US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – 1 Battery, 16 Cavalry Regiment, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA, 2002 (1:64 Scale)
Back in November, we posted a video to our blog on the development of the next-generation M1E3 Abrams main battle tank, kind of hoping that someone would get the hint and offer up the first diecast rendition of the tank in ANY scale. So, earlier today we were surprised to see that Panzerkampf was tapping the elderly M1 Abrams tank for its 1:64 scale series. Don’t get me wrong — its welcome news that a new Abrams is hitting the battlefield, just a little war weary, if you know what I mean, when newer more capable tanks are on the drawing board.
According to Panzerkampf, two versions of the illustrious M1 will roll out in early 2026 — one painted in the traditional tri-color scheme and the other in a desert sand pattern. Interestingly, both tanks will feature movable tracks and sport a working suspension, making them a bit more realistic for fans of the venerable Abrams platform. Some information, such as their SKUs and ultimate price point, weren’t discussed, so we’ve pegged them at $69.99 apiece, given their size difference as compared with a smaller 1:72 scale tank, not to mention the current trade war still being waged between the US and the PRC. We will update the listings as soon as we learn more information about the pair of vehicles.
US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – Company Commander’s Tank “Beast Master”, B Company, 3-67 Armor (1:64 Scale)
Given the paucity of new product announcements coming about because of the trade war, we’re grateful that someone, nay anyone, is stepping forward to produce new product for the diecast marketplace. And, with their history of producing a multitude of variants, we can presume that several different versions of the Abrams are in the hopper, featuring up-armored hulls, different unit insignia and some of the different upgraded vehicles that could run the gamut up to and including the M1A2 SEP enhancements.
Footnote: Based upon the size of these vehicles relative to their 1:72 scale brethren, we had expected this item to weigh in at around a $69.99 price tag. We were shocked to learn today that the MAP has been set at $84.99 making them far more expensive than their 1:72 scale counterparts. Obviously, the Trump tariffs are being taken into consideration for the bump up in price. Frankly, if the Trump tariffs aren’t rolled back when the US Supreme Court takes up the matter of tariffs in late January, then I’m not certain we will be bringing in these vehicles. Mind you, the 1:72 scale Abrams have sold very well over the course of the last couple of years so we were eager to stock and sell these vehicles even if they were tagged at a slightly higher price. But at $85 apiece I’m just not certain how they’re going to move at retail unless they are heavily discounted. Food for thought in 2026.