For Sale: 6×6 Ford Truck Designed as an Amphibious Military Prototype Around 1960
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Bring a Trailer has become the preferred site for car buyers looking to waste time, focusing on unique listings that are often overlooked by conventional auction platforms. Nowadays, the site frequently features overpriced Integras, supercars being resold, and everyday used cars from sellers aiming to maximize profits. However, it also occasionally presents some truly unique finds.
Even if you’re a military vehicle enthusiast, you might not have encountered this 3.5-ton Ford 6×6 cargo truck. This prototype, constructed around 1960, has spent much of the last fifty years undergoing restoration, making only rare appearances online as the current owner—who bought the truck in 2023 as a partially finished project—attempts to sell it.
Designated the XM434E2, this prototype was part of a discontinued development initiative for medium-duty trucks started in the late 1950s. The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps sought submissions for various trucks with different capabilities, with General Motors and REO reportedly presenting prototypes alongside Ford. Nonetheless, the program never progressed beyond the prototype phase.
According to the listing, the Army required features such as amphibious capability and the ability to be air-dropped. This truck includes a duplex-drive system that directs power to either the wheels or a rear-mounted propeller. It also features aluminum bodywork to minimize weight. Measuring 20 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 10 feet in height, with a 126-inch wheelbase, the truck is driven by a 534-cubic-inch diesel V8 that delivers 195 horsepower. It is paired with a six-speed manual transmission and a single-speed transfer case.
This truck is certainly impressive, but it is still very much a work in progress. The seller mentions that the newly overhauled fuel pump needs adjustment, the power steering and transfer case seals are leaking, and the driveshaft for the propeller is missing. There is also noticeable corrosion and a number of minor issues that need fixing, such as the inoperative windshield wipers. The tires on the truck in the photos appear to be cracked, although spare tires and other parts are included. However, the truck does come with a Wisconsin title and a VIN indicating it as a 1960 model, so it can be registered for road use.
Like many automakers, Ford established a significant military presence during World War II and sought to maintain this into the Cold War, as fears of the Soviet threat facilitated lucrative defense contracts. Ford proudly notes its production of the most Jeeps during WWII, as well as B-24 Liberator bombers. However, it appears that the XM434E2 did not continue that legacy. Nevertheless, Ford is currently striving to secure more military contracts with its latest pickups.
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For Sale: 6×6 Ford Truck Designed as an Amphibious Military Prototype Around 1960
The U.S. Army chose not to adopt this aluminum-bodied cargo truck, opting for more traditional designs instead. However, that doesn't imply you need to follow suit.