Tiger II Moving to Rétromobile Show

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Hello everyone,

yesterday, I posted an article with a couple of photos of the Tiger II exhibit of the Rétromobile show in Paris. But – it had to get there somehow – specifically, on a trailer – and then it went by its own force inside. Quite majestic!

 

64 thoughts on “Tiger II Moving to Rétromobile Show”

    • WoW, Im buying back my Tiger II today. Excellent video Interesting observation; I used to be a Bradley/ A2 version, driver. This was 20 yrs ago, but I remember having to have my RPMs much, much higher to make that first turn in the bldg. I wonder if they still have the Govenors in place and that’s them in action? Just WOW. Even driving, it was amazingly quiet to me and low revs. I expected that engine to be screaming and every movement some harsh jerk…….

      See the beautiful woman watching them park it in the long black coat? She knows sexy when she sees it, lol.

      Funny thing is, for all the crap the Germman heavy tanks get, the crews loved them and they amassed massive kill tallys. Makes you wonder who to believe, the operators, or the book writers?

      jon

      • Yeah, this is what I was telling myself during the whole video: “Keep the fucking RPM up, you muppet!” I think the idle RPM is set way too low, every time he was shifting gears the engine was dying.

        • I recently test drove a Ford Fusion 5-speed, first time driving a manual but wow, it died a lot. RPMs for idle were really low and I didn’t know you had to keep the engine rev’ed to keep it from stalling on you. Sometimes I wonder how these vehicles maneuvered in combat, seeing how the drive now and all.

  2. That engine could use a little love, it sounds like my grandfathers Ferguson TE-20. Still impressive to see it move after 70 years.
    Btw, look at how the asphalt getting abused just by it driving slowly in a straight line.

    • I went to saumur two years ago with my french clan, and what was surprising to us was the size of the Panther compared to the KT, they seemed almost as big.
      The T-54 seemed bigger also, (we compared). But it was before the T-54 got its size increased.

      Still the most impressive piece was the AMX50 120, or B (its almost the same tank). Huge size, the tank is a real monster. Too bad the Bat was hidden in the backyard, rusting.

      Go to Saumur someday, plenty of vehicules to see.

      • Yea, A WWII tank collection. Need ones that were in battle if you can find them. If not, don lie. We don’t want a Tank scandal later….lol. Ive been to the Imperial in London, but Samur would be very cool. Would love to see the Maus some day, and the 268. The Mortars and the Stug 33ib would be a real treat as well.

  10. It just is a beautiful thing to watch, what a tank. It’s not only the historical value, it really is such a nice tank, awesome yet good looking. Seeing it still move, gently and carefully, after 70 years makes it feel like some good-hearted giant character from a film…

    I am glad I have it in my virtual garage!!!

  12. just don’t forget, that this machines were build with one purpose — to serve the nazi germany. and everyone know what nazis did back then

    • All war machines are built for the purpose of killing people. Doesn’t matter for which country they were built. Doesn’t mean you cannot admire an excellent piece of engineering for what it’s worth. And the reason it’s kept in driving order is to never forget.

      • u’re completely wrong.
        tanks r a weapon, yes, but weapons not necessarily used nowadays for killin’ ppl and tanks rn’t an exclusion in that case. originally it was so, but for example, democracy as it was once at greece has barely connection with this of modern one.
        objects(or anything) often bring associative memories or meanings. swastika for an instance… it’s originally from india’s culture, but forbidden in many countries. why? ah-a. same with stronk tonks… it does matter who, when, why, what and for which country/ideology build the tank.

    • But WWII is long over. Who built it, what it was originally built for, and the reason it was built, they’re mostly irrelevant now. It sits in a museum and is something people learn things from, they learn about the war, some may want to learn about its mechanical aspect and want to look at the inside, some may want to admire its design, etc.
      It’s now a piece of history that sits in a museum(where it should be), it has already retired as a combat vehicle long long ago. To associate it to the Nazis, isn’t it a little cruel, even if its an inanimate object?
      Besides, not all german soldiers in WWII were nazis, and I’m sure the crew of this Tiger II weren’t nazis.

      • irrelevant?! ffs… that why it is relevant, to remember what it was and where.
        how the fuck old r u? u talk about things that can be disproved easily.
        the stains of shame won’t rub out of german ppl, irrespective of what u do or say. and yes, there’s lots of aspects at what was happenin’ back than, as milgram’s experiment and all kind of stuff, but yet, the fact is still there.

        btw: how about all of this dickheads who wish to poles folks to die in gas camps, huh? that’s wrong, right? why? based on ur opinion, it’s should be kinda ok.

  13. From the youtube comments:

    “thats not the first time that tiger has been in paris if you know what i mean ” :D

  14. when i see video of this beauty moving, I always have a strong want to see it go at full throttle

  15. Its sad to see they need to handle this tank like its made of egg shells. So scared of doing any damage, even to the paint job. 70 yrs ago they would of just drove it off the side. Would be cool to see a full crew who has spent 2000 hrs driving beasts like this through buildings.

    • It may be less about worrying about damaging the tank and more about damaging anything else. As for driving it right off the trailer without any caution, I’m not so sure. After all, unless it was a critical situation, I’d think that they’d have cared about not damaging their transport vehicles when “dismounting” from the trailer.

      Also, from what I could see, the pavement outside took some minor (?) damage from the tank’s treads as it moved. Not surprising, given the Tiger2′s weight and seemingly apparent lack of road treads.

    • Driving through buildings wasn’t something any tanker would do just for the heck of it. There had to be a damn good reason to do so, since there’s a very real threat of shedding a track by brick rubble getting stuck between the track links and/or the wheels, not to mention the chance of the building collapsing on top of the tank.

    • It weighs 70 tonnes and had damn near 700HP on tap when it left the factory. Even 70 years later its more than capable of accidentally ripping holes in the ground, flattening nearby objects and in smashing shit in general.

      That patch of road will likely need to be repaired despite all the care they used. It doesnt really seem like excessive care from where Im standing.

  22. the engine seem to suffer … but in Paris this days its very cold ( -5 to -10°c at night ) maybe the maybach don’t like negative temperatures when starting

  23. I agree, I imagine that motor is cold. I bet she purrs well when properly warmed up. I love how you can hear the horsepower when the RPM’s came up. I understand now why our Sherman tankers were very nervous about meeting one of these in the field.

  24. Actually the poor tiger looks fragile to me. Nurturing him, guiding him through the door….. It’s a damn King Tiger – you don’t need doors you make them!