One of the fun things about life in peacetime is that military vehicles can be viewed as harmless and fun and used for pure fun activities. It is no surprise that tanks continue to fascinate us and retain their charm for generations to come.
Some people insist on illegally hiding them in their garage and others buy them at auctions, but there is another option. Someone developed a line of bespoke tanks for rent and it became a booming business. One of them is the CVRT Safari Gunbus.
What does a military farm sound like? This is owned by Nick Mead in Helmdon, Northamptonshire, about 2 hours from London. For more than 25 years Nick has expanded his collection of tanks and other types of military vehicles, which has now grown to over 200, making it the largest collection of its kind in the UK. But it’s more than just a collection, it’s a successful rental business aptly called Tanks-Alot.
Nick’s passion turned into business and gained worldwide fame when the tank sedan featured on several television shows, including Top Gear. The idea of coming to the prom or your own wedding on a giant tank captured the hearts of many people and became a huge success.
The famous armored sedan claims to be the only stretched tracked vehicle in the world actually made from two former British FV432 APCs and a two-man turret made from an FV432.
In contrast to the Limo, the Safari Gunbus was mainly intended for hunting. The best part is that you can take your entire crew with you on a hunting party as there is plenty of room for 12 passengers. The other great advantage of this unusual tank destroyer is its ability to negotiate difficult terrain.
Let’s face it, no wheeled vehicle can match a tank when it comes to handling tough conditions. In addition, despite its massive construction, the Safari Gunbus presents itself with surprisingly low ground pressure, which leaves hardly any traces even when turning.
Nick built the safari from a CVRT Sultan of the former British Army, which at the time of the conversion was only running 600 hours. The FV105 Sultan is a command and control vehicle based on a CVRT (Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked) platform. According to the Northfolk Tank Museum, the FV105 was introduced in the early 1970s as a replacement for the Saracen Command Vehicle with better agility and speed. Compared to other CVRT vehicles, the FV105 has been designed with a higher roof to offer more space inside.
The Safari’s original tank weighed 8,346 kg (18,400 lbs) and was powered by a Cummins BTA 5.9 diesel engine and had a top speed of 80 km / h (49.7 mph). During the conversion, the tank lost around three tons of its weight, so the actual speed and acceleration of the Safari increased.
To adapt it for hunting trips, Nick also outfitted the Safari with a soft top with windows and roll-up sides, made by a company that makes similar hoods for Defense Department vehicles. If you plan to go hunting at night, the Safari also has a military-grade night vision system so it can be driven without lights.
All in all, the Safari Gunbus is so exciting that even someone who is not passionate about hunting would want to join in – “If your wife doesn’t like to come and shoot, she might be persuaded to go on the safari.” says Nick.
The Tanks-Alot range of custom tanks even includes an armored hearse, which has become a popular choice for funerals. In addition to renting out military vehicles, the company also organizes fun events such as “bachelorette parties” where the future groom runs over a car with a tank. It seems like the possibilities are endless when you have a tank to hand.