Now live on Bring a Trailer – no reserve. Auction ends Monday, October 26, 2026 at 12:14 PM PT. View the listing & bid →

Rare Civilian 1996 AM General M35A3 Deuce and a Half 6x6

This modified AM General M35A3 6x6 military truck – one of only two known to have been remanufactured for civilian use – is for sale at no reserve on Bring a Trailer. Here is a closer look at the build.

The M35A3 is the last and most refined version of the M35 "Deuce and a Half." Under the Extended Service Program, AM General took older M35 trucks apart and rebuilt them with a Caterpillar turbo diesel, an Allison automatic, a central tire inflation system and power steering – everything the older multi-fuel A2 trucks never had.

This one is special even among A3s: it is one of two non-military trucks remanufactured by AM General under the program, with the overhaul completed in October 1996. It carries a California title as a 1973 model. We acquired it in 2022, and it has been set up as a do-anything expedition and rescue truck that can see in the dark.

Collectors already know the pattern from AM General's Humvee: the civilian Hummer H1 was built in far smaller numbers than the military version and sells for far more. This M35A3 takes that to the extreme – only two are known to have been built for non-military use.

Caterpillar 3116 Turbo Diesel Engine

Power comes from the 6.6-liter (402ci) Caterpillar 3116 turbo diesel inline-six with an air-to-air aftercooler, factory rated at 170 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the multi-fuel engine in our M35A2 SEMA build, the Cat is a modern, quiet, easy-starting diesel with readily available parts.

Charging is handled by a 60-amp high-output alternator feeding dual 6TL batteries. In September 2026 the truck went to a heavy-truck shop for a full service: the governor valve was replaced; it got a lube, oil and filter change with 26 quarts of 15W-40, a new fuel filter and a greased chassis; and the low-air warning buzzer was reconnected and the air compressor checked.

Allison Automatic Transmission and 6x6 Drivetrain

An Allison AT-1545P four-speed automatic sends power through a T-136 dual-range transfer case to all six wheels. No double-clutching, no crunching gears – this is the easiest-driving deuce you can get.

Wheels, Axles and Central Tire Inflation (CTIS)

Black 20" steel wheels wear 14.50" Michelin XZL tires. The truck runs custom fast axles built by Gearhart Engineering for better highway speed, Selectro front locking hubs, leaf-spring suspension and air-over-hydraulic brakes.

The central tire inflation system (CTIS) lets you air down for sand, mud or snow and air back up for the highway – all from the driver's seat.

Exterior and Custom Roof Rack

The truck is finished in olive green with custom-painted grille fangs. Up top is a custom roof rack built from 4" DOM steel tubing integrated with 1/4" steel plates – strong enough to work off, not just look at.

Doors, fuel cap, hood and storage compartments all lock. A passenger-side Scepter water can and a rear pintle hitch round out the exterior.

Garwood Hydraulic Winch

A 10,000-lb Garwood hydraulic winch sits up front, driven by the truck's hydraulics, so it keeps pulling as long as the engine runs.

LED and Laser Off-Road Lights

High-output LED off-road lights and long-throw laser off-road lights turn night into day. The laser lights throw a tight spot beam far beyond the reach of standard LED lights – watch the night test video below. Find similar lighting in our LED lights, light bars and laser lights categories.

Everything is run from a custom rocker switch panel – night vision, laser lights, bumper lights, aux and roof lights each on their own labeled switch. Build a panel like this for your own rig with our custom switch builder.

Speedir Thermal Night Vision

The Speedir thermal night vision system uses a rotating imager with a remote screen in the cab. It picks up people and animals by their heat signature well before your headlights reach them, which is a big help for search and rescue or spotting hazards on the trail.

Cab Interior and Electronics

The cab keeps its military character but is far more livable. The driver's seat is upholstered in stock green and the passenger side gets an ISRI seat trimmed in black; the stock passenger seat comes with the truck. Soundproofing cuts the cab noise, and a Hunter Mfg. Co. heater keeps it warm.

A custom overhead roof console houses the electronics: a Furuno GP-50 Mark-3 GPS navigator, front and rear HD cameras, and a custom touchscreen entertainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Faria Gauges

Faria instrumentation includes a 60-mph speedometer, a 3,000-rpm tachometer, and gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, fuel level and voltage. The five-digit odometer shows under 6,000 miles.

Drop-Side Cargo Bed

The drop-side bed is covered by a camouflage-pattern canvas cover. A solar 12-volt generator is included, giving you power with the engine off.

M35A3 Features and Specifications

This truck is built to keep going when everything else stops – off-grid, off-road, day or night:

• One of two non-military M35A3s remanufactured by AM General (October 1996)
• Caterpillar 3116 6.6L turbo diesel, 170 hp / 420 lb-ft
• Allison AT-1545P 4-speed automatic, T-136 dual-range transfer case, 6x6
• Under 6,000 miles shown
• Gearhart Engineering fast axles
• Central tire inflation system (CTIS)
• Selectro front locking hubs
• 20" steel wheels, 14.50" Michelin XZL tires
• Air-over-hydraulic brakes
• 10,000-lb Garwood hydraulic winch
• High-output LED and long-throw laser off-road lights
• Speedir thermal night vision with rotating imager
• Furuno GP-50 Mark-3 GPS navigator
• Touchscreen entertainment with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Front and rear HD cameras
• Custom 4" DOM steel roof rack with 1/4" steel plate
• Custom overhead roof console, soundproofed cab
• ISRI passenger seat (stock seat included)
• Drop-side bed with camouflage canvas cover
• Solar 12-volt generator
• Locking doors, fuel cap, hood and storage compartments
• Fresh maintenance: new governor valve, oil and filter, fuel filter, chassis greased
• Featured in OFF-ROAD magazine, April 2006

Spares & Extras Included

The truck comes with a collection of spare parts – differentials, axles, axle housings, hubs, CTIS components and rubber parts – plus the solar generator, the stock passenger seat, and a copy of the April 2006 issue of OFF-ROAD magazine in which the truck was featured. Read the OFF-ROAD feature online → (The truck has evolved since 2006 – some accessories in the article have been removed and others added, so the current equipment is as listed above.)

M35A3 Videos

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See the truck in action in eight videos on the Bring a Trailer listing:

• Walk Around
• Night Test: Thermal Camera, LED Lights & Laser Lights in Action
• Interior
• Engine
• Starting Sequence / Cold Start
• Exhaust
• Cruising
• Braking (Hard)

Watch all videos on Bring a Trailer →

This is a great vehicle for:

• Disaster response, emergency and search-and-rescue work
• Overlanding and expedition travel
• A head-turning rolling billboard for your business
• Hauling serious loads where pickups can't go

It's still a big military truck – tall, heavy and loud – but with the Cat diesel, Allison automatic and power steering it is far easier to drive than an older A2 – a unique experience every time you climb in.

No reserve on Bring a Trailer – ends Monday, October 26, 2026 at 12:14 PM PT.
See all photos, videos and bid on Bring a Trailer →
Questions? Use the Contact Seller button on the listing.

OZ-USA® is a registered trademark of OZG Powersports, Inc. Speedir is the brand of our thermal camera line. AM General, Caterpillar, Allison, Michelin, Garwood, Selectro, Gearhart Engineering, ISRI, Furuno, Faria, Hunter, Scepter, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bring a Trailer and OFF-ROAD magazine are trademarks of their respective owners and are named only to describe the vehicle.