It is impossible to surprise others with the presence of a car in the garage. But if there is a real tank in the backyard or barn that once took part in battles, this can cause not only surprise, but also many questions. The first thing people will want to know is whether they can legally own a tank and keep it in their garage. In fact, many countries allow it. For example, in the USA there are many collectors of military equipment, one of which is the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger. He owns aM47 Patton II tank, in which he once crushed a 9-meter Lincoln limousine for the sake of show. He donates money from such performances to charity. Is it possible to buy a tank in Russia?
Arnold Schwarzenegger with a personal tank for $1.4 million. Source: aif.ru
Contents
- 1 In which countries can you buy a tank
- 2 How much does it cost tank
- 3 Where can you buy a tank
- 4 Why do people buy tanks
In what countries can you buy a tank
The largest countries in which an ordinary person can buy a tank are the USA, Great Britain, Switzerland, Russia and Czech Republic. Each country has its own set of requirements for owners of military equipment.
First of all, weapons must be deactivated in it – this is the most important rule. It is necessary to demilitarize the tank in a comprehensive manner: remove or block the barrel to prevent the passage of shells, dismantle the bolt mechanism, remove all ammunition, and so on. After deactivation, the tank can only drive, nothing “combat” remains in it.
Tanks for sale usually have their weapons completely removed. Source: drive2.ru
In some countries, metal tracks on wheels are necessarily replaced with rubber ones. This is also a very important requirement, which prevents damage to roads while driving.
After fulfilling all the above requirements, the equipment should be checked by specialists and make sure that it does not pose a threat to others. A person must also collect a huge number of documents: permission from local authorities, registration of a tank as a vehicle, insurance, a license to operate specialized equipment, and so on.
Read also:5 of the most powerful tanks in the world, which are in service with many countries
How much does a tank cost
The cost of tanks depends on the model, year of manufacture and other characteristics. But in general, they cost no less than several tens of thousands of dollars or millions of rubles.
For example, the French AMX-13 tank, produced in the mid-20th century, was once sold at auction for $26,000. In terms of rubles, at the exchange rate for July 2024, this is approximately 2.2 million. This is a very high price, considering that the vehicle was not running and its engine was in need of repair.
French tank AMX-13. Source: novate.ru
New military tanks cost even more, ranging from $2 million to $8 million. Buyers should also consider that they will have to pay for transportation, maintenance and storage of the tank. Restoring old equipment may require an amount that is greater than the original cost of the tank. Running around with documents can also hit your wallet hard.
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Where you can buy a tank
Of course, it is impossible to come to a car dealership and buy an armored tank. Typically, specialized companies sell such equipment. They not only offer decommissioned equipment, but also remove the entire combat part of the vehicle in advance so that the owners do not have any problems. You can find the names of such companies on the Internet; there are not many of them.
Personal tanks are unarmed, but they are still dangerous vehicles, so many people may be denied the sale of such equipment. Source: topgear.com
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Why do people buy tanks
No one will just spend millions of rubles to put a tank in their garage. Typically, military equipment is purchased by people who collect. And these people, as you can understand, are very rich. At the beginning of the article, we already mentioned that the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger has a personal tank. Brad Pitt also has a personal tank – after filming one of the war films, he acquired a Soviet T-54.
Actor Brad Pitt has a personal tank, but there are no photographs of it. Source: justjared.com
No person in their right mind would go to the store to buy groceries. As a rule, tanks become part of the personal collection of the rich, museum exhibits, and are also used in military reconstructions and filming. Tanks are also bought by some private companies that use military equipment for training.
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In the end, it turns out that if you have money and time, anyone can buy a tank and keep it in their garage. Did you know that everyone also has the opportunity to rent an airplane? If you don’t know yet, read our material “How to rent a private jet and how much does it cost?”