So, technically the offensive weapons systems have all been stripped from this British Army anti-tank Alvis Striker, but that won’t stop you from making on hell of an entrance at your high school reunion for less than the price of a new pickup.
The Alvis FV102 Striker saw use in the British military as an anti-tank missile platform. Armed with five swingfire anti-tank missiles (with enough missiles onboard to reload five times) and a 7.62 machine gun, the purpose of the Striker was simple: get to within 4,000 meters of enemy tank positions and start raining hell via a remotely guided targeting system (allowing them to fire from behind cover). The Alvis Striker saw combat service during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and again in 2003’s Operation Enduring Freedom.
After twenty years in service, these treaded vehicles started entering retirement in the mid-90’s and some found their way into the hands of private citizens. All told, the British government only ever purchased a few hundred of these platforms, making them a rare commodity on the private market. The last of them left active service in 2005, right around the introduction of the Javelin missile system that would ultimately replace it.
The particular Alvis Striker listed for sale in Nova Scotia was built in 1977, though the owner explains that it had a new engine installed last year that will propel the 8-ton vehicle to over 40 miles per hour. According to the owner, it runs and drives “fine” and is “obviously lots of fun.” If you happen to be a blue collar TV aficionado, this vehicle also secured its place in television history by appearing in an episode of the show “Trailer Park Boys,” as well as other productions the owner didn’t see fit to list.
You might run into a little trouble getting your new anti-tank “tank” across the border into the United States, and although the listing doesn’t stipulate how the vehicle will reach its new owner, common sense would dictate that you not show up with the tag off your mom’s Toyota Corolla and try to just roll up to the border. The seller says you’ll need to obtain a “controlled goods” license from the Canadian Federal Government prior to purchase. These licenses are designed specifically to comply with Canada’s Defense Production Act, intended to prevent dangerous items from falling into the wrong hands.
Securing your license in Canada may involve the government conducting a security assessment of you and anyone else involved in the purchase, as well as inspections of the vehicle and instructions on how to establish a “security plan” to ensure the tank remains in your possession and doesn’t become the crown jewel of some Bond villain’s bunker.
From there, you’ll have to contend with U.S. law and local ordinances before taking your new ride out for ice cream. In some communities, that may also entail re-treading the vehicle with more road-friendly adornments.
This Alvis FV102 Striker is listed at $48,000 Canadian, or around $36,000 U.S. dollars — meaning this all terrain powerhouse is technically cheaper than most new pickup trucks. You can see it in action, driving around town in New Brunswick, in the video below, or if you’re looking to buy, you can find the official listing here.
Images courtesy of the listing on Kijiji
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