In some parts of the country, a man is still judged not by the content of his character, but by the size of his truck.
But if a Ford Super Duty is the king of the extended-cab jungle, what does that make a vehicle that eats F550s for breakfast? Because that is the case with the Gurkha CIV (Civilian Edition).
Ontario-based Terradyne Armored Vehicles is the Bride of Frankenstein behind this tactical monster. While the company mainly supplies military, law enforcement and government agencies, they’ve rejiggered their Gurkha RPV (Rapid Patrol Vehicle) for civilian use, whether that be pushing Honda Civics out of the best Trader Joe’s parking spots, intimidating away fans at your tailgate or, in Terradyne’s own words, making “your next road trip more interesting.”
With all editions of the Gurkha, Terradyne starts with a Ford F550 as a base, so the 6.7-liter V8 turbo diesel engine (with its 330 HP and 750 lb.-ft. of torque) and six-speed automatic transmission are standard. And while the RPV and two other, non-civilian models (Light Armored Patrol Vehicle and Multi-Purpose Patrol Vehicle) certainly can feature more in the way of firepower and waterpower, rest assured the all-terrain capabilities won’t vary significantly.
There are a few CIVs to be had on the resale market, with prices in the $300K-$500K range, but official pricing isn’t available on Terradyne’s website. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to dabble in armored vehicles, there are too many above-your-pay-grade factors to trust some used dealer. So interested buyers will want to get in touch directly.
Photos via Terradyne Armored Vehicles, courtesy of Little River Friesians
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