When a former celebrity-owned car turns up for sale, it’s typically a sports car like Michael Jordan’s old BMW 850i or Rod Steward’s Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary. However, for celebrities like ex-SAS soldier turned TV personality Bear Grylls, it’s a Ricardo Longline Light Strike Vehicle.
This buggy which packs a serious punch rolled off the factory line back in 1990 and was used by the British Army’s Special Air Service (SAS) during the Gulf War. Complete with a deactivated .50-calibre Browning machine gun mounted to the frame tube chassis, its unusual design keeps the vehicle as lightweight as possible, allowing it to be transported in and out of combat zones via helicopter.
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Beneath the spare-tyre equipped bonnet is a 1.9-litre water-cooled flat-four engine (the same as a Volkswagen T25 transporter) mated to a four-speed gearbox, which delivers a potent top speed of around 100 km/h. While this example is set up with a machine gun, the front turret is also compatible with a grenade launcher or the MILAN anti-tank missile system.
This Ricardo Longline Light Strike Vehicle represents one of just five that were ever ordered by the Ministry of Defence during the Gulf War and was formerly owned by Grylls, who himself served in the Territorial Army with 21 SAS during around that time. Remarkably, it’ll only cost you about the same as a brand new Mazda CX-60 — Classic Motor Hub is offering it at just £35,000 (AU$66,650).
