7 Old and New Cars You Can Buy Civilians That Are Longer Than a Sherman Tank

Love it or hate it, cars these days are getting bigger and heavier. research by European Union for Transport and Environment Found that new cars are getting wider at a rate of 0.4 inches (1 cm) every two years. Increased safety features such as airbags and crumple zones, which required more space, as well as the post-war diet, which made people taller and wider, have often been cited as reasons for the increase in size and weight of cars over the years.

Thus, battle tanks like the M4 Sherman, which once seemed gigantic, now appear surprisingly modest in comparison. The M4 Sherman was the main battle tank of the United States Army and other Western Allies during World War II, and with a length of 230 to 248 inches, it was a massive machine at the time. But with everything going on in the automotive industry, it now sits in the shadow of some extraordinary cars and trucks. These include the Maybach 62, Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman and heavy-duty pickups like the Ram HD, Chevy Silverado HD and Ford Super Duty.

The 227.2-inch long standard wheelbase Rolls-Royce Phantom is already big enough, now imagine the EWB Phantom. At nearly 236 inches long, the imposing Rolls-Royce Phantom extended further than some versions of the M4 Sherman tanks, including the early production M4A1 Sherman (230 inches), M4A2 (233 inches), M4A3 (233 inches), and M4 Sherman (232 inches).

Despite this, the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended is narrower and lower than those Sherman tanks, measuring approximately 79.4 inches in width and 65.2 inches in length, compared to the smaller Sherman tanks at 103 and 107+ inches. Still, if money is no object you shouldn’t have much trouble choosing the Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended. We’re talking about a car that offers all the best aspects of luxury driving as well as massive customization opportunities so you can create a highly personalized vehicle.

Under the hood of the Phantom Extended is a powerful V12 powerplant, producing 544 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque, allowing you to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. The top speed is also impressive, at 155 mph. Of course, these have little real-world relevance to most drivers who are shopping for a tank, but it’s notable that the M4 Sherman goes 30 mph. The latest Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII EWB versions have a new price of around $637,750. However, used Phantom VII EWB examples have more attainable list prices of around $120,000 to $154,300 (€104,900 to €134,950).

Named for its nearly 6.2 meter length (6.165 meters or 242.7 inches to be precise), the Maybach 62 is another special model you might consider if you want a really big car. Its sheer size puts it ahead of most Shermans, including the early production M4A4 and late production M4A6 variants, both of which are approximately 239 inches long.

But, like any consumer vehicle, the Maybach 62’s 78-inch width is no match for the Sherman Tank’s 103+ inches (the 2009 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 Dual and current-generation Ford Super Duty are the widest consumer vehicles at 96 inches without side mirrors). Having said that, the Maybach 62 is quite significant when you compare it to the regular-sized fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

That model measures 73.7 inches in width, 206.5 inches in length, and 58.0 inches in height, making it not only narrower, but also shorter and lower than the Maybach 62 (which is 62 inches long). Used Maybach 62 models range in price from approximately $45,000 to $100,000. The Maybach 62S variant, which was built for chauffeur driving, starts at $75,000. The Maybach 62 was produced between 2002 and 2012, while the 62S was available from 2006 to 2012.

Nobody rocks yachts like Cadillac, and the Fleetwood 75 is a reminder of the golden age of its stalwarts. Produced in 11 generations from 1936 to 1987, the long-wheelbase Cadillac Series 75 was known for being quite impressive. However, the largest of them was only sold in the 1974 to 1976 model years, measuring 252.2 inches long, bumper to bumper.

This not only makes it between 2.2 and 4.9 inches longer than other 10th-generation Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 models (the 1971 Fleetwood 75 sedan was significantly shorter at 228.5 inches), but also means the ’74-to-’76 Fleetwood is significantly longer than the better and longest versions of the 75 M4 Sherman tanks, which ranged in length from 247 Is 248 inches. Interestingly, despite their enormous size, it turns out that these seemingly unwieldy limousines can also rally if you’re willing to put the time into mastering them.

