Man shells out £14k on army tank for supermarket run
Last updated at 20:55pm on 9th October 2006 Stephen Ellison: Splashed out on a 1974 Sabre light reconnaissance tank to drive around town in
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."
Neat
Posted by: Mongo
I coulda used that with an activated 30mm on the Xway the other day.
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Stephen Ellison: Splashed out on a 1974 Sabre light reconnaissance tank to drive around town in 
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