Home » Cars, Motorcycles & Vehicles » Other Vehicles » Military Vehicles » Tavern APV2 rebuilt Chevrolet 3500HD Pickup truck GMC diesel RHD 4x4

Price: £7,995.00 Located in: Lymington, Hampshire

Seller: plasticbadger (find out more about this seller)

2000 Penman Tavern 4x4 (Based on Chevrolet 3500HD)

Ex-APV2 UK MoD armoured car rebuilt and converted with civilian spec cab

Totally unique vehicle, not for the shy! Literally the ONLY 1 in the World...

13,740 miles from new

6.5 Turbo Diesel

Right Hand Drive

Summary:

Awesome, totally unique and rebuilt Penman Tavern (Chevy 3500HD) reluctantly for sale due to change in plans / life. I've spent FIVE years rebuilding this truck, it's now fully registered and on the road, though it is NOT fully finished, it is ready for its new owner to put the finishing touches to their taste and equip it for whatever heavy duty use they want!

History:

This truck started life as a Chevrolet 3500HD Chassis Cab. I believe from my research that the 4x4 conversion was done at new in the US by Monroe, this involved fitting a Dana 70 front axle and a Borg Warner 4470 transfer case. It was then imported to the UK new by West Midlands American Vehicles and converted to an armoured car by Penman Specialist Vehicles. Code named 'Tavern' the vehicles went to serve in Northern Ireland in 2000, but due to a reduction on hostilities they where barely used and retired in 2007. On release from the MoD in 2009 the rear armoured body was removed. The picture above showing the registration number SG 80 AA is of this truck while in MOD service and the last picture shows it when I bought it.

The 3500HD is a version of the 1988 to 1999 full size Chevy/GMC Truck with a substantially increased load capacity, matching the current Dodge Ram 4500 and Ford F450 (commonly called a 1.5 ton truck in the US). Compared to a regular 1 ton truck, the chassis is larger section, the truck has a live front axle and heavier duty suspension, steering, transmissions etc are fitted. The biggest external change is the 19.5" diameter 10 stud wheels fitted with F load range tyres. The truck is rated to 15,000lbs (6,820kg) GVW and has a 27,5000lbs (12,500kg) gross train weight.

I bought this truck direct from the MoD in early 2010 and set about rebuilding it by replacing the remaining armour with a regular cab from a 1997 Chevrolet K3500 with right hand drive. The truck was released with only 13,533 miles / 1,719 hours on it, but I still went through all the running gear and checked and serviced everything. As well as fitting the cab I have used the fuel tank from the K3500 making the truck closer to civilian specification. I have kept the armoured car front end for a military look and some serious road presence! The conversion has been finished by fitting an old transit aluminium drop side pickup bed. The truck has been correctly registered on an age related plate using the release paperwork from the MoD. It is now registered as a Private HGV, with VOSA Plating Certificate, HGV Test pass and tacho exemption. I have some Tavern related articles in Military Machines magazine, extensive rebuild photos, correspondence with Penman and the (mostly!) relevant Chilton Manual which will go with the truck.

Specification:

1999 Chevrolet 3500HD - Registered correctly on the V5 as 'Tavern' on a 2000 'W' reg. due to the March 2000 into service date.

6.5L Turbo Diesel, 'Heavy Duty' spec - 195bhp, 390lb/ft

4L80E heavy duty 4 speed automatic transmission

Borg Warner 4470 manual shift transfer case with 2H/4H/4L

Dana 80 rear axle, Dana 70 front axle with Warn free wheeling hubs. Low 5.13 gears

Heavy duty leaf sprung suspension all round

ABS power disk brakes all round

19.5" wheels with Bridgestone 225/75/19.5 tyres fitted with the original military run flat inserts. The 6 tyres on the truck are mostly good with 5 at 95% tread and one more worn. The spare has good tread, but some cracking.

Standard Cab and Chassis fuel tank

Currently running twin batteries charged by one alternator, has a second alternator fitted ready to charge a second battery bank when fitted.

Heavy duty coolers for transmission, engine oil and steering.

Air conditioning - needs new pipes to connect compressor

Silverado spec cab - electric windows, central locking, electric velour bucket seats, cruise control

Satin Black paint, been painted 4 years and is 'nicely weathered'!

MoD push/tow bumper and grill guard fitted

Under run bar in place to accept standard 50mm tow ball

12 months MOT and tax

Condition:

The mechanical condition is excellent, the low mileage combined with good maintenance while in the MoD has meant that the truck runs and drives superbly. The cab was removed from a high mileage truck so the interior is not as good as the mileage suggests, though I have sourced many better condition, or new parts like carpets etc than the cab came with. One door trim is damaged and has a 6" tear in it low down and the dash has many holes etc. The external paint is really what would be considered 'rat look' and the rear body is well beaten. I built this as a working truck, not as a show truck, it was never meant to be a concourse restoration. However, many things like lights and other details are new.

I intended to build this truck as a support / chase truck for long distance off road racing, but in the process of building it I have found that my needs have changed. I was going to equip the truck with on board air, generator and a custom rear body with storage lockers for this use, but as I decided to leave it as a 'blank canvas' for the new owner. I am reluctant to sell the truck, particularly as I have poured 5 years of every spare penny and hour of my life into it. However, I simply can't justify keeping it and have already purchased another project, so need now to move on! The truck drives very well and handles well for the size, other than the extremely firm ride when un-loaded and the somewhat limited top speed (think of it as a 7.5t truck and it is good). It will carry or tow pretty much all you can throw at it!

The truck would suit many uses requiring a heavy tow truck for example; a military vehicle enthusiast, a custom car builder, as an off road event support truck, fifth wheel tractor unit, or just as a business promotional tool. The rear axle assembly bolts onto the chassis, so it could be lengthened into an amazing recovery truck. You are welcome to come and view and test drive, I welcome any inspection, you will not be disappointed.

Items that still need work:

As I said, this truck is not fully finished, there a few things that still really need doing. These include:

Wiring details; interior lights, 12v sockets, AC compressor feed, central locking, power seats

Plumbing up the AC compressor, all parts are fitted though

A level of tidying or finishing dependant on taste, including interior, paint and rear body.

Rear cab window needs bonding back in, but I will do this before sale

Conditions of sale:

I would prefer a buyer who comes to view the truck prior to buying and can collect promptly, but ask questions if this isn't possible. I'm not sure of the value, so I have put this up buy-it-now for roughly what it has cost me considering the time I have invested, I welcome offers. Payment is to be by banker's draft or bank transfer (preferable) and all funds are to clear prior to collection.

I don't want over payments from African countries, I'm not keen on export unless you're paying from a UK bank and planning to collect and I don't want your sports car in part exchange.

 

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