M5A1 Half-Track “Żółkiew”

The International Harvester M5A1 was one of the finest half-tracks produced during the Second World War. Standardized in 1942, it quickly gained a reputation for superior engineering, durability, and driver-friendly handling. Its welded rolled-steel armor, flat fenders, smooth hull lines, and rounded rear corners distinguished it from the earlier M3 series, while its agility and reliability made it a favorite among Allied crews.

This particular half-track, Serial 1565-ORD-12320, was delivered on February 12, 1943. Originally assigned the US registration USA 4030308, it never entered American service. Instead, it was provided directly to the Polish Armed Forces in exile, where it was later upgraded to M5A1 configuration. Its military career, untouched by civilian conversion or misuse, has left it as an exceptionally authentic survivor of wartime Polish service.

The vehicle was discovered by Ivo Rigter Sr. in the late 1990s on a French scrapyard, still in military configuration and remarkably unaltered. Though the rear armor was missing and the vehicle no longer ran, its structure remained strong and its originality outstanding. After years of negotiation, BAIV acquired the half-track in early 2014 with the goal of executing a full Class-A concourse restoration.

From January 4 to February 26, 2021, BAIV’s restoration team completed a meticulous ground-up rebuild. Every component: the drivetrain, engine, suspension, steering assemblies, brakes, winch system, and electrics, was overhauled to factory specifications. Missing armor was reconstructed precisely according to IHC’s 1943 production drawings. New tracks and sprockets were installed, while preserved original parts were restored rather than replaced whenever possible.

The half-track received a professional coating system in the correct Polish Army 1944 color tone, along with a full new canvas set and complete WWII-accurate markings. It now carries the historically correct identification Z5589565 “Żółkiew”, representing an officer of the 1st Battery, 1st Motorized Artillery Regiment of the renowned 1st Polish Armoured Division under General Stanisław Maczek.

With 98 out of 100 concourse points, the M5A1 “Żółkiew” is today one of the finest restored examples in the world.
Fully documented, test-run, and museum-ready, it stands as a flawless representation of Allied Armored mobility and of the Polish contribution to victory in Europe.