Originally built in 1983, the M1E1 Abrams Main Battle Tank was one of 14 prototypes used as engineering test vehicles. This M1 was returned to the Lima Army Tank Plant in late 1993 for refurbishment and permanent display. A team of U.S. Army, Government Civilians, and General Dynamics employees donated over 6,000 hours of labor during a two year period to restore the tank to fully operational status. The effort was completed at no cost to the taxpayer. The tank stands as a symbol of the engineering and workmanship that made the Abrams line of Main Battle Tanks the most potent armor vehicle in the world at that time, and this M1E1 and its display pad were formally dedicated on June 3, 1997.