Yes, civilians do purchase tanks for personal purposes. It is unlikely that you will ever encounter one during rush-hour traffic on the freeway, but that does not mean that these military machines are not available for purchase and use outside of the military. Carry out a simple search online and you will be surprised by the options available – you will only be limited by the size of your wallet and how much you are willing to splurge.
In some cases, these tanks are still in active service, employed by governments for various military purposes. However, more often than not, the tanks you will find for sale are older models that have since been put out of service. In all cases, the main gun and other weapons on the tanks have been decommissioned – meaning that the tanks are about as effective as a water squirt gun.
Still, that has not stopped the market for these imposing machines. Have you ever wondered about the prospect of owning a real-life tank that’s not made of plastic? Then read on – you may just find the perfect choice among the options listed below.
15 M4 Sherman Tank
The M4 Sherman was extensively deployed during World War 2 and was instrumental in helping the Allies secure victory over their foes. The tank had a lot of shortcomings and was especially prone to catching fire, earning it the nickname, ‘Tommy cooker’. Though you should be relatively safe if you are able to buy one today as it will most likely not be used on any war front.
14 M-50 Israeli Sherman
In 1953, an Israeli delegation visited France and was impressed by the AMX-13 tank, especially the projectile it was capable of firing. Subsequently, a decision was made to convert the existing Sherman tanks in the Israeli armory so that they could deploy the same projectiles as the AMX-13 Tank. The result is the M-50 Israeli Sherman tank. In 2014, one sold at auction for about $294,000.
13 Centurion AVRE
The Centurion was primarily designed for the Royal Army Engineers and first entered service in 1962. The tank was fitted with a main 165 mm L9A1 demolition gun firing a 29-kg (about 55 lbs) projectile up to a distance of 1.8 km (1.1 miles). The tanks saw some service in the 1991 Gulf War but have now been decommissioned and put out of service.
12 Mk10 Chieftain Tank
The MK10 Chieftain was widely regarded as the most powerful tank deployed during the NATO Cold War. It was first introduced in 1966 and remained in service until 1995 when its replacement, the Challenger II Tank arrived on scene. Some of these tanks are still in use today in certain countries; their armor and armament upgraded to meet modern standards. You can however buy a decommissioned one for civilian use.
11 FV4601 MBT-80
The British initially developed the MBT-80 during the late 1970s as an experimental tank. The initial plan was to have it replace the Chieftain Tank that was aging rapidly at that point. Eventually, the project was scrapped in favor of the Challenger I Tank. Two test rigs were reportedly built to test the MBT-80 platform and one may be available for civilian purchase if you have enough influence – and lots of cash.
10 Panzer IV
The Panzer IV, the workhorse of the German Army, was one of the most mass-produced German tanks; with almost 8,700 units produced. The Panzer IV was modified at least 9 times during its production run, ensuring its armament and armor upgrades remained relevant on the field of battle. A particularly well-preserved unit was once offered for sale for approximately $2.6 million.
9 Mowag Pirat
Swedish company MOWAG was responsible for the development of the Pirat, an armored Tank designed specifically for infantry use. 11 prototype units in different variants were built between 1960 and 1975.
They were delivered to the Swiss Army for testing. The Swiss Army was apparently unimpressed because they opted for the American-made M113 Tanks instead. Most of them are owned by museums today, but if you are lucky, you may find one available for purchase.
8 T34-85
The T34-85 was borne out of the need to upgrade the existing T34 tank with a new main gun. The T34-85 were fitted with massive 85mm guns that were actually taken from an anti-aircraft defense system. The T34s saw extensive action during World War II and production continued after the war until around 1950. In that time, almost 50,000 units of the tank were built.
7 Chaffee M24
During World War 2, the US army required light tanks that were quick enough to be deployed for reconnaissance but also possessed defense and offense capabilities. The answer was the Chaffee M24 Light Tank which entered service in 1944 to replace the aging Stuart reconnaissance tanks. The M24 tank served in several European countries and was the last Light Tank to see extensive action during the war.
6 M22 Locust Light Tank
The M22 was an American light tank that was light enough to be air-dropped directly into combat areas. The tanks were armed with a 37-mm (approx. 1 1/2 inches) Main Gun and Browning machine guns for self-defense. The tank was manned by a three-man crew and fully loaded, the M22 weighed only about 8 tons. In 2016, one of these machines was offered for sale at a reasonable $55,000.
5 AMX-13 Light Tank
Initial design of the AMX-13 started in 1946. The plan was to develop a tank that could serve as both a Destroyer and Reconnaissance vehicle. However, the plans were modified in favor of a proper light tank and the AMX-13 Light Tank was born. The tank had a main 90-mm oscillating gun equipped with an automatic loader. It is another relatively inexpensive option if you really need a tank in your garage - one sold for $26,450 in 2014.
4 Leopard I A5 BE Main Battle Tank
In 1955 Germany (then West Germany) joined forces with NATO and was faced with the challenge of coming up with a vehicle that could serve as a main battle tank. That ultimately led to the development of the Leopard I, a 40-ton behemoth that had a top speed of over 40 mph.
3 M5A1 Stuart Tank
The M5A1 saw a lot of combat action during World War 2. These light tanks were designed to be agile and easily maneuverable. They carried a 37-mm main gun which often proved inadequate to deal with German weaponry. Eventually, the tanks were replaced by the M24 Chaffee which was armed with a bigger 75-mm (3'') cannon. 2,000 units of the M5 Stuarts were built and finding one for sale today is not particularly difficult.
2 FV 214 Conqueror
After a series of delays, the production of the massive F214 Conqueror tanks started in 1955 and continued till 1959. These tanks were huge and weighed in at about 55 tons. They were strong enough to carry a 120mm main gun and a pair of 30-caliber Browning machine guns. Only about 180 units were built in total and one was recently purchased for $287,500.
1 FV101 Scorpion Tank
The FV101 Scorpion Tank, developed in the 1960s, was mainly employed as a reconnaissance vehicle by the British Army. The tank was mainly armed with a 76mm rifled gun and was also equipped to fire High Explosive and smoke rounds. The tanks could be transported by air and were lightly armored to reduce weight. They could also be fitted with a floatation kit, making them practical for amphibious use.