Renault FT-17, M1917 six ton tank

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by jdmcm

Ok all you Tank hunters, time to start searching the memory banks and scrapbooks and old war stories...we had just about 240 of these M1917 Six ton tanks here in Canada in the 1940's, there must be a few rusting hulks, parts or pieces left kicking around the farms, scrapyards and backyards of this huge country, and I need your help finding them! Somehow I need to add another tank to the pile of projects and I have been bitten by the WW1 bug and I am on a worldwide hunt for one of these amazing little beasts, or parts, or reproduction parts, or drawings, or piles of 97 year old scrap metal...Anything helps! So please my fellow collectors and tank hunters around the globe try to recall the M1917 tank behind the barn, buried under the brambles and scrub of our great country and beyond! As always every lead helps and is greatly appreciated! And yes Hayes Otoupalik was my first call!

Thank You!
John

There were a number of these ex-Borden Renaults kicking around Ontario. I've seen at least two but that dates back to the 1980's. At least one went to a museum in the USA. Many did go to civilian users even during the war. There was a shortage of construction equipment and these were sold and converted into bulldozers (neither of the two I saw had turrets for this reason). Another 'Canadian' feature is that there are rectangular holes cut out of the track so they would have some traction in the snow.

I haven't heard even a rumor of any still being out there but at least I can confirm they were, so who knows?

[rob love]

One of the early OMVA CMP magazines has the story behind the recovery and shipment of three of them from Ontario to the US (I think it was Montana) back in the 80s IIRC. Two were from farmyards, and one was found languishing on the range in Borden. Seems to me it was Hayes Optoupalik who did the project.

http://www.hayesotoupalik.com/

[David DeWeese]

Hi,

Brent Mullins in College Station, Texas has an unrestored one that is missing some items....

http://mullinsjeepparts.com/gallery/...hicles/page/2/

Thanks, David