My son and I went to a WWII re-enacting event near Peoria, Illinois today. Neat stuff, especially this honest to goodness Hetzer!

I talked to the gentleman who owned it and he said he bought it from someone in Europe (he didn't say for how much!). It was formerly used by the Swiss Army and is pretty much stock except for the engine, which is a modern diesel engine. I could not believe how quiet this thing was! According to the owner, the current engine is about as loud as the original.





There was also an M-7 Preist in attendance, plus nuerous Jeeps, trucks and motorcycles.





I have more pics and videos on my iPhone, but the battery died and the charging cable's at work. So, more to follow tomorrow!

They are really great

Awesome!

Particularly like the Hetzer, crumpled track-guards and all. So good to see a military vehicle which, despite its value, hasn't been grossly over-restored.

Thanks for sharing the pics.
Wingco.

While stationed in Germany, one of my wife's friends was from Coburg and married to a tanker. They lived right across the front yard from us. Her grandfather was a Hetzer crewman during the war, and she had a few photos which he described to me during a family get-together. I wish he could have seen this. It's wonderful that these machines are still operable.

Btw, is that truck in the background (1st photo) an Opel Blitz?

Thanks for posting Jim.

Some more pics from the local paper.

http://blogs.pjstar.com/eye/2012/06/03/world-war-ii-comes-to-simulated-life-at-sommer-park/