Ford Ranger Tank of Westen Champlin and 1980s America’s Monster Tank Racing
Many memorable car stories revolve around civilians repurposing army surplus vehicles, whether for commercial success (like the iconic Jeep brand) or for jaw-dropping shenanigans. Recently, YouTuber Westen Champlin brought back to life a Ford Ranger he named “Battle Tank” (originally known as “Car Killer”), providing us with a glimpse into the wild era of monster tank racing that captivated arenas across America in the 1980s.
Today, the Ford Ranger is experiencing a resurgence in the mid-size pickup truck segment in the United States. However, the original Ranger, which is the base for Battle Tank, was a compact truck sold in North America between 1983 and 1992. This was also a time when passionate enthusiasts conceived the idea of creating monster trucks by combining light tank platforms with various civilian vehicle bodies. Car Killer stands as one of the surviving relics from that era.
While Westen Champlin, a mechanic and social media sensation based in Kansas, often undertakes builds from scratch (have you seen his 1,500 horsepower Cummins diesel-swapped Mustang?), he recently acquired Car Killer and restored it to its former glory.
Car Killer represents the fusion of a Ford Ranger with a tank
The Ranger-based creation originated from the mind of a Florida man named Butch Lowe. Unfortunately, the front end of the vehicle was damaged during an RV crushing event that took place in 2016 at the Monster Trucks Gaithersburg show. Moreover, the Ford Big Block engine located behind the cab had suffered hydro-lock due to its vertical exhaust setup, allowing rainwater to seep in.
After acquiring Car Killer, Westen replaced the engine with a refurbished Big Block in his Kansas workshop. Most of the restoration work was carried out in a field, where he also spray-painted the repaired front end.
Beneath the Ranger body of Car Killer lies an Allis Chalmers M4 High-Speed Tractor base, as astute YouTube user Blobb2013 discovered. This base was originally an artillery tractor built by the US Army between 1943 and 1945. Over 5,800 units were produced, sharing many components with light tanks. After World War II, the surviving tractors were either sent to friendly nations or ended up in civilian hands, as exemplified by Car Killer.
Essentially, this rebuild combines two of Westen Champlin’s greatest passions: working on large rigs and enhancing what is arguably the most extreme Ford Ranger collection in the world.
Car Killer can be operated using two levers, each controlling a rubber-padded track, along with a gearbox selector (retaining the M4 transmission). As the name suggests, the machine’s primary purpose is car crushing, and the first video clip below showcases this action.
The 1980s marked America’s era of monster tank racing
For a brief period in the wacky 1980s, monster trucks, which originated in 1975 with Bob Chandler’s Bigfoot, faced competition from the aforementioned monster tank contraptions. Thanks to those who diligently transferred footage from VHS tapes to YouTube, we can now enjoy a taste of the car-stomping mayhem that ensued.
One of the pioneers of the monster tank genre, and possibly its inventor, was William Townes. Inspired by a piece of art in a 4-Wheel Drive magazine, Townes combined an M4 tracked base with a Chevy Blazer body, resulting in the Virginia Beach Beast. This creation garnered significant attention in the world of monster trucks and tractor pulling, inspiring other builders to create their own monster tanks.
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