What Would You Do? 1980 FV103 Spartan Tank
Is your Uncle Ned one of those people that’s hard to find a birthday gift for? Why spend hours pouring through online sites for a new tie or pipe and get him an FV103 Spartan tank instead! It’s a tracked armored personnel carrier used predominantly by the British Army from 1978 until today. It will carry Uncle Ned and up to six of his poker buddies. This edition from 1980 is said to be in great condition and recently received a complete overhaul and all maintenance is current. Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, this most interesting find is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $150,000. Thanks, Barn Finder PRA4SNW, for uncovering this unusual tip for us!
Built by Alvis, the Spartan was developed as the APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) variant of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) family. Armed with a single machine gun, it is almost indistinguishable from the FV102 Striker in external appearance. Rather than a general personnel carrier for infantry, the Spartan has been used for moving specialist groups, such as anti-aircraft missile teams. Most Spartans were powered by a Jaguar 4.2 XK gasoline engine. Between 500 and 1000 of these have been built since 1978.
The seller’s 1980 edition of the tank runs on diesel fuel fed through a 5.9-liter Cummins Diesel, which makes its installation fare for these tanks, according to the seller. The tracks are original and have about 80% of their tread life left. It’s not as big as you might think – while it does weigh 17,000 lbs. – it will fit into a 20-foot storage container. These things will haul butt, capable of speeds up to 55-60 mph. The transmission is semi-automatic and has no clutch, making it easy enough for your Uncle Ned to operate.
We’re told that this is a one-owner machine, but wouldn’t the British government be the first owner? Three questions come to mind: 1) it is even legal to own one of these in the U.S., 2) where you would drive it because it can’t be street legal (unless you take it out on the road as James Garner did in the 1984 movie, Tank)l and 3) where would you get it worked on?. Isn’t this better than a tie or pipe for your favorite uncle?
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Comments
Boy can I think of some inconsiderate drivers out there I’d love to see come up against this thing! Imagine what some driver wishing to exhibit road rage would do if confronted with this thing! This I would call the ultimate go anywhere cruiser.
especially if it still had its machine gun!
Answers to your questions: 1) yes 2) yes -it has headlights, brakelights and turn signals so can be registered for the road 3) Any diesel mechanic can service the engine and any large equipment service should be able to handle the tracks and bogies. The rest is just nuts and bolts and electrics…
Rick is correct for some states, though it’s dependent on your own state specific traffic regulations for tracked vehicles..maybe register it for use as a streetable farming implement?
I’ll bet both uncle Ted AND Ned would have fun commuting with this!
BTW, that was 4 questions..😆
The perfect commuter vehicle! Just fit it with a killer stereo and you’re good to go, 5 days a week. Howerver it’s strange they would list a $150k vehicle in Facebook Marketplace, of all places.
Not sure the locals would appreciate what it would do to the pavement. Gosh, I thought studded snow tires were hard on the roads!
The tracks on almost every roadbound tracked vehicle (especially military) have rubber cleats for that very reason-otherwise the Autobahn wouldn’t have made it through The Cold War let alone this century..
Guaranteed: other drivers will get out of your way.
An APC is not a ‘tank’.
May not be a tank but definitely better than a Yugo! ;-)
If you can just slap a plow on the front, for those long New England winters . .
If ice was on the road,It couldn,t get traction. It,d be like a dozer and slide side ways on a little un-level road. Sure would be hot in it in the summer time. Low mileage too.per gallon
I’d save $150,000 by not buying it.
Russ, great write-up, thanks for featuring it.
I just about fell out of my chair when this came up randomly on my Marketplace Feed.
If it has cup holders count me in!!
“I DO believe I got you covered.” Close quote. Far from a real tank but you could still have a lot of fun with this on the freeway. I think of all those yuppies who jockey those import luxury SUVs around who MUST be ahead of EVERYONE and won’t hesitate giving you the ‘Single Digit Wave’ if they think you’re holding them back. Just point the ol’ “Chicago Street Sweeper” at them and see what they think. Completely impractical for me, not to mention out of my budget but a person could have a lot of fun…
Oh yeah, at top speed 55 you’d run rings around freeway traffic.
Uhhh..I don’t know, I gotta think buying this one.
Love it, Just to bad it is not a US Army Military M113 as I drove during my tour 365 in and thru the jungles of I Corp in Nam; if this was the APC I have wanted for so many years I would be a serious player and with 5 acres of rolling foothills to play in makes it even more desirable. The tracks wore rubber pads and could be removed for dirt or off road ground use only. Like the fact it is diesel as was the 14 ton M113. Also the M113 carried a 50 cal. main gun and twin 30 cal. M60’s.
Thanks for the post of this light duty armor vehicle, very interesting find for sure.
My birthday is next month, i sent this to him saying this would be a good present 😎
Some of you guys better check with the lady of the house, my sister-in-law would kill my brother if he parked that thing in their driveway of her picture perfect house.
Perfect vehicle for the upcoming collapse of civilization. Park it in the bomb shelter’s garage.
Provided it’s secured from EMP radiation too….
I’m a tanker, and that’s no “tank”. Mine was 52 tons , had a 105mm main gun, a 7.62 coaxial machine gun, and I had personal use of an M85 fifty caliber machine gun in my cupola. We defended the West German border against “you know who”. Later, I commanded the scout platoon (among other duties) and this was much like our M114 scout vehicle. Which I liken to an armor plated Corvette, as it had a Chevy sourced V8. BUT, even that had a 20mm cannon that was much like a machine-gun. Fast, low and would hold 5-6 guys in a pinch. This would be “fun” to have if I lived near Fort Hood in Texas, where one could probably get a .50 cal and be licensed for same….
Ma Deuce can give a whole new respect for your local Neighborhood Watch Program…
In all seriousness, bog, thank you for your service and protecting us at the Fulda Gap..
No license required