If you can exceed the current running bid of $575,000, you can drive your own tank. There is a Howe and Howe Ripsaw tank available on the Hemmings auction website right now, and it’s perfect for those that either want to show off with the ultimate ORV toy, or who is looking to start their own personal military. Howe and Howe does primarily make off road vehicles for military and first responder use however they do have a civilian model affectionately named the “Personal Recreational Tank.” How recreational is this Duramax-powered tank for sale? Let’s take a closer look…
Image copyright Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.## Ripsaw Specifications: Four Seats, 800 Horsepower Duramax
The tank is powered by a 6.6 liter Duramax turbodiesel V8 that has been modified by Performance Pacific Engineering, a company based in California. The engine is linked to an Allison 1000 extreme duty transmission. It boasts about 800 horsepower with 1,500 ft-lbs of torque and can see speeds of up to 60 miles an hour, which is about 18 miles an hour faster than your average M1 Abrams military tank for comparison. In fact, the company Textron Systems, who acquired Howe and Howe in 2019 has dubbed the recreational vehicle “The world’s fastest dual tracked vehicle.” It has less than 100 miles of use on it and is 1 of 6 made in total in the four seat configuration. The company made both four and two seat iterations.
The Ripsaw we saw at the 2019 SEMA show (pictured above) was a two-seat model, allowing for more cargo space, and may or may not allow room for a projectile machine.
Outside, the vehicle is equipped with a winch, for your off duty adventures, gullwing doors, high intensity LED lamps providing 360 degrees of light and watertight cargo boxes to name a few accessories. Inside the vehicle is that of a luxury sports car. Recaro heated and cooled seats adorn the interior front and back. There are also two 12-inch Garmin touch screens for vehicle information and navigation that make the cockpit look more like an airplane than what you’d expect from a tank. In terms of safety, the vehicle can only be started by an authorized driver utilizing the Safe-T-Lock digital keypad ignition system. And, yes, there are cup holders as well! The listing for the personal Ripsaw tank for sale can be viewed here.
Image copyright Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks
