When I started ForTankmen over 15 years ago, I never imagined that a war in a neighbouring country would fundamentally reshape the military vehicle collector market. But here we are in 2025, witnessing a dramatic shift that’s simultaneously tragic and transformative for enthusiasts of Soviet-era tracked vehicles.
This is the story of how geopolitics, collector passion, and military necessity converged to create both challenges and opportunities in the world of PTS-M and ATS-59G restoration.
This isn’t another sales pitch—it’s a reality check for serious collectors, museum curators, and restoration professionals.
Since February 2022, something unprecedented has been happening across Central and Eastern Europe. Military vehicles that spent decades as prized collector pieces are being bought back—often at premium prices—to support Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
The vehicles in highest demand:
Museums, private collectors, and even film production companies have sold their carefully restored vehicles. What was once a hobby became a contribution to national defence.
The unexpected consequence? Collectors who once dreamed of owning a BMP-1 or MT-LB are now turning their attention to vehicles that remain available: the PTS-M amphibious transport and ATS-59G artillery tractor.
Nowadays PTS-M and ATS-59G vehicles are becoming the natural replacement for collectors who can no longer acquire BMP-1s, MT-LBs, or other combat vehicles. They offer everything a serious collector wants:
Let’s look in the mirror and admit it honestly – none of us are saints, and we’ve all driven too fast at some point. We’ve tested our vehicle’s limits and even tried to exceed them. Often in conditions where we shouldn’t have done so. Boredom, bravado, the desire to show off in front of friends – regardless of the reasons, almost every collector has damaged their vehicle through their own fault at some point.
If you’ve been to any military vehicle show, where the PTS-M or ATS-59G were present, you’ve probably seen footage drivers, who like to drive like this (or you’re him 😉 ):
Disclaimer: we posted this video solely to illustrate a certain trend. We have nothing but the utmost respect for Kamil, who is probably the best driver of this equipment in the world and one of the best specialists in its servicing.
While spectacular to watch, this aggressive driving style—full-throttle launches, hard impacts, extreme articulation—takes a serious toll on drivetrain components. Tracks, sprockets, road wheels, and suspension components that should last decades can be destroyed in a season or two of hard use.
The problem compounds itself:
Over the past 18 months, we’ve been quietly assembling what may be one of the most complete inventories of PTS-M and ATS-59G components available anywhere in Europe.
The source: Polish Army surplus from various military bases across Poland
After Poland’s military modernisation programs and donations to Ukraine, numerous storage facilities had components that were no longer needed for active service vehicles. We’ve systematically acquired these components from multiple bases, carefully selecting only the highest quality pieces.
PTS-M and ATS-59G 230 track links and pins in exceptional condition – notice the pins are straight and show no signs of wear proving minimal use
📦 Complete Track Set – €8,500.00
This is the only used component in our current inventory—and “used” barely describes their condition. These tracks show minimal operational wear with at least 90% of their service life remaining.
The evidence is in the details:
This exceptional condition is increasingly rare. Most surplus tracks show significant wear, elongated holes, and bent pins from years of hard military use.
Drive Sprocket Rings (Pair) – €660
These critical drivetrain components started as NOS (New Old Stock) from Polish Army depots but showed surface corrosion from decades of storage. Rather than sell them as-is, we invested in professional hard-facing restoration.
The hard-facing process:
Hard-facing process restores worn sprockets to like-new condition
Technical Advantage: The hard-facing process creates a surface that’s as wear-resistant than the original factory finish. These sprockets will likely last as long as brand-new components from the 1980s.
ATS-59G Compatibility: Using our custom sleeve system, these sprockets fit ATS-59G drive sprocket on the outside creating an opportunity to repair damaged drive sprocket.
12-month warranty covers workmanship and performance under normal operating conditions.
Genuine NOS road wheels from Polish Army storage facilities. These wheels were manufactured decades ago but never installed on vehicles—stored as war reserve stock that was never needed.
Condition:
Zero operational hours – Never mounted or used
Original protective coatings – Factory preservation intact
Perfect machining – No wear or damage
New Old Stock road wheels showing original factory coating and perfect condition
🎯 NOS (New Old Stock) Track Tensioning Wheels – €500 each
Track tensioning wheels are often overlooked during restoration planning, but worn tensioners cause premature track wear and poor performance. Starting with NOS components ensures maximum service life.These factory-fresh idler wheels ensure proper track alignment and tension, essential for both land operations and water propulsion.