From the factory, ’75-to-’76 Fleetwood 75s came with a naturally aspirated 500-cubic-inch (8.2-liter) V8 engine that produced 190 horsepower, which is not exactly a strong power output compared to the figures reported by modern Caddies. However, 360 pound-feet of torque is far more respectable for such a large car.

The 1974 model had a 472-cubic-inch (7.7-liter) V8 producing 205 horsepower. Find one today, and you’ll part with a significant sum, as evidenced by this 1972 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 limousine, which sold for nearly $53,000, according to pricing data. classic.

It is a favorite of the ruling class. In addition to being one of the flagships among modern limousines, the Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman currently doubles as the world’s longest car with 255.6 inches. The result is a vehicle that is 7+ inches longer than the largest M4 Sherman tank and nearly 40 inches longer than the already long 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.

Chauffeur-driven limos returned in 2015, filling the void left by older Pullmans such as the W220 S-Class generation Mercedes-Benz S500 Pullman model (offered from 2001 to 2002), which was longer than most Sherman tanks due to its length of 242.4 inches. Prices started as high as $566,922, but this was apparently not a problem for the wealthy buyers they were intended for, as the S600 Pullman promptly sold out for two years.

In 2018, the manufacturer offered an updated Maybach S650 Pullman as part of a mid-life facelift for the S-Class lineup. Despite making myriad changes compared to the previous car, Maybach decided to keep the dimensions of the S650 Pullman the same as the S600, resulting in the revised model also being 255.6 inches long. If you can find a Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman today, expect prices to start around $380,000.

Here’s something that is far more attainable for almost everyone, not just those with exceptionally deep pockets. At nearly 261 inches long, the Ram HD is one of the longest pickup trucks you can buy new. The longest Ram HD trucks are Crew Cab models with 8-foot long beds. They come in at an impressive size of 260.8 inches, meaning they are longer than any M4 Sherman series ever made. However, some cab and bed configurations are as short as 232 inches.

Ram HD trucks keep the Hemi alive with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 that produces 405 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, sent to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Ram also offers a 6.7-liter turbodiesel inline-six with 430 hp and 1,075 pound-feet of torque. Ram’s HD trucks have a maximum tow rating of 36,610 pounds, with a payload of more than 6,050 pounds. The 2026 RAM 2500 HD is priced at $46,855 (plus $2,795 destination charge), while the 3500 HD starts at $48,155 (plus destination charge).

This pickup is the hardest working of them all. With a maximum towing capacity of 40,000 pounds, the fourth-generation Ford Super Duty boasts the highest towing capacity of any pickup truck ever made. This is in addition to its massive length of up to 266.2 inches, providing occupants with a spacious interior and generous cargo space, along with a maximum payload rating of 8,000 pounds.

However, to reach that length, you’ll need a Super Duty Crew Cab with an 8-foot bed – Super Duty Crew Cabs with a 6.75-foot cargo bed come in at 250.0 inches. Regular Cab Super Duty models (those featuring an 8-foot bed) measure 231.8 inches long, while SuperCab models with a 6.75-foot cargo bed measure 238.2 inches long.

Get a SuperCab with an 8-foot cargo bed, and the length goes up to 254.4 inches, which still extends farther than any M4 Sherman tank. The 2026 Ford F-Series Super Duty can be had for $45,975 (plus destination charge $2,795).

Bringing costs even further into focus, the current-generation Chevrolet Silverado HD is one of the cheapest options in its class, with prices starting at $45,900 (plus a $2,795 destination charge). This gives you a capable workhorse capable of towing up to 36,000 pounds (with the diesel engine). Equally important, given its 266.06-inch length (crew cab, long bed), it extends much further than the largest M4 Sherman tanks.

The Silverado HD can be had with either a standard 6.6-liter gas V8 that produces 401 horsepower and 464 pound-feet of torque or an available Duramax 6.6-liter turbocharged diesel that’s good for 470 hp and 975 pound-feet. The V8 gas engine has a maximum tow rating of 19,080 pounds.

Those engines are shared with the posh GMC Sierra HD, which shares the same dimensions as the Silverado HD, with the longest model measuring 266.77 inches (crew cab with long bed). The 2026 GMC Sierra HD starts at $47,000 (plus destination charge).