Owning a military tank is legal in all 50 states (but it will cost you) – Jalopnik

If you’ve ever seen James Garner’s movie “Tank” (unlikely; it’s not great), you might have thought that Hollywood was once again testing credulity. Even a former US Army sergeant major couldn’t drive an old M4 Sherman tank around on the streets, even if it’s just for parades, right? (But what would scare you more: a tailgating Nissan Altima or a Sherman? Be honest.)

Well, just as the odds aren’t zero of being injured by an exploding toilet, depending on the income level and boldness of your neighbors (not to mention homeowners association rules), you might see a running, working tank getting a hose wash. Lest you believe that this is something that could only happen in the wild west of Florida or the state of Texas, “don’t mess with Texas,” no. You can get a tank in all 50 states. Do you think owners of exotic cars with Montana license plates are getting side eye? Tell people you just bought an M26 Pershing with a 90mm gun.

As you’ve probably guessed, tanks are expensive. In 2020, a 1972 Alvis Saber sold on Bring a Trailer for $55,000 (yes, Bring a Trailer sells tanks), and that’s a great bargain compared to just about every other tank sold on the site. A Soviet T-54 Main Battle Tank sold for $221,207 this year, and a 1943 M4A1 Grizzly variant of the Sherman fell short of its $480,000 reserve.

But the purchase price of the tank is not the only financial (or legal) obstacle to tank ownership. You may need to purchase rubber tracks to keep the asphalt from breaking down, among other modifications (we’ll explain this in more detail), and a form SF-97 to title the tank. Even after all that, you should still check with your local police about using it on public roads.

While Howe & Howe’s The Ripsaw F4’s datasheet states that it is “built for extreme off-road enthusiasts.” Some extreme on-road enthusiasts have apparently read the marketing material claiming it to be “the world’s fastest twin-track vehicle on the market.” They took a good look at the rubber tracks and started Googling “how to make the Ripsaw road legal.” First it must pass emissions tests, then be given safety items such as a horn, mirrors, lights and indicators, and undergo an inspection before being allowed on the streets. And yes, people have done exactly this when Cleetus MacFarland drove a Ripsaw through a McDonald’s drive-through.

And if you rush to your keyboard to complain that the Ripsaw isn’t a tank, fine. The Howe & Howe Ripsaw is technically a fast ‘tracked vehicle’. But the FV101 Scorpion is definitely a tank – a light reconnaissance tank from the UK – and Savage Garage got to drive one on the road after meeting the owner at Cars and Coffee. It can reach 80 km/h and has the required lights, indicators, etc.

If the tank in question still has an operational gun, it’s a “destructive device,” as if a 55-ton M1 Abrams tank isn’t destructive as it is. That’s when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the coolest US government agency, needs to get involved. The chance of the average citizen obtaining a federal destructive equipment permit to own and operate a working tank gun or other artillery is slim in some states, and completely impossible in others. You might get a permit if you can prove the tank will be used for historical reenactments in controlled environments, but not if you publicly vowed vague revenge against your local coffee shop in a one-star review on Yelp.

Those of you who now have the itch to buy a tank but don’t have the nerve to scratch that itch: the US military has your back. Thanks to Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), you can become the custodian of a real, honest army tank. Note that this is “custodian” and not “owner” because that tank will technically be on extended loan. You will also need to have a concrete pad that can support the tank for display.

Plus, the tank can’t just sit in your driveway with a “Five dollars to sit on it for photos” sign on the front. The location must be a museum, memorial, Veterans of Foreign Wars station, or similar place. You’ll also need to care for and maintain the tank, and the Army Donations Program expects annual reports and photos of it to ensure you keep it in good condition.

For people who just want to preserve military tanks as pieces of history, the TACOM route will probably suffice. But if you have some pent-up aggression that you want to get out by running over cars and firing guns without provoking a police chase, like that guy in San Diego who stole an M60 Patton in 1995, then you can just spend a day with the Drive Tanks people.

Drive Tanks is located in Texas, which feels good, and for a few thousand dollars you can drive a tank and shoot the main gun. But if you want to feel bad to the core, you can buy a Harley-Davidson Fat Boy like the one in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (base price $22,599) or fire more than 4,500 rounds from Drive Tanks’ M134 minigun ($500 per 100 rounds). Who needs a college fund anyway?