Military Tanks For Sale To Civilians

Tanks are incredible, powerful machines. And if you’ve got the real estate to house one, the know-how to update or maintain one, and the cash to buy one…you can own a tank just like you would a car. Here are the military tanks for sale to civilians!

M4 Sherman Tank

When a lot of people think of a tank, the M4 Sherman battle tank comes to mind. Two reasons: they were effective, and there were a lot of them. Nearly 50,000 M4 tanks were produced before and during WWI. The only tank ever produced at a higher clip than the M4 was the Soviet T-34. Today, a M4 tank for sale will cost you about $250,000.

M-50 Israeli Sherman

The M-50 is often called a Super Sherman. The tank was used by Israel Defense Forces from the 1950s to the 1970s and was a modified variant of the American M4 Sherman tank. One of the biggest changes was up-converting the M-50, so it included a 75mm tank gun. The M50 was a participant in the 1967 Six-Day War and placed as a reserve unit in 1973 for the Yom Kippur War. After retirement, Israel gave some of the tanks to the South Lebanese Army ally. The tank runs for $300,000 to $350,000.

Centurion AVRE

The Centurion AVRE is fitted with an Ordnance BL 165mm L9A1 demolition gun firing a 64lb charge projectile up to 2000yds, a .30in No.7 MK 1 browning machine gun, and smoke dischargers. It is powered by a Rolls Royce Mk Meteor 4BH ‘V’12 cylinder 27 litre water cooled petrol engine producing 650bhp at 2500rpm which gives the Centurion a top speed of 21mph. This tank was used in the post WWII-days of for Britain – so in the 1950s, 21mph was pretty solid. It weighs 52 tons and carries a crew of five.

Mk10 Chieftain Tank

The Chieftain takes the advancements of the Centurion a step further. While the Centurion established the concept of the ‘main battle tank’, the Chieftain took the MBT to the next level. When it was produced in the mid-60’s, it was faster than its predecessor with more powerful and versatile weaponry. Additionally, it was designed to outlast the previous tank’s mandated maintenance times. Today, this military tank for sale would cost you about $75,000.

FV4601 MBT-80

The FV4601 MBT-80 was a third-generation main battle tank designed in 1979 and was supposed to replace the Chieftain. Ultimately, the Challenger 1 received that honor. As for the MBT-80, Military Vehicles and Engineering Establishment constructed two prototypes: the Automotive Test Rig (ATR1) & ATR2. The ATR1 was built using parts from the Shir-2 Tank originating from the Chieftain. The ATR2 was an experiment intended to reduce weight by welding aluminum and steel tank hulls together. A private collector bought the ATR1 for an undisclosed amount. The seller was open for price suggestions since the tank was so stripped down. The ATR2, on the other hand, is displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset.

Panzer IV

The Panzerkampfwagen IV or Panzer IV was the most frequent German tank used in World War II. Development began in the 1930s, with production carried out throughout the war. The manufacturers built around 8,5000 units, and it became Germany’s most exported tank. The Panzer IV saw action in all combat theaters receiving upgrades when needed. Eventually, they were partially replaced by the Panther medium tank to combat the Soviet T-34. At Auctions America in 2014, the pre-auction price for a Panzer IV was estimated at $2.4 million to $2.6 million.

Mowag Pirat

Possibly the most rare tank on our list of military tanks for sale to civilians…only 11 MOWAG Pirat’s were ever produced. They were prototypes designed for the Swiss Army, but the army decided to go with the American M113 instead. There is a rumor, that this Pirat is the last operational tank left that isn’t owned by a museum. This tank was painted blue for various films in Europe. An accurate price could not be determined on this military tank for sale to civilians.

Sd.Kfz. 251

Although it’s a half-track, we’re still going to consider this widely-used armored vehicle as a tank. The Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251, it’s official and difficult to pronounce name, was produced to the tune of over 15,000 editions. It was most heavily used by Nazi Germany during the years it was produced (1939-1945) – but other countries that also utilized this tank were: Poland, Russia, France, Greece, Netherlands, and Tunisia. Over 20 different versions were creates with uses ranging from infantry combat to medical to transport and more.

T34-85

The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank used primarily in World War II. It entered service in 1940 and became the most-produced tank during the conflict, with over 84,000 built. It proved quite effective with a mixture of movement capabilities, armor, ruggedness, and weapons. On the Eastern Front, the Soviet Union steadily improved the tank to meet the needs to combat the German Wehrmacht. The T-34-85 is an excellent illustration of these improvements. As German Panzers evolved with vehicles such as the Panther & Tiger, the Red Army needed to change weapons. The standard 76mm tank gun was proving to be limiting, especially after the Battle of Kursk. Initially, the Soviets wanted to build a new tank T-43, but the armor was overly heavy, and it had mobility issues. Instead, they changed the T-35 design to hold an 85 mm ZiS-S-53 to combat German Flak 88mm. The new design and turret also provided more space in the tank, allowing for five crew members rather than four. The price is not listed for the T34-5.

Chaffee M24

The M24 Light Tank was one of the most efficient and successful tanks ever built…and now its a military tanks for sale to civilians. The M3 and M5 Stuart light tanks that predated the M24 were notoriously under-equipped, so the potent lightweight 75 mm (2.95 in) main gun on the M24 was designed to pack a punch never before seen in a light tank. Today, an M24 tank for sale can fetch as much as $350,000.

M22 Locust Light Tank

The M22 Locust was a World War II American-designed airborne light tank. The development of the M22 began in 1941 to answer the British military request for a light tank that could be carried by gliders. Only 830 were built with production ending in 1945. The tanks faced many technical problems and did not do well in action. For example, in March 1945, during Operation Varsity, several tanks were damaged upon landing, and a German self-propelled gun destroyed one. Only two of the eight made it to their rendezvous point. By 1946, the British Army labeled them obsolete. The biggest drawback to the tank was its thin armor. This World War II relic goes for around $55,000.

