MARCH military enthusiast Richard Moore, who hit national headlines last year when seeking a buyer for his Russian Scud missile launcher, has bought another military vehicle to add to his collection. A Bulgarian 1,000-horse-power rocket transporter with a
MARCH military enthusiast Richard Moore, who hit national headlines last year when seeking a buyer for his Russian Scud missile launcher, has bought another military vehicle to add to his collection.
A Bulgarian 1,000-horse-power rocket transporter with a 36-litre engine arrived at his yard in Norwood Road before Christmas, after a tedious six day drive across Europe.
The transporter had to be dismantled to fit on the 40ft trailer for its journey, and a 80-tonne crane hired to lift it at the yard.
Mr Moore said: "I bought it through contacts in Eastern Europe and, like the Scud, this is the only one in civilian hands.
"I got it straight from the Bulgarian military, so I had to grease a few hands to get it away from them.
"Each tyre weighs half a tonne, and transporting it to this country cost £6,000."
Mr Moore, buys, does up and sells on all types of military vehicles for a living and in 2005 says he managed to sell about 20 vehicles.
In January last year the Cambs Times exclusively broke the story that he had bought the 40-year-old ZIL-135, a rare Scud missile launcher, complete with a de-activated missile.
He said: "I've lowered the price of the Scud to £15,000, but I'm really not bothered if I sell it because it has created so much other business with the other vehicles I sell."
National newspapers and radio stations around the world wanted to hear more about the Scud, which he bought from a film company in Essex. But E-bay bosses would not let him sell the vehicle on their on-line auction website because they feared the missile might still be active.
A year on, the Scud launcher has been restored to its full working condition and could be back on the road. Both its engines are running, and it has had a fresh coat of paint with the Russian stars on its side.
Potential customers for his vehicles have included a 17-year-old yet to pass his driving test, and someone who wanted one as a gift for his brother in Guyana.
Mr Moore said: "I've taken it for a drive, it's all licensed, taxed and has an MoT. I've taken it for a spin along Hundred Road, but I haven't really got the bottle to put it on the road. It's too wide."
"When the story hit the nationals, I had a few 'Bin Ladens' and 'President Bushes claim they were interested in buying the Scud. It became a bit of a pain in the end and I had to switch off my mobile phone after a few days.
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