{"product_id":"wwii-diamond-t-980-981-ballast-tractor-original-hercules-engine","title":"WWII Diamond T 980\/981 Ballast Tractor - Original Hercules Engine","description":"\u003ch2 data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003eWWII Diamond T 980\/981 Ballast Tractor - Original Hercules Engine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"2\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-44\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-60 citation-end-60\"\u003eThe Diamond T 980 (later 981) stands as one of the most iconic heavy-duty prime movers of the Second World War.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"2\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"citation-59 citation-end-59\"\u003eDesigned at the request of the British Purchasing Commission to haul the heaviest tanks of the era, this 12-ton 6x4 ballast tractor was the muscle behind Allied armored logistics.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"3\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"citation-58 citation-end-58\"\u003eThis specific unit retains its original Hercules DFXE engine—a massive 14.7-litre straight-six diesel that was legendary for its low-end torque and reliability in the North African and European theatres.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"4\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Fitted with a heavy steel ballast box over the rear axles to ensure maximum traction, this vehicle is a pure-bred workhorse, engineered to pull gross combined weights of over 50 tonnes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"button multiple-button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citations from YouTube and Wikipedia. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-path-to-node=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003eMechanical \u0026amp; Technical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-45\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-57\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-57\"\u003eOriginal Hercules DFXE Engine:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-57 citation-end-57\"\u003e 895 cubic inch (14.7L) naturally aspirated inline-six diesel, producing 201 bhp at 1,600 rpm and a massive 685 ft-lb of torque.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"5\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Wikipedia. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-46\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-56\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-56\"\u003eComplex Driveline:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-56 citation-end-56\"\u003e 4-speed Fuller main transmission paired with a 3-speed auxiliary gearbox, providing a total of 12 forward and 3 reverse speeds for precision low-speed hauling.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"6\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Univem Paris. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-47\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-55\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-55\"\u003eBallast Configuration:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-55 citation-end-55\"\u003e Features the original short-style ballast body mounted behind the cab, designed to be loaded with concrete, iron, or stone to weight the drive axles.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"7\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Univem Paris. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-48\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,3,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eHeavy-Duty Winch:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-54 citation-end-54\"\u003e Equipped with a 40,000 lb (18-ton) Gar Wood winch mounted behind the cab, chain-driven from the auxiliary transmission for recovery and trailer loading.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"8\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Univem Paris. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-49\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-53\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,4,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-53\"\u003eBraking \u0026amp; Chassis:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-53 citation-end-53\"\u003e Bendix-Westinghouse air-operated drum brakes on all axles, built on a massive riveted ladder-frame chassis designed for zero-flex under extreme load.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"9\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Univem Paris. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5,5,0\" id=\"p-rc_177f6dbbead87995-50\"\u003e\u003cb data-path-to-node=\"5,5,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\"\u003eLow-Ratio Gearing:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-52 citation-end-52\"\u003e Geared specifically for power over speed, with a factory-restricted top speed of approximately 23 mph (37 km\/h), ensuring maximum tractive effort on steep inclines.\u003csup class=\"superscript\" data-turn-source-index=\"10\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"source-inline-chip-container ng-star-inserted\"\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"button ng-star-inserted\" aria-label=\"View source details for citation from Univem Paris. Opens side panel.\"\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\u003c!----\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr data-path-to-node=\"6\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"7\"\u003eRealistic Use Cases\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eThis Diamond T is an essential acquisition for serious historical vehicle collectors and WWII preservationists. Beyond its value as a museum-grade display piece, these tractors remain highly capable of towing period-correct armor or vintage heavy plant trailers at specialist shows like the War \u0026amp; Peace Revival. It is also an authentic candidate for film and TV productions requiring a \"Red Ball Express\" or British Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) heavy recovery vehicle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eCondition \u0026amp; Authenticity Note\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003eThis is a \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"10\"\u003egenuine WWII military surplus\u003c\/b\u003e heavy vehicle in used condition. Unlike many post-war conversions that were re-powered with Rolls-Royce or Cummins engines, this unit is highly significant for retaining its original \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"223\"\u003eHercules DFXE diesel power plant\u003c\/b\u003e. As an 80-year-old service-issue vehicle, it is sold with the patina and mechanical character of a wartime veteran. While the chassis and drivetrain are built to an industrial standard, buyers should expect the maintenance requirements of a vintage heavy-hauler. This is an authentic piece of \u003cb data-path-to-node=\"10\" data-index-in-node=\"549\"\u003earmy surplus UK\u003c\/b\u003e history, representing the absolute peak of 1940s heavy engineering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003eViewings by appointment only\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"surplus","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57086675255679,"sku":null,"price":19995.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0039\/4490\/6801\/files\/diamond-t-hercules-militarymart.jpg?v=1772830673","url":"https:\/\/www.militarymart.co.uk\/products\/wwii-diamond-t-980-981-ballast-tractor-original-hercules-engine","provider":"MilitaryMart","version":"1.0","type":"link"}