Rare armoured vehicle up for sale
A working, 15-tonne, armoured personnel carrier, that was once seized by police, is now up for sale – for just $40,000.
Currently sitting on the front lawn of 69-year-old Lenard Phillips’ Auckland house, the ex-British army FV432 APC is for sale on Facebook marketplace after Phillips decided that he could no longer maintain it to the standard he wanted.
The APC spent three years in police possession after the previous owner got into trouble with the law.
Makere Edmonds-Phillips, Lenard’s daughter, said they’d listed the vehicle a few months ago and got over 200,000 views, but her dad changed his mind.
“Dad doesn’t have anywhere to store it – we just don’t want it rotting away on the front lawn,” she said.
Edmonds-Phillips said it was important to her dad that the new buyer would care for the piece of history and that they would maintain it.
He had just replaced two of the batteries to get it back in working order – and was able to take it for a spin around the block.
“He was hyped up for days, he was on top of the world.”
It was a unique and rare piece, she said, and the fact that they’re no longer allowed to be imported into the country added to that.
“He’s sad to sell it ... he was back and forth about this decision and only really made his mind up recently.”
The piece is quite famous now, with lots of people coming to take pictures with it,
The new owner would need to do some research on how to make the vehicle road legal, but it was possible, Edmonds-Phillips said.
Lenard previously told Stuff he was just happy to see it back on his lawn and running, and soon enough had two of his mokopuna looking on in awe.
“One wasn’t even born and this other one was just in a pram when they came and took it away, so it’s good they can see it now,” he said.
“It means a lot to me, you know,” he said. The previous owner had bought the vehicle from a closing paint ball facility as part of a combo with a Hummer. For a time, it was stored at Phillips’ house and after an abandoned attempt to raffle it off, the APC was eventually given to the Ōrākei man, who had no objections.