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Man shells out £14k on army tank for supermarket run
Daily Mail ^ | 9th October 2006

Posted on 10/10/2006 10:25:29 PM PDT by george76

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 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.

"...nothing quite like my tank which has a 4.2litre engine."

"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...

if it gets kids interested in the military, that's great.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Political Humor/Cartoons; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: army; military; recon; sabre; tank
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To: dighton

He told the reporter that it was deactivated...

Maybe not so much ?


61 posted on 10/12/2006 7:55:13 AM PDT by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: george76

Okay... that's now that is COOL.


62 posted on 10/12/2006 8:01:00 AM PDT by Dead Corpse (Well, my days of not taking your seriously are certainly coming to a middle)
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To: tubebender

Saturday night dirt track special!


63 posted on 10/12/2006 5:44:26 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Of course it's hot, it's summer!)
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To: SouthTexas
LOL...warranty void if entered in Destruction Derby...
64 posted on 10/12/2006 5:49:40 PM PDT by tubebender (Growing old is mandatory...Growing up is optional)
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To: PoorMuttly

PING!


65 posted on 10/12/2006 5:55:39 PM PDT by Fester Chugabrew
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To: tubebender

That blows running at Dega I guess. LOL


66 posted on 10/12/2006 6:00:15 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Of course it's hot, it's summer!)
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To: george76
"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.'


Where can I find a girl like that ?
67 posted on 10/12/2006 6:08:44 PM PDT by grjr21
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To: george76

I must confess, my dream SUV is a fully armed and loaded up M1A2. Cut me off? Do you feel lucky, punk? ;^)


68 posted on 10/12/2006 6:17:44 PM PDT by ABG(anybody but Gore) ("By the time I'm finished with you, you're gonna wish you felt this good again" - Jack Bauer)
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