Philipp Fackin: The number 1 in old military vehicles

Menus

• This pacifist loves old army vehicles
• The Toyota Hilux is at home in war zones
• "Buy me or keep your hands off me"
• You can buy these war implements
• In everyday life he drives a Mercedes E-Class station wagon
• This spider vehicle can get through any terrain

This pacifist loves old army vehicles

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Philipp Fakin is the largest supplier of used expedition and military vehicles in Germany. In the scene he is only known as "the Philipp from the Hanfbachtal".

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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There are around 200 vehicles on his almost 9,000 square meter property in the Hanfbachtal near Bonn. At first glance it might seem chaotic, but it does …

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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… Philipp is known nationwide as the best address for buying used military vehicles.

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His love for expedition vehicles began at the end of the 1970s when he converted a Hanomag AL 28 for holiday tours. If something broke on the truck, he would lend a hand himself…d finally got into the trade in the large vehicles himself.

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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The off-road vehicles and trucks mostly come from old stocks and auctions where Fackin is bidding. No matter whether in Germany, Austria, Denmark, England, the S…Switzerland or the USA.

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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In addition to world travelers who are looking for something special for their expeditions, well-off private individuals and collectors are also among his customers.

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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They don’t let themselves be deterred by a little moss on the bonnet. After the sale, Philipp checks the vehicle and brings it back into good technical condition.

Source: Fabian Hoberg

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One of his most loyal customers is a sheikh from Qatar who has been buying his trucks in the Hanfbachtal for 20 years so that his court can get through the desert safely when hunting for falcons.

Source: Fabian Hoberg

Philipp Fackin refused to do military service, but he still likes military vehicles. He buys and sells decommissioned copies. His advice is excellent, just don’t haggle with him.

A.Moss grows on the panes, grass snakes up on the wheels. Weathered paintwork and dents on the sheet metal decorate the vehicles. What would cause a shake of the head for any normal interested party in used cars, makes the hearts of Philipp Fackin‘s customers beat faster.

Fackin trades in discarded military and government vehicles. The exterior is of secondary importance in his cars. Solid technology is what counts. “Military vehicles are just beautiful. I love the angular shape, the color and the robust technology, "says Philipp, who has never been to the federal government and otherwise has no use for the military and weapons. "I am a declared pacifist, have refused to work with the weapon."

There are several dealers in Germany who sell former army vehicles, but the 54-year-old offers the largest range: From the goulash cannon to the MAN three-axle truck, Philipp from Hanfbachtal, as he calls himself, has everything on the farm what was once on the road in the field or in the desert.

The Toyota Hilux is at home in war zones

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ISIS associations march through one of their strongholds in Raqqa / Syria with a Toyota Hilux parade.

Source: REUTERS / CK / yhh

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Toyota’s SUVs have become something of a symbol of their reign of terror.

Source: AP / BH MMA ** CAI ** HK ** CAI **

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But the Iraqi armed forces also drive Toyota Hilux.

Source: dpa / aj ase

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Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are deployed here in Mosul.

Source: AP / KM NM ** CAI **

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Iraqi brigades have also gathered on this bunk to fight ISIS supporters.

Source: dpa / aj moa

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They too have some heavy artillery loaded and use the Hilux as a fast and manoeuvrable armored car.

Source: REUTERS / AS / KR

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Another advantage: The Hilux is considered to be relatively indestructible and relatively easy to repair.

Source: AFP / AHR / EIS

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The Nissan Patrol is one of the first off-road vehicles of its kind.

Source: Nissan

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The Toyota Hilux Invincible is equipped with extra chrome. With a new equipment package, buyers of the Toyota Hilux can make their pick-up look particularly martial.

Source: Toyota / SPS

Around 200 vehicles are currently parked on his almost 9,000 square meter property in the Hanfbachtal near Bonn; He parked 50 to 60 more on another site. “I don’t know for sure, but there are a lot,” he says. He’s not afraid of losing track of things.

A Hanomag AL 28 is to blame for his passion for trucks. Philipp converted it in 1979 for extended vacation tours. He knew his way around mechanics, even if only with smaller devices – as a trained office machine mechanic. "Screwing on large machines is more fun than on small ones," says Philipp. If the Hanomag broke, he screwed it himself.

Parts for the AL 28, which was popular with desert drivers at the time, became rarer and Philipp entered the market, buying, selling and butchering vehicles. In 1983 he bought the first truck just for resale. Five years later, desert drivers asked for more powerful vehicles, and Philipp bought the first trucks from Magirus and Mercedes.

"Buy me or keep your hands off me"

The space on his farm became scarce over time, and he moved to a larger property. The terrain has increased three times since then. He has been parking his vehicles in the Hanfbachtal for 25 years – and on rented property.

The off-road vehicles and forklifts mostly come from old stocks and auctions. Worldwide. “I don’t look at the mileage or the year of manufacture; I see what kind of impression the car makes on me. I have to like it. ”Philipp rarely makes mistakes with his cars. “After all these years I’ve developed a knack for good cars. The cars say to me: buy me or keep your hands off me. "

He has the former government vehicles transported to him on a low-loader. Then they stand with him for between an hour and a half and half an eternity. “But I’ve sold every car so far,” he says. His vehicles have fixed prices, he hates bargaining and does not trade himself. “But my prices are fair, I want a good deal for both sides,” he says. This also includes advice: he also advises customers who have no space or cannot screw at all against an army vehicle.

You can buy these war implements

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Probably the most legendary military vehicle, which in good condition brings about 60,000 euros: The 2.3 ton vehicle has a 6.2 liter diesel engine and has been transporting since 1985 …the soldiers of the US Army. Incidentally, the Co 2 emissions of the Humvee are not measured in grams but in kilograms.

