My friend in meatspace and the blogosphere, Larry Correia, has been heard to say that he really wants to buy a tank. Being a bestselling author, his income can probably stretch to it, too: but being a very large gentleman, I think he'd have a problem fitting into anything small. However, I think the solution may be at hand, in terms of both his size and his wallet.
Spain is selling off its remaining M60 tanks, of 1960's vintage.
If you've ever fancied owning a tank, or are in the market to add to your own private armor collection, now's your chance. As it turns out, Spain has put a number of its M60 tanks up for auction, with the base price for the lot starting at just over $50,000. The sale of the tanks, the condition of which remains very much unclear, has prompted speculation about potential buyers, and whether they could end up in Ukraine or the scrap yard.
The entire lot of tanks has a stated “base price” of €46,924.93 [US $50,721.73 at current exchange rates], according to the official notice, which also includes details on another auction of anchor chains.
There's more at the link.
That price is not per tank, by the way: it's for all the surplus tanks. It's only the opening bid price, of course. I'm sure the final sale price will be higher. Nevertheless, those tanks are basically being sold at scrap-metal prices, and I'm sure that doesn't include their cannons or ammunition. I don't know how many are on auction now. Spain bought about 300 M60's in total, but until recently had only 16 still operational, replacing the rest of its fleet with German-made Leopard 2's. Nevertheless, even 16 would be a handy source of spare parts to keep them operational in the hands of a hobbyist owner.
Whoever wants them will have to move fast. Bids are due by April 22. Quick, get out your wallets and bank statements and start counting!
Peter
Don't forget to factor in the $5 Destructive Device tax stamp you need for each cannon.
ReplyDeletePlus the cost to transport them all, warehouse them, pay people to put one working one together from the parts of ten...
Maybe Drive Tanks in Texas can buy the lot and Larry can buy a working one after they've restored it.
Ukraine...Scrapyard
ReplyDeleteThey're the same picture.
There was a time after I got out of the army after years of being an M60A1 tank commander that I wanted one for my front yard for the express purpose of pissing on it every day to watch it rust away.
ReplyDeleteNow I'd like one to impress the neighbors.
One MPG with diesel on paved roads. For every hour of running around in the fields looking cool, forty hours doing maintenance.
Pulling the trigger on that 105mm is hard to beat, though.
MC
Arnold Schwarzenegger owns a M47 tank in California. He imported it from Austria. In fact, it is the M47 tank that he drove in the Austrian army.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVs5kgvA_Ow
and
https://www.gijobs.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-tank/
and
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/26/arnold-schwarzenegger-gives-kids-rides-in-his-old-war-tank.html
I wonder if the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, Wyoming has all that they need
ReplyDelete