lists where every converted tank is named with its M+ number. There are even Petrol G13 here in Swiss Museums/Collections.

- TimRoyall

An amazing price. I seem to remember that the Swiss government actually gave them away!

Yes, they were given for free (!) to Museums in the late 70ies...