Source: AFP / dm / agz

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First put into service by the German Armed Forces in 1979, the Iltis was also able to celebrate many successes as a rally vehicle. The VW Type 183 is available for around 5,000 to 8,000 euros…chose dealers.

Source: Volkswagen AG

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The Polaris MV850 from the USA is one of the first military vehicles to do without pneumatic tires. Prices for a civil version start at around $ 15,000.

Source: Polaris Defense

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The Ripsaw is so popular that even the Iranian military has built nine models and plans to start series production soon. Much to the displeasure of the G…ebrothers Howe. The inventors of the Ripsaw are charging at least $ 200,000 for their tank-like two-seater, with a 6.6 liter V8 Duramax diesel and over 600 horsepower. The model was presented in 2001 at the Dallas Vehicle Show and discovered by the American military. A prototype was sent to Iraq shortly afterwards.

Source: MCT via Getty Images / IM

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The Tigr, the Russian counterpart to the Humvee, has been built since 2005 as a military, police and civil version, among other things. It is very stable in value. Instead of the usual $ 60,000…ar, is now estimated at $ 110,000 for a model.

Source: picture alliance / dpa / ms ase

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You have to travel a little further for this crusher as the Renault Sherpa is only available in Russia and the Middle East. Equipped with a 215 hp diesel and aluminum…wheel drive, the normal Sherpa is available for $ 272,000.

Source: Renault Trucks Defense

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The “Staff” jeep has a typical military look. The concept with a higher chassis and roll cage has no doors, but a cool box with space for 85 bottles…. Prices are estimated at $ 40,000.

Source: FPI Studios

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544 PS strong, 160 km / h top speed and 350,000 euros expensive: The three-axle Mercedes is normally used by the Australian Army, but is given a complete conversion from AMG…f S-class level. In addition, the G63 has a tire pressure control system and special Hutchinson rims with off-road tires.

Source: Daimler

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The potential successor to the legendary Humvee comes not from Russia, but from Wisconsin. With a hybrid system, the Oshkosh M ATV should run almost silently for every use…iten. A civil version is not excluded.

Source: Getty Images / Stocktrek

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South African obesity: For around $ 485,000, the buyer gets a ten-ton all-purpose device. At Top Gear, the Marauder has already proven its suitability for everyday use,… after Richard Hammond treated the vehicle with plastic explosives. He could only demolish one tire, the rest remained almost intact. But the Marauder can do it differently. As part of a fashion show, the camouflaged colossus poses with a model.

Source: Marauder / dxi / jd

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The Go-Ped-Knightrider is a further development of the civil Go-Ped ESR 750 hoverboard. The special military version has extras such as more ground clearance, off-road tires …and a "boost function", with which seven hp are available for a short time. Michael Schumacher already uses the Go-Ped as a Ferrari driver to get around in the Formula 1 paddock.

Source: Getty Images / CR / jd

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The American amphibious vehicle DUKW was also used in the Allied landings in Normandy in 1944 and was also used by the English Royal Navy (in the picture King Georg… VI) used. Built from 1942 until the end of the war, the Duck is still in use today. Mostly American yacht clubs and tour operators use the classic car.

Source: IWM / Getty Images / KLHb

He sells around 100 vehicles a year, most of which stay in Germany. Around 20 percent of its customers come from all over the world. China, USA, Japan and the Arab region. A sheikh from Qatar has been buying his trucks from him for 20 years – so that his court can get through the desert safely while hunting for falcons. His customers include not only world travelers who are looking for something special, but also well-off private individuals and collectors.

“Almost everyone has a classic car these days. I have something special to play with, "says Philipp. Because for this, buyers not only need money, but also, depending on the vehicle, a truck driver’s license and plenty of space to maneuver.

In everyday life he drives a Mercedes E-Class station wagon

After the sale, he needs one to two weeks until delivery: He checks the vehicle, brings it back into good technical condition, and there is a new general inspection with a fresh TuV sticker. “I only repair with my eyes and my mind. I don’t need technical literature or computers, ”he says. He does not sell fully restored vehicles; that would be too much work for the two-man operation. If necessary, he will take care of the export authorization.

Some vehicles are not for sale. Including the tank truck Dodge W63 from 1942, a Magirus caravan and his Sunday car: the Dodge WC56, built in 1942, which was on its way to Berlin during World War II. Although he never arrived there, he went to Philipp in a roundabout way. To play, he uses a 57 series Faun Truck-Trail truck with a 12-liter V8 and 180 hp, with which he sweeps through the terrain six times a year.

This spider vehicle can get through any terrain

Is it a spider A recumbent bike? A quad? All in one. The off-road vehicle from a French company is light, manoeuvrable, electrically powered and should be able to master any terrain. Source: N24

"The ex-BW truck is robust, but not a food lover in the field, it easily drags 100 liters in for 100 kilometers." E-Class 270 station wagon from 1998 – without any camouflage.

Philipp no ​​longer knows how many cars have passed through his oily and dexterous hands in the past 30 years. Most often he sold Unimogs and Mercedes Gs in the Bundeswehr Wolf version.

Old G-models from Mercedes and Steyer-Puch are currently popular, especially gasoline-powered vehicles with automatic transmissions from the Swiss Army. Because they are still allowed into the city centers with a green sticker. "These are still real off-road vehicles and not so soft-washed SUVs with their high-gloss paintwork," he says.

My life as a Petrolhead – every Monday we introduce you to “Welt” a person for whom the car is much more than just a means of transport. If you would like to be photographed and portrayed in your car, please contact ps@weltn24.de.

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