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The first machine in a 25-unit series of Metallica-themed Case TV450B skid-steer loaders is being auctioned. The sale includes two tickets to a Metallica Sphere show in Las Vegas and benefits the band’s All Within My Hands charity. The auction’s closing date and final sale price were not specified in the source report.
The first of 25 Metallica-themed Case TV450B skid-steer loaders is being offered at auction, with proceeds benefiting All Within My Hands, the charity founded by the band. The machine, nicknamed “Hetskid,” combines equipment commissioned for frontman James Hetfield’s California ranch with custom graphics inspired by his guitars and hot rods.
According to The Drive, Hetfield commissioned the original loader to help maintain his ranch, asking for a design that went beyond Case’s standard yellow finish. Case later made 25 Hetfield Limited Edition replicas based on the original. The unit now at auction is described as the first in that series; the source report identifies Purple Wave Auction in connection with the listing.
The loader is a Case TV450B with a 90-horsepower, 3.4-liter four-cylinder diesel engine. Its mostly gray exterior features camouflage graphics inspired by Hetfield’s Snakebyte guitar, pin striping linked to his hot-rod collection and an image of his winged-skull tattoo. The report also says the sale includes two tickets to see Metallica at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
The auction’s proceeds are set to benefit All Within My Hands. The charity supports several causes, including workforce and trades education, according to the source report. The report does not provide the auction’s current bid, expected price or closing date.
A Collector Item With a Charity Link
The sale brings together a limited-run piece of branded equipment, a Metallica-related collectible and a charitable purpose. Unlike memorabilia made solely for display, this is a working track loader designed for property and construction tasks, though the source does not say how the auctioned unit has been used or what condition it is in.
The charity connection adds a practical dimension to the transaction: All Within My Hands supports workforce and trades education, an area closely related to skilled work with equipment. The source reports that the proceeds benefit the charity, but does not specify whether all proceeds or a portion will go to it, or disclose the auction’s financial terms.
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From Hetfield’s Ranch to Replicas
The original “Hetskid” was unveiled in 2024 and then put to work on Hetfield’s California ranch, The Drive reported. The custom machine was developed around a practical need—maintaining the property—rather than as a vehicle for touring or a conventional piece of band merchandise. Case subsequently produced the limited series of 25 replicas.
Hetfield is also known for commissioned custom vehicles, including “Black Pearl,” which began as a 1948 Jaguar, and “Aquarius,” described in the report as a sculpture loosely based on a 1934 Packard. That history helps explain the loader’s mix of personal design references and heavy equipment, but the auctioned machine is distinct from those vehicles: it is a Case track loader with a stated 90-horsepower diesel engine and a bucket capacity listed in the source as 75 cubic yards.
“The mostly gray machine features camouflage graphics inspired by Hetfield’s Snakebyte guitar, combined with pin striping that references his hot rod collection.”
— The Drive, describing the custom design
Auction Terms Still Unreported
The source report does not state when bidding closes, the current bid, a reserve price or the final sale price. It also does not give a full auction listing, including the loader’s hours, maintenance history, attachments, delivery arrangements or condition. Those details would help prospective buyers evaluate the machine as equipment rather than primarily as a collectible.
The charity language is also not quantified in the report: it says the sale benefits All Within My Hands but does not specify what share of the proceeds will be donated. The report identifies the machine as the first of 25 replicas, but provides no further information about whether the other units have been sold or how they were distributed.
Bidding and Donation Details
The next concrete development will be the auction’s close and the announcement of the winning bid, if those details are released by Purple Wave Auction or covered in a follow-up report. Buyers will also need to review the listing for condition, operating hours and sale terms before placing a bid.
Further information could clarify how the proceeds will be directed to All Within My Hands and whether the two Sphere tickets are subject to dates or other restrictions. Until those terms are available, the confirmed details are the limited-edition loader, the included tickets and the stated charitable beneficiary—not the auction’s final value or donation amount.
Key Questions
What is the Metallica skid steer?
It is a Case TV450B track loader styled with Metallica frontman James Hetfield’s personal design references. The custom look includes graphics inspired by his Snakebyte guitar and hot rods, along with an image of his winged-skull tattoo.
Why is the loader being auctioned?
The first machine in a series of 25 Hetfield Limited Edition replicas is being offered at auction. The Drive reports that the sale benefits Metallica’s charity, All Within My Hands.
What comes with the auction?
The source report says the sale includes two tickets to see Metallica at the Sphere in Las Vegas. It does not provide ticket dates or restrictions, or full details of the auction terms.
What are the loader’s specifications?
The report lists a 90-horsepower, 3.4-liter four-cylinder diesel engine and gives the bucket capacity as 75 cubic yards. Buyers should check the auction listing for the machine’s condition, hours and exact equipment specifications.
When does the auction end, and how much has it raised?
The source report does not provide an auction closing date, current bid or final price. It also does not state the amount or share of proceeds that will go to All Within My Hands.
Source: thedrive.com
