What am I looking at?

[6wdcummins83]

Found this up the street, asking $3500. One, what is it? Two: is it worth the $3500? I’m pretty knowledgeable on the 5 tons but pretty clueless on these smaller vehicles, but looking for a project that can fit in the garage... ha ha

 

[kb0sfp]

The data plate says it's an M274A1 which is a mule. But it sure does not look like one. It has Mule controls, and wheels. If it has a good motor in it(which is doubtful) I'd say maybe $2k at most.

 

[6wdcummins83]

The data plate says it's an M274A1 which is a mule. But it sure does not look like one. It has Mule controls, and wheels. If it has a good motor in it(which is doubtful) I'd say maybe $2k at most.

Yeah, it appears as if the original rivets on the data plate have been drilled out and it’s been placed there. Wife doesn’t have much info on it as it was her late husbands.

 

[joel]

Yeah, it appears as if the original rivets on the data plate have been drilled out and it’s been placed there. Wife doesn’t have much info on it as it was her late husbands.

I think it is a dukw boat from WW2.

 

[wreckerman893]

Could have been a prototype that some weapons monger was trying to peddle to the gooberment.

 

[major519]

The data plate says it's an M274A1 which is a mule. But it sure does not look like one. It has Mule controls, and wheels. If it has a good motor in it(which is doubtful) I'd say maybe $2k at most.

 

[major519]

It appears to be too well built to write it off as someone’s shade tree project. It could possibly be some sort of prototype design. As such it could be invaluable. A curiousity at best, it certainly warrants careful research and preservation. I would suggest value is dependent on what is actually there as far as mule parts should it turn out to be a worthless heap.

 

[M813rc]

Personally, I'd go for it! (Probably haggle a little on the price though)
Even if it is a 'homebuilt', it appears well executed and would make a great vehicle for displays.

Cheers

 

[Grummanflyer]

It surely says it's a military mule but the nameplate is about all that it has in common with a mule. May be some kind of prototype. It sure is cool looking. Wish it was closer to me. Looks to be pretty well made if it was a home built. You might have a real gem on your hands. I'll check around and see if anybody else in my mule community knows what it is.

GF

 

[SSGHillbilly]

It surely says it's a military mule but the nameplate is about all that it has in common with a mule. May be some kind of prototype. It sure is cool looking. Wish it was closer to me. Looks to be pretty well made if it was a home built. You might have a real gem on your hands. I'll check around and see if anybody else in my mule community knows what it is.

GF

The military had all kinds of crazy things in the past I never knew about . As I watch YouTube history videos I see more and more that are almost no longer in existence.

 

[SSGHillbilly]

The military had all kinds of crazy things in the past I never knew about . As I watch YouTube history videos I see more and more that are almost no longer in existence.

Then again could have been something from another government agency like fish & wildlife,,,ect.

 

[joel]

It surely says it's a military mule but the nameplate is about all that it has in common with a mule. May be some kind of prototype. It sure is cool looking. Wish it was closer to me. Looks to be pretty well made if it was a home built. You might have a real gem on your hands. I'll check around and see if anybody else in my mule community knows what it is.

 

[jhooah]

DUKW from WWII is 33' long, GPA amphibious Jeep looks nothing like this either. I think it's one of the experimental models that come up once in a while, I would gladly buy it if it were near me in Virginia and you had no interest.
V/R W Winget

Upon detailed examination of the photos, the following is seen: Some Mule components used, but it's NOT a mule. The organization that built it likely stripped a MULE for it's drivetrain, hence the serial number plate and the shifting pattern. The steering wheel looks to be off another Mil vehicle like an Ontos possibly. The starter casting on the engine is broken off. The elaborate 4 pipe stainless steel exhaust may have been conceived of for preventing a fire or such, but is really overkill. Parts inside the tub may or may not be useful or from this vehicle. My bet: prototype, developed for testing at Aberdeen, MD, used in swamps and such for years to go check out weapons effects or watch the bay banks for clearance prior to large artillery shots, etc. Not home built, many pocket compartments along the sides of the inside hull like a radio mount or fuel tank bracket setup. Even the add on mud chains on the wheels seem set up just for this rig. Windshield folds down (maybe) and it had a full enclosure, possible for winter testing, which may also be why the large exhaust might have been used as a hot air source into the cab.(that or it was a Hunters addition) Can't see how people would ride in it without decking, it may have not progressed enough before sinking once or getting held up in mud due to weight and being parked.
MD. Inspection ran out in 1984, you can bet that's around the last time it had real use, check the license plate on the windshield to see what your DMV states, but it would be registered as the mule dataplate VIN.
Neat experimental vehicle, there were a few amphibious MULE attempts, it's not a COOT (another articulated amphib) but looks like an interesting experiment, likely with bilge pumps, hence the round cutouts for access plates.
PS: Ice in the plastic bin means most of that stuff may be only good for patterns.
W. Winget

 

[mulman7]

The steering column appears to be Mule looking at the shaft which is a Mule inner shaft and splined bushing being Mule plus the top bearing retainer for the steering gear best I can see is Mule. In the image showing the shifting instruction plate you can see the swing arm that is on the Mule steering gear. The shifting assy appears to be Mule L/H and 1st-rev / 2nd-3rd shifters. The transmission is Mule and it has the external 2nd-3rd poppet plug and the small [starter] cutout found on the 4cyl M274s and A1s. You can see the rear bellcrank with the rear steering rod attached making it a 4 wheel steer. The engine bell housing is a 4cyl Mule and what can be seen of the engine it looks like an AO53 without the shrouding. Hard to identify due to the strap being 1st or 2nd series. The A1s had the 2nd series engines. The wheel hubs are mule 5 stud with non Mule hub caps. The wheels are split secured by bolts to aid in mounting possibly airplane tires 10 ply +. I would say a full Mule drivetrain and steering with the fabricated amphibious shell. Nicely done and required fancy fabrication to make water tight because the tie rod assy for steering must get to the outside through water tight access points. The engine rides too low for the bottom not to be water tight. the steering knuckles must be outside the watertight area to allow steering. My guess is the data plate M274-A1 accurately describes the drivetrain.

 

[ODFever]

I flipped through Fred W. Crismon's US Military Wheeled Vehicles. Unfortunately I was unable to locate a reference to this unique creature.

 

[kb0sfp]

I think it is a dukw boat from WW2.

You've oviously never seen a DUKW!

 

[conny]

Well, did someone buy it?

 

[snakeyes]

any updates on this

 

[fuzzytoaster]

It's something that identified as a mule at one point. It's not an XM274 (X meaning pre-contract production), and I've yet to see an X designated mule in the wild yet. For the price I'd haggle and see if there's flex room but would walk away from a home brew boat-buggy. No supporting docs, ho known history, skeptical if military, and frankly may be a huge basket case.

 

[Hummermark]

did you buy it ?