Rare Rides has previously covered various sedans, coupes, convertibles, and a truck or two. And those types of vehicles are all well and good, so long as you don’t encounter an insurgency on your way to the grocery for milk and bread. But what if you do encounter such an enemy force?
Well, the Terradyne Ghurka’s got you covered.
Produced by Terradyne Armored Vehicles, the Ghurka has been the company’s sole product offering since its inception in 2011. The Ghurka is presently available in four different configurations:
- LAPV, a light armored patrol vehicle
- MPV, multi-purpose patrol (not like the Mazda)
- RPV, rapid patrol
- RPV CE, rapid patrol civilian edition
All versions start out with Ford’s heavy-duty F-550 truck chassis and an accompanying 6.7-liter turbodiesel V8 engine. Both components are then shipped to the insurgency-prone province of Ontario, located in Canada (HQ of Terradyne). The company sees fit to use the Ford engine as-is, with 300 horsepower and 750 pounds-feet of torque. All Ghurkas have a six-speed automatic transmission, because you’ve got enough to worry about here without the hassle of rowing your own. It’s four-wheel drive, of course, so the fun need not stop with the pavement.
At the factory, Terradyne installs the huge, apocalypse-ready body in various states of armoring and equipment. Outside dimensions measure over 220 inches in length, 85 inches of width, and 98 inches in height.
Some configurations seat up to 12 passengers in bunker levels of comfort (five here), and there’s an optional roof turret installation for the government-spec models. A 40-gallon fuel tank across the model range ensures owners will be far away from their enemies before needing to find a refueling point. The Ghurka is rated for a maximum 81 miles an hour, so it will not be winning the Zombie Rally 3000.
For today’s Rare Ride, the original owner ordered his Ghurka with B4-level ballistic protection, so the Terradyne is up to stopping rounds from handguns and shotguns. Keen on making announcements both verbal and musical, there’s a loudspeaker system and a custom audio system costing a reported $12,000. The whole package rides on military-grade Continental tires and upscale Hutchinson Beadlock wheels to keep things looking luxurious and serious.
Pricing vary wildly depending on options selected, and I could not locate a base price of a new Ghurka civilian. In any event, the dealer is willing to let this one go for just under $280,000.
And you can have it serviced at your local Ford dealer.
[Images via seller]
Me want.
Arnold, your new ride is waiting.
Land Rovers, Hummer H3s and Tahoes are for everyday mall running.
The Ghurka is spec-built for Black Friday shopping.
I thought it was the new Police Edition Explorer.
Badass.
Greenpeace’s new company cars ladies and gentlemen. The future is now mother f***er
LOL
I’d still prefer the Landmaster from “Damnation Alley.”
Didn’t Richard Hammond drive *through* Johannesburg, South Africa in one of these?
I think that was something else. I remember that red thing – I want to say it was built in ZA and that’s why he was there with it.
The Terradyne was mentioned (but not named) in a news segment at some point. They talked about 24 hours of gunfire, and showed a picture of it in front of a Hummer H2 or H3.
Then Clarkson said, “That’s Canada’s answer to the auto industry there.”
@James2 – that was a Marauder which isn’t built on a pickup chassis.
This ‘Ghurka’ must be rarer than the actual production Terradyne Gurkha, no?
It may be helpful context to know who the Gurkhas are.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkha
Needs more cup holders.
Cup holders? Where we’re going we don’t need cup holders.
In Greater Canuckistan, cup holds you.
Based on its name the perfect vehicle either for Joanna Lumley or to have her advertise.
Looks at those fabulous door panels, too bad automakers can’t make anything that nice today. Damn I think we could do an entire story just on those beauties.
*Drooling*…now to reconfigure my Suburban like this. (On a smaller budget, of course), 1) get BLACK SPRAY PAINT IN CANS 2) gotta get those gnarly tires 3) Big, huge bumpers 4) mount bullhorn on roof 4) weld on some square fender flares 5) round headlights with wire guards over them 6) angle iron grille…UH…Anything else ? OH- EXTRA-LARGE LIFT KIT…JERRY CANS!
I’ve seen Suburbans done up this way.
The fact vehicles have been customized this way shows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
This what you buy to solve “QOTD: Is This the Most Obnoxious Thing Another Driver Can Do?”
Nope the answer to that one is the new Mustangs equipped with the urban jackass’ sound enhancement package who are compelled, compelled I tell you to work up and down the slushbox between each and every stoplight. As loudly as they can.
now THAT’S an SUV ! very cool..
Wait, so “b4 level” armor will stop rounds from handguns and shotguns—doesn’t that mean that after dropping north of a quarter-million, any preteen with a pink AR-15 clone can light up the occupants reliably, at least if she has a couple of similarly accessorized friends with her? With the “I’ll take two!” availablity of assault rifles, isn’t this unacceptable for the crowd that could/might want to obtain this?
There was a myth busters episode where they up armored a regular vehicle using phone books, and proceeded to shoot the crap out of it. The phonebooks worked shockingly well for small arms fire (B4 level, bro!). Assault rifles cut right through the yellerpages though absolutely NP and perforated the head of the dummy driver. IIRC the lady buster had a .50 cal, and that of course could mess up occupants and/or engine blocks.
The small diameter and high speed helps that medium powered 5.56 or .223 round go through some armor fairly well. I have seen 1.25″ bullet resistant glass stop .223 and 7.62×39 but a slug went through and continued downrange ad a good clip yet.
Does the B4 include the body and glass?
Anytime an assault rifle is involved you have many rounds on target in a short time which weakend the glass quickly. An AR pattern rifle you would probably have time to get out of harms way.
Here in the US it takes months waiting on background checks to get an assault rifle so why not get two since you are waiting? You still need a Class III stamp for each though.
Almost as butch as current pickups; should sell well in the South.
With the exception of height and weight, it has the same footprint as a 1976 Chevy Impala.
Terradyne literally sounds like the bad guys from an 80s sci-fi movie.
“The Terradyne Corporation, we make solutions for you JOHN SPARTAN.”
[90s]