M39 Armored Utility Vehicle

The M39 Armored Utility Vehicle weighs over 33,000 pounds, carries up to 8 passengers, can reach 50 miles per hour, powered by a Continental R975-C4, 9 cyl, radial gasoline engine, and only about 650 of the AUV/tank were ever produced. Given the rarity of the production cycle and the fact that there are hardly any left today that are still operational – a M39 for sale will run you north of $445,000.

AMX-13 Light Tank

The oscillating turret which now seems oh so common on any tank in combat today, was once just a pipe dream. That is, until the AMX-13 Light Tank found success with the oscillating turret for the first time. Over 7,500 were built between 1952 and 1964 across 24 variations. Due to its post-WWII production and relatively light combat time, several quality AMX-13s are still intact. Today, AMX-13 tank for sale can run you not much more than an average late-model SUV – roughly $70,000.

Leopard I A5 BE Main Battle Tank

Heralded as ‘NATO’s Main Battle Tank’, the Leopard I battle tank began production in the mid-1950s in Western Germany. They had to do so with NATO’s blessing because of recent post-WWII sanctions, but the threat posed by Russia was great enough to allow the tank to be produced. Over 4,500 were built before being succeeded by the Leopard II main battle tank. It’s powerful, but expensive. Today, a Leopard military tank for sale will cost you about $225,000.

M3 General Lee Tank – Military Tanks For Sale

Better than the M2, oveshadowed by the M4 – the M3 General Lee Battle Tank was a useful, yet underproduced tank that filled a brief need in a brief time window. These tanks were produced in the late 1930s, right before the M4 burst on the scene. Today, a M3 tank for sale to civilians will cost you about $150,000.

M5A1 Stuart Tank

New tactical thinking with how to approach the armed forces in the USA began propping up around 1940. The U.S. Army decided it needed something better than the M2 light tank. In steps, the M3 Stuart. The M3 was fast and held 37 mm Gun M6. The tank was also cable of holding up to five .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919A4 machine guns, later reduced to three. It performed in almost every theater of the war. The M3 proved admirable in Japan but faced issues in Europe due to its armor and armament. The U.S. Army Ordnance Department constructed a newer edition of the M3 called the M5 Stuart. The primary purpose of the M5 was the demand for radial engines. The M5 had many of the same qualities of M3 but boasted two Cadillac V8 automobile engines, which were more reliable and less likely to catch on fire like the previous Continental aviation engines. The M5 also contains a redesigned hull with a heightened deck over the engine compartment. The M5A1, on the other hand, is a variant of the design holding the turret of the M3A3. This tank goes for around $125,000.

T54 Main Battle Tank

The Soviet Union began production on a new tank shortly after World War II. Previous efforts to mount a 100 mm gun on older models proved ineffective, so the county decided to develop new ones. The T-54 was the answer. The D-10T 100 mm rifled gun is the primary weapon while the second armament is a 7.62 mm SGMT coaxial machine gun. The tanks are small and cramped compared to their western counterparts, but very simple to operate with very little training needed. Production in the Soviet Union lasted between 1946-1982. The T-54 became the Soviet’s main battle tank as well as the most-produced tank in history, with 86,000 to 100,000 units built. If you want this cold war icon, the price comes around £94,000.

FV 214 Conqueror

Britain began development for the conqueror in 1944 as a way to combat Soviet heavy tanks. It entered service in West Germany from 1955 to 1966. It came equipped with an L1 120 mm rifled gun and two 7.62 mm machine guns. One feature that came with the tank was the ability for the commander to target with the turret independently from the gunner. The system was known as “hunter-killer.” Unfortunately, the tank’s heavy armor, along with the turret, gave it low top speeds making it mechanically flimsy despite having decent terrain handling capabilities. The Conqueror goes from $150,000 to $200,000.

FV101 Scorpion Tank

In the late 1960s, the British Army issued prerequisites for a new Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T). In 1967, Alvis Vehicles received the contract for their light tank. The FV101 Scorpion began production in 1972 and entered service in 1973. Alvis built more than 3000 tanks for the British Army, Royal Air Force Regiment, and the export market. As of 2019, the FV101 holds the Guinness world record for the fastest production tank. As for the vehicle itself, it was required to be air-portable. As a result, it only weighs 8 tonnes (17637 pounds) and can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour (80km/h). You can buy this tank for around £10,000 to £20,000.

FV107 Scimitar

The FV107 Scimitar is a reconnaissance vehicle, sometimes labeled a light tank. It is very similar in terms of design to the FV1010 Scorpion Tank. The most significant difference is it uses a 30mm RARDEN cannon rather than a 76mm gun. The FV107 lifespan also received an extension. As of 2019, it is still in active duty in the UK while the British Army withdrew the FV 101 in 1994. For private owners, the cannon was replaced with a dummy barrel. The price for a Scimitar will run you around £39,995.

Patton M47 Medium Battle Tank

The M47 was essentially just a cog in the ever-evolving line of M Patton tanks. Built off the M26 Pershing, the M47 was a continuation of the M46 and was quickly replaced with the next one in line – the M48 Patton which eventually resulted in the M60 Patton. The M47 was a medium tank which served a seemingly singular purpose – as the main battle tank in the critical early years of the Cold War. But now, it is available for purchase by just about any citizen who wants to drive a tank!

We hoped you enjoyed learning about these military tanks for sale to civilians. Now, find out which military vehicles are for sale to civilians!