World's Largest Private Armor Collection

[Keith Heitmann]

Jacques Littlefield of Portola Valley, CA, owns what has been be called by the director of the Fort Knox Patton Museum of Cavalry "the premiere private collection in the world."

He likes tanks. In fact he own 66 of them that he has personally restored to mint operating condition. Not only that the 66 tanks are only part of his 220 armored vehicle collection.

Among his collection are a rare 1944 Panther that spent 40 years in a Polish bog, and a even rarer Panzer Mk IV. Other vehicles include, M3s, M4s, M551, M60, and Soviet T55 and T34/85 tanks. one of his more famous vehicles is the 12 ton halftrack from "The Dirty Dozen."

He restores each vehicle to it's authentic original state, even going so far as to replate the rivets on each tank. His 12,000 square foot workshop is loaded with spare parts of tanks of all kinds.

The collection is open to public viewing by appointment only and up to 3000-4000 people do just that.

Military Vehicle Technology Foundation

[PUFF88]

wow, i checked out the site, i emailed them and asked what was required to visit. I plan to visit within the next 18 months, hell maybe even next month since i have to take 2 weeks off cause we are changing vacation policies at work. thx for posting this.

[Keith Heitmann]

My wife handed me a local newspaper article about it and I did a little research with google and found the home website. Sure is impressive.

Wish I had the money to do something like that.

Shy of that I wish his museum was closer so I could make a visit myself.

[tanker]

Have you seen the museum in Hubbard, OH? This might be close to some of you, as it right south of I80 at the OH/PN border. Smaller than the CA Museum you mention, but great in it's own right. This indoor facility is full of beautifully restored USA WWII vehicles that are all in top notch running condition. In addition are displays of weapons, uniforms, and equipment that you can hardly believe. This facility is owned by a 4th Armored Division Veteran that is keeping history alive BIG TIME! $5.00 gets you a guided tour by very knowable volunteers, and get there early because there is SO MUCH to see. Address is:
5959 West Liberty Street
Hubbard, OH 44425
TEL [phone]
FAX [phone]

[PUFF88]

cool, thats good to know, i have a few friends who live near there. maybe if i ever visit them , ill get to go there to.

[Keith Heitmann]

Hmmm didn't know that. Even though it's "next door" in Ohio it's still too far for me. I'm afraid I don't travel much so anything would have to extremely close for me.

It's 377 miles from my house, too far for a day trip and back. It's practically in Pennsylvania in far NE Ohio approximately 10 miles or less from the state line just off I-80.

[PUFF88]

well if u find some supermall or something like that near it, the wife might let u go for a weekend, drop her at shopping and take off to the museum. however it might be expensive. lol . but if u check some of the airlines lately ive seen tickedts for 50-80 bucks one way, so 2 way would not be much more. but most of the requirements are usually have u stay a couple day, then that adds hotel. but 377 miles is like 90 minutes in the air or less depending on things.

[Keith Heitmann]

Well, if we went, it would be in my Chevy Tahoe. I have problems with my knees due to injuries in high school and college football so I don't walk far or stand for too long. Airports would require both.

Of course that makes visiting places like these museums a questionable activity in itself. Long periods of walking and standing wreak their havoc on me later at night and I have to dope myself up on ibuprofen to kill the throbbing pain during the night so I can get some sleep.

I prefer to drive than fly. Airliners and me aren't built for each other. Seats are too small, no leg room (which is not good for my problematic knees), and it's just too much hassle.

I-80 runs right past my house, so I can hop on a mile or so away and it's a straight shot across Indiana and Ohio to the site. It would be a matter of finding the time since the wife works. It would have to be during the summer when school is out.

[PUFF88]

i dont care for airplane seats either, im larger than the average person. and my legs kill me on a flight longer than a hour, so i always ask for the emergency door seat. which has about a extra foot or two. i hve a friend who was in a bike wreck, he almost lost his leg, his knee is just destroyed, he has to take pretty strong medicine every day to function cause it constantly hurts, sometimes even with the meds its no good.

[Steiner]

I live about five miles from this place called 'Tankland', it's right near my roving archery range and skeet and trap club.
Here's a link to Tankland's home page:

members.aol.com/tankland/museum.htm#pictures

Tankland is not a real pretty place but for a few bucks they'll let you climb on some tanks and for few bucks more they might even take you for a ride if they got somethin' runnin'.

[Keith Heitmann]

Cool stuff. The closest I've been to a real tank are the war memorials in a couple of towns nearby....different variants of Shermans.

[oldjarhead]

Don't know whether it's still there, but there used to be an open-air museum of amtracks at Camp Pendleton, with machines from WW2 (US and Japanese) up through Vietnam. I used to take my kids to see it - my son always insisted on wearing my dog tags when we went. If you're going to be in north San Diego County it would be worth checking, if you can get a visitor's pass for the base.