At which point does a m51 no longer be a m51 Sherman?

[hummermark]

Hi was wondering the view of at what point a m51 becomes another model ie if the turret and gun  is changed to a 76mm is it then it should be called a a m4a1 76 hvss? (That's if it was a radial)

can it now be called for simplisty a m4 Sherman which after all it was before Israeli got hold of it and changed it from its war time guise.

i think it is excepted that the engine does not mater as I haven't  heard the m4 Sherman's that are now running the vt8-460 cummins being referred to as a super Sherman!.

i have also heard that a m51 should be restored to a m51 as that is what it is but I point out that is not what it is as it was changed in to that and going alone that line to restore to original should be how it left the production line?

 

 

[David Herbert]

I think that all your points are good and that it is very acceptable to restore any vehicle to as close as possible to how it was at some point in its history. The problem comes when making it into something that it never was, or even more so if making it into something that it could never have been because a key 'improvement' (to use a silly example - air bag suspension) had not been developed then. To restore a Sherman to exactly how it came out of the factory is very difficult now, regardless of your budget, because some parts are simply not available and re-manufacturing them not really practical, so a degree of compromise is almost inevitable. Wherever you draw the line will draw criticism, mostly from people who don't restore things themselves.

David

[Chrisg]

All depends on the owner and what is wanted 

Edited August 1, 2019 by Chrisg

[Chris Hall]

To me a Sherman is a Sherman. I couldn’t pick out the differences as I’m no expert. I’d just be happy to see one regardless of what it is or was.

[mcspool]

An owner can restore his Sherman anyway he likes.

But once the configuration changes, the designation should also change.

 

[ajmac]

My problem with M4A1 76mm HVSS being displayed as NW Europe theatre is that there is as yet no evidence that any reached Europe during WW2.

[Adrian Barrell]

They were in theatre, there is a well known pic of one on a Rogers trailer dated May 1945 and I seem to remember some more pics surfaced recently but no evidence, as far as I know of any being issued to units, let alone seeing action.