24-month warranty included.
⚖️ PTS-M Torsion Bars – €330 each
These original Soviet torsion bars come from Polish Army storage facilities where they’ve been preserved for decades. Built for the PTS-M’s 10-ton capacity requirements, they represent the heavy-duty engineering that makes these vehicles legendary.
Original Soviet torsion bars from military storage – built for extreme loads
Torsion bars are foundational suspension components. Using NOS bars ensures your restoration maintains proper ride height and suspension characteristics for decades.
Critical suspension components that connect the road wheels to the torsion bar system. These NOS swing arms from Polish Army storage have never been mounted on vehicles.
Compatibility:
Important Notes:
Brand new PTS-M swing arms – never mounted on vehicles
Swing arms are frequently overlooked during restoration planning, yet they’re essential for proper suspension geometry and load distribution. Worn or damaged swing arms cause uneven tire wear, poor handling, and can lead to catastrophic suspension failure.
24-month warranty included on all NOS swing arms.
Multiple sources: Components gathered from various Polish Army bases over 18 months Quality selection: Only the highest-grade components were acquired Proper storage: All NOS components maintained in military storage conditions Complete coverage: Every major drivetrain component available simultaneously
This isn’t opportunistic parts dealing—it’s systematic sourcing from trusted military surplus contacts developed over a decade in the business.
I’m not a financial advisor, and I can’t predict future values. But I can share observable market trends:
Undeniable facts:
Some collectors view high-quality NOS components as capital investments that happen to be useful for restoration projects. Whether that proves financially sound is for each buyer to determine, but the scarcity trend is undeniable.
As of September 2025:
Reality check: When these components are sold, replacement availability becomes uncertain. Polish Army surplus is finite, and we’ve already sourced from most accessible bases.
While our current track inventory doesn’t include rubber pads, we can organize complete sets of 230 track links with factory-installed rubber pads on client’s order.
Benefits:
Availability: Price on asking – contact us for current availability
Matched Components: All parts are sourced from the same era and manufacturing standards, ensuring perfect compatibility.
Technical Synergy: Our track tensioning wheels work perfectly with our reconditioned sprockets and new road wheels, creating a drivetrain system that operates as smooth as original factory installation.
Installation Efficiency: Having all components simultaneously means restoration can proceed without delays waiting for critical parts.
Address: Zajęcza 54 Street, 63-200 Jarocin, Poland.
Distance: 230km from Frankfurt/Oder, 45km from Poznań.
Many customers prefer to inspect NOS components personally. We welcome workshop visits—you can see the quality firsthand and discuss your specific restoration needs.
Phone: +48 739-475-487 Email: info@fortankmen.com
For technical questions, custom packages, or volume pricing, direct contact with our team ensures you get exactly what your project needs.
Typical shipping costs:
New Old Stock (NOS) Components: 24-month warranty
Reconditioned Components: 12-month warranty
Lightly Used Tracks: 6-month warranty
All Components: Lifetime technical support
The war in Ukraine has created an unusual market dynamic. Combat vehicles are being returned to service, pushing collectors toward vehicles like the PTS-M and ATS-59G. This increased interest, combined with aggressive driving styles and finite surplus supplies, means quality components won’t remain available indefinitely.
Every PTS-M and ATS-59G represents a unique piece of Cold War engineering—amphibious vehicles that could carry 10 tons across rivers, then drive dozens of kilometres to the next water crossing. They embody military engineering at its most practical and robust.
When we lose these vehicles to scrap yards, we lose tangible connections to military history. When we restore them properly, using authentic components and professional techniques, we preserve that history for future generations.
The choice is yours: secure authentic components now, or join the growing list of collectors searching for parts that no longer exist.
Our Polish Army surplus inventory represents months of careful sourcing from multiple bases. The combination of NOS components and exceptionally well-preserved used tracks may not be available again once current stock is depleted.
For serious PTS-M and ATS-59G owners, this is the time to secure critical drivetrain components.
Website: www.ForTankmen.com Phone: +48 739-475-487 Email: info@fortankmen.com Address: Zajęcza 54 Street, 63-200 Jarocin, Poland
Workshop Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00-17:00 CET Saturday: 9:00-14:00 CET Personal visits by appointment
From Tankmen, For Tankmen – Preserving Warsaw Pact Military Vehicle Heritage Since 2009
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