A Smart Fortwo Tank

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Amid all the talk of new model launches and concept cars comes news of this one-off Fortwo. Most people think of the Fortwo as an urban runabout but a few examples have been fitted out with motorcycle engines or monster truck tires. This iteration, however, tops them all. It’s a Fortwo remade into a tank, a working Smart tank.

The car has been converted into a tracked vehicle and painted with a
German Army camouflage scheme, with matching insignia. A new front
bumper wraps around the tracks so that the overall look is that the
tracks are well-integrated into the car. There’s also a serial number
for tongue-in-cheek authenticity, as well as a radio antenna,
side-mounted ammunition containers and a hatch on the front. Speaking of
hatches it can be noted that since the tracks extend the length of the
car, the doors would be inoperative, so they were welded shut. Access to
the vehicle is through the sunroof. Sporting German number plates,
it looks to be road-legal.

This looks like a difficult and labor-intensive modification. Wheels
from a light armored vehicle have replaced the rear wheels. These in
turn drive the tracks, which extend to the length of the Fortwo. Due to
the Fortwo’s short wheelbase, both the track length and suspension
travel have been shortened. In the case of the tracks, a few links were
removed in order to shorten it. Shortening the supension travel should
not be a problem as there’s no way this Smart tank will be going
anywhere fast. Speaking of going anywhere fast, the Smart tank can’t
probably steer as well. In normal tanks, a special gearbox varies power
to the rear driving wheels so that the tank can turn. Such a specailized
gearbox can’t probably be sourced for such a small package. So, it
probably can’t steer even if its life depended on it, and can go only
forward or backwards.

Whatever the case, one would surely be noticed in this – thing – wherever it goes!