And you Brits think WE are SUV nutters?

[Blind_Io]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

Driver Stephen Ellison keeps bringing traffic grinding to a halt - by going to town in a 7.5 tonne tank.

The father of one has left other motorists stunned after shelling out £14,000 on a 1974 Sabre light reconnaissance tank.

Now 42-year old Stephen uses the military vehicle instead of a car for shopping trips - zooming round at up to 40mph near his home in Winsford, Cheshire, drawing astonished looks from fellow motorists and passers-by.

"Young and old alike are fascinated with it," said Stephen, a former Territorial Army soldier. "It really unites people.

"The tank's 30mm gun is deactivated and the only thing that really marks it out as different on the highway are the rubber tracks it has fitted to protect the road.

"But the tank's covered through a classic military vehicle insurance policy, it's taxed at £165 a year, it's MOT exempt and runs on unleaded fuel. But costs about £300 to fill the tank.

"There are plenty of big vehicles on the roads these days, but nothing quite like my tank which has a 4.2litre engine."

Stephen, who lives with partner Tracy Allen, 42, a baker, bought the tank five months ago to accompany his 1986 military Land Rover, a 1996 Honda XR250 motorbike which was used by the SAS and his 14ft long military radio repair hut which saw action in Bosnia.

"The tank, which cost £500,000 brand new, was used in Kosovo which is quite different from its use nowadays," said Stephen, who is a road breakdown mechanic for a private firm.

"But I love it and it really brings people out in smiles. I get lots of thumbs up and people beeping at me.

"I take the tank to military shows to show it off, but I am more than happy when I'm in the street if people come over for a look or a sit inside.

"Kids love it. People never get a chance to touch a fast car like a Ferrari and the tank brings out the same thrill for people.

"One lad asked me the other day if I would take him and his girlfriend to the school prom in it. I would do something like that for a special occasion, it would be good to use it for a wedding.

"I think that people should be allowed to see it and sit in it, because taxpayers paid the initial £500,000 it cost to the build the tank. And if it gets kids interested in the military, that's great.

"I've never taken it to the supermarket or anything but Tracy and I will go out for a nice drive on a Sunday. I don't need to polish it, just give it a quick wipe when it's muddy - it's low maintenance."

He added: "I bought the tank from a dealer in Lincolnshire, you can get pretty much anything from army surplus dealers.

"The army are reluctant to give too many details about what kind of operations equipment has been used in, but I do know the tank was in storage for 21 years from 1974 to 1995 as reserve stock.

"The army converted all the engines they used to diesel but didn't get round to this tank, so it was sent off to be sold."

Tracy has been going out with Stephen, who was in the Queen's Own Yeomanry from 1993 to 1996, for nearly three years.

She said: "He loves the attention the tank brings but I'm a bit shy.

"I prefer my Renault Megane, it's only a 1.6litre but allows you to be anonymous.

"I don't like driving along in the tank with my head sticking out but the good thing about the tank is that you can always find a parking space.

"Stephen had a military assault boat when I met him but he got rid of it. Then he said one day 'I want to buy a tank' and I said 'Ok, love, it's up to you.'

"It's his hobby and at least I know where he is."

Stephen's neighbour, Mike Kennedy, said: "When we saw the tank we thought it was police coming up at last with a real response in dealing with anti-social behaviour in the town."

Sorry, but that kicks ass with both feet. I live in a really crappy part of town and the idea of an armored vehicle is somewhat appealing. Go ahead, try to steal my stereo! I don't care how bad the gas mileage is, it's infinitely out weighed by the "cool" factor. 14K is pretty cheap too, less than many SUVs.

[No Boss]

The best part of that article....

The guys face in the people carrier.

[Viper007Bond]

Can't believe that's street legal.

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by No Boss

The best part of that article....

The guys face in the people carrier.

Alternatively, you could just pick yourself up one of these on Amazon.com:

It's a bit more expensive than 14k ($20k) but it's easier to use than that tank (not that it matters). You'd have to get your own gun and depleted uranium rounds. Also, how come everybody who bought one got stink bombs as well?

[Jacobfox]

I agree with Blind IO. That would help you getting around richmond, dude. It's not like watts or compton or anything, but that's not exactly the safest area.

[Blind_Io]

My ex had a place up at Hilltop overlooking central Richmond. Friday nights I would sit on her balcony and play "Guess that firearm" by sound. AK-47s and 9mm pistols were the most common. Sometimes you would hear a .38 or a .45 but not usually. Once I even heard an AR-15 with a filed seer - a simple but dangerous modification that results in full-auto fire.

So yeah, one of these little babies would be awesome. I would love to pull up to the Bay Bridge toll plaza in it. When I go to San Francisco to sail I have to park by Pier 39, which is impossible. I'd just drive it on to the sidewalk and park it like it's on display. Go ahead and TRY to tow me!

EDIT: even though that cannon is deactivated, how awesome would it be for discouraging road-rage? Just swivel it around and point it at the moron yakking on his phone and wandering all over the road. After he's done loading his trousers he will probably start paying attention.

[vRS]

Nice erm "car" he has £300 on fuel is abit though, bet he thinks he's Andy McNab with his SAS bike. Wish my dad had a tank to take me to school with, id be going straight through it

[Blind_Io]

I just had this image of me pulling up in a tank next to an Escalade with spinner rims!

Who's got the bling now?! Go ahead and reach for that 9mm sissy pistol, I dare ya!

[Dark_Templer_102]

Is that really street legal? Wow seems awsome though!

Take you to prom in that? Hmm very weird...

[kekekeke]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Can't believe that's street legal.

All tanks can be made road legal in UK. All you have to do is disable the main gun and put rubber padding on the tracks. The beauty of this is that any vehicle that is road legal in UK is road legal in EU countries by extension according to some agreements. There was a bunch of vets took a tank all the way to france to celebrate some anniversary.

[bartboy9891]

so for about the same as a base Mondeo, you can get a 32 year old tank. i know which one id go for

[YF19pilot]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

so for about the same as a base Mondeo, you can get a 32 year old tank. i know which one id go for

Hmm...tank or ST220? Tank or ST220? The ST220 is definately faster. More fuel effecient. But that tank can turn on a dime. and it's a fricken' tank...

[Cobol74]

Would not leave it around here - it'd get vandalised.

[FATMOUSE]

...So, just blow them up as punishment.

[Blind_Io]

Excuse me, sir, apparently your son spray painted my tank - so I parked it on his car. Hope you don't mind.

Sincerely,
Me.

PS, if it happens again I will be more than happy to give your wife the bay window she has been wanting in your parlor.

[triumph]

WTF is that?

[fbc]

That's freaking awesome - mad Brits at their best

[Magnet]

Originally Posted by triumph

WTF is that?

It's for whenever you need to iron that enormous shirt you have in the back of the cupboard.

[Buba]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Can't believe that's street legal.

Well, what isn't in the UK??