Houffalize Panther from 116 PzDiv will be completely overhauled

[Dufleuve]

Hello,

Neither the Museum or the town of Houffalize have the money to do a complete restoration.
Even a simple facelift will be costly. Look at pictures: suspension arms missing, roadwheels missing, all torsion bars to replace, etc...

Well, the best they could do with limited means is add a "car port" over it when it is back in place..

Cheers

[sdkfz181]

Some movies i found on this subject

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMQix2p-fio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbqrpCpAhfU

[ENGLISH BOB]

Hello,

Neither the Museum or the town of Houffalize have the money to do a complete restoration.
Even a simple facelift will be costly. Look at pictures: suspension arms missing, roadwheels missing, all torsion bars to replace, etc...

Well, the best they could do with limited means is add a "car port" over it when it is back in place..

Cheers

I would ask for donations from the local towns people,if they want to keep it they should help to restore it,if not sell the Panther to someone who will spend the necessary funds to do a full restoration....If Jon Phillips can rebuild a stugIII from a box of bits and pieces and get it running then surely a team of Belgian Military personnel could do wonders with this tank....Its not difficult just start by asking for help( get a Panther resto page set up on Facebook) you'd be surprised how much help would be forth coming....Remember this is not just any tank this is a Wehrmacht Panther Tank
Good Luck!
Bob

[kd14]

Are they going to restart it ?

[JanC]

Are they going to restart it ?

No it won't be restored in driving condition unfortunately

[kd14]

That's pity but, in an other hand, leaving it outside fully restored might be dangerous ... thiefs

[Lloyds]

That's pity but, in an other hand, leaving it outside fully restored might be dangerous ... thiefs

I know but stealing a 44 ton tank from a town center is a bit of a problem

[earlymb]

I know but stealing a 44 ton tank from a town center is a bit of a problem

Hold my beer...



I think it's more about all the correct bolt-on bits that have a tendency to grow legs and run off.

[Alan Smith]

I seem to recall that, several years ago, the original muzzle break was stolen off of a privately-owned Panther that had been brought out for a public display in England? In fact, I think the Panther was on display at the "War and Peace Show".

[ENGLISH BOB]

I seem to recall that, several years ago, the original muzzle break was stolen off of a privately-owned Panther that had been brought out for a public display in England? In fact, I think the Panther was on display at the "War and Peace Show".

You are correct the muzzle brake belonged to Kevin Wheatcroft and had been added to the Cadman Brothers Panther for the duration on the show and some tosser stole it. I think the year was 2007 .

Bob

[ENGLISH BOB]

Any updates?,I would like to see some new pictures of how things are progressing

Thanks

Bob

[ENGLISH BOB]

I've just seen on FB that they've removed the Maybach engine from the hull...now if this only going to be a static display, sell the Engine and use the money for a more in depth refurbishment of the Panther,makes sense maybe even to running condition with a diesel engine fitted like that other Panther in Germany...
Your Thoughts please guys.......

Bob

[johann mor]

Pure sacrilege, if they have an original engine then they should use it. If cost is a real issue, renovate the tank then get the engine rebuilt later on when finances allow. Selling it shouldn't even be an option.

Jon

[me6_130]

Pure sacrilege, if they have an original engine then they should use it. If cost is a real issue, renovate the tank then get the engine rebuilt later on when finances allow. Selling it shouldn't even be an option.

Jon

I agree. If they don't have enough money to fix it all, first they should preserve it and prevent any further deterioration. In the future they might get enough money to complete it. What I hate is leaving these vehicles out in the open sky, letting them rot and losing many minor parts that just rust away!


Carles

[ENGLISH BOB]

Pure sacrilege, if they have an original engine then they should use it. If cost is a real issue, renovate the tank then get the engine rebuilt later on when finances allow. Selling it shouldn't even be an option.

Jon

I agree Jon,but your dealing with a Town who just see it as a monument and not in the way us like minded individuals do here on this forum where it would be restored to running condition in a heart beat....Sell the Engine generate maximum revenue and spend it and go that extra mile on the restoration inside and out...oh and build some sort of cover for it..thats a must have...

Personally i'm amazed that these tanks have lasted as long as they have,must be down to the quality of the Krupp steel they used....one has to be thankful that they weren't built at Longbridge during the 1970's in which case the only thing needed would be a large dust pan and brush..

Bob