Most automotive enthusiasts have a "grocery getter," a practical, reliable daily driver that saves their prized sports car from the wear and tear of a Walmart parking lot.Jeremy Roers isn't most enthusiasts.When Jeremy needs to make a quick run for Raisin Bran, he leaves his lightweight Porsche 550 Spyder replica in the garage and fires up a 9-ton, B7-ballistic-rated Armet Gurkha."Vehicles are meant to be driven, it doesn't matter what it's worth or what it is," Jeremy explained in a recent interview with the YouTube channel Magnacars. "It doesn't fit into the parking spots the best at Walmart, but it sure gets a lot of attention."A True 1-of-3 Military Spec JuggernautIf you think you've seen a Gurkha before, you're likely thinking of the modern Terradyne versions frequently spotted in Hollywood blockbusters or SWAT team fleets. But Jeremy's rig is an entirely different beast.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis is an original Armet USA-built Gurkha. "These were for military use, contracted for the United States government. I believe seven were contracted, only three were originally built, so it's extremely rare," he explained.Before Jeremy acquired the vehicle at a military auction, it was actively used by Special Ops teams in Arizona for cross-border extraditions. The evidence of its past life was undeniable. "When I originally got it, I couldn't even adjust the seats because all the gun shells from the turret were stuck in the seat tracks," Jeremy recalled. The double-walled ballistic steel body still bears the marks of small arms fire.Jeremy spent nearly three years completely rebuilding the Gurkha from the ground up. He removed the massive 3,000-pound gun turret, customized the interior to seat six people, and overhauled the powertrain.Underneath the 3-inch-thick glass and armor plating, the Gurkha is built on a heavily modified 2012 Ford F-550 chassis. It's powered by Ford's 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel, but Jeremy didn't leave it stock. After an EGR delete, an upgraded turbo, and custom tuning, the 18,060-pound tank pushes out 550 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It'll do donuts in a wet parking lot all day," Jeremy laughed. Despite its sheer mass, it's capable of hitting 100 mph on the highway and gets a surprising 10 to 12 mpg when driven conservatively.What It Takes to Maintain a TankWorking on a vehicle that requires custom 500-pound hood struts sourced from a Caterpillar loader is not for the faint of heart. To lift the Gurkha for maintenance, Jeremy uses massive 20-ton bottle jacks resting on half-inch steel plates to prevent them from sinking into the ground.Even washing it requires treating it with the respect of a military weapon. "There's no forgiveness," he noted, sharing a story of slipping while washing the hood and instantly needing eight stitches after hitting a heavy-duty washer.But the one thing he never has to worry about is a blowout. The massive run-flat tires feature a thick plastic carcass inside. "You could take and drill holes all through this tire, and we can still do 80 mph down the freeway," he said.AdvertisementAdvertisementJeremy has driven the Gurkha coast-to-coast, turning heads and occasionally causing sheer panic on the highway. "I've even seen people pull off the road with flashers on because they're not really sure what's going on," he admitted.He tries to cruise at 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit just so he can pass traffic, preventing mesmerized drivers from accidentally drifting into his lane while staring.From the fully functional Code 3 emergency lights and megaphone system to the active gun ports in the rear doors, it is the most unhinged, awe-inspiring vehicle you could ever take to the grocery store.
