Com-Central.net

I heard a rumor that a tarp covered tank near his facility was seen on the freeway heading south........

Can anyone add any info about this?

Maybe a loaner on it's way back to it's owner, or a vehicle exchange with another collection? The foundation does that from time-to-time.

Other than the Panther recently being sold to a Chinese scrap dealer to be melted down into commemorative ingots, there has been no vehicle movement out of the Foundation.


Remember that BAE Systems still operates in the SF Bay Area and has some vehicles in Santa Clara that can be moved around. Plus, any sort of tracked vehicle under a tarp can look like a "tank". On top of that, there's another collector in the SF Bay Area who maybe moving some vehicles around along with re-enactors who have several tracked AFV's.

If you want to get your questions answered directly by the Foundation, consider being a volunteer. Contact info is on the MVTF's website:
www.mvtf.org

Chris "toadman" Hughes
MVTF Volunteer and rumor crusher

- toadmanstankpictures

Other than the Panther recently being sold to a Chinese scrap dealer to be melted down into commemorative ingots, there has been no vehicle movement out of the Foundation.


Chris "toadman" Hughes
MVTF Volunteer and rumor crusher

AFV News DG official "post of the week".

- toadmanstankpictures

Other than the Panther recently being sold to a Chinese scrap dealer to be melted down into commemorative ingots.........

Good God not the one that was fully restored!?!?

You and Toadman are cruel Doug LOL

Maybe the collection is headed to Florida. I found the story below online about a possible new museum in Titusville. C. Reed Knight Jr is looking to aquire a collection from California according to the story below.



Major military museum may be in line for Brevard
BY DAVE BERMAN Florida Today
Monday, September 20, 2010
BREVARD COUNTY -- One of the world's most impressive collections of weapons and tanks is housed in Titusville, but few get to see it because it is not open to the public.
That could change in the coming years -- and also transform part of Brevard County into a tourism destination for people interested in military history.
The owner of the collection, C. Reed Knight Jr., head of Titusville-based Knight's Armament Co., is shopping an idea to open the collection to the public as a military museum, as well as to market the site as a location to hold military reunions, conventions and other events.
He has indicated to county officials that he hopes to build a 200,000-square-foot-plus museum on property adjacent to his gun manufacturing plant to display his massive collection, now located inside the plant.
"The collection is really world-class," said retired U.S. Army Col. Terry Yon, public relations officer at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum at Space Coast Regional Airport, which is near the Knight's Armament plant. "People who see it were always completely blown away by it. He clearly has a passion for arms and armor."
The museum would be another key stop in a stretch of attractions along State Road 405/NASA Parkway that also includes the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum and the Warbird Museum.
"It creates a lot of synergy between attractions, and increases the draw toward our area," said Andrea Farmer, public relations manager for the KSC Visitor Complex and the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Both space attractions are operated by Buffalo-based Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, and bring a combined total of 1.5 million people a year to North Brevard.
Like Farmer, the head of the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum, sees positive tourism benefits from Knight's project.
"It's going to be a nice boom for everybody on this corridor," Police Hall of Fame Executive Director Barry Shepherd said. "If you're into guns or a history buff, it's definitely something you'd want to see. It could be a destination all by itself" for out-of-town tourists.
In response to Knight's proposal, federal, county, city, economic development and tourism representatives formed a working group to gauge community interest in the project -- interest that appears to be strong among those who know about Knight's collection and his plan.
Brevard County Commissioner Robin Fisher, who is spearheading efforts to coordinate the working group, said everyone involved is excited about the prospects.
"It's going to be a world-class, first-class museum," said Fisher, who represents North Brevard.
He said Knight is not asking for money to build the museum, because "he has the ability to build it himself." Rather, Fisher said, Knight is looking for an indication of community support for the project.
Knight is hesitant to publicly discuss his plans until they are firmed up and declined to be interviewed.
But Fisher said he understands that the latest proposal is for Knight to build the museum on a 30-acre site off State Road 405, east of his current gun manufacturing plant. Fisher said Knight envisions the museum as including moving walkways on which visitors could stand and listen to an audio tour detailing highlights of the collection.
Local officials and businesspeople have seen the collection during the occasional private tours Knight gives, but most of the public is not aware it exists.
Because of security reasons, partly related to his company's weapons contracts with the military, Knight would need a separate building if he wants to open the museum to the public, Fisher said.
Fisher said Knight's collection also could grow, with his efforts to acquire a collection of weapons and tanks now in a California museum.
Yon said Knight officials have had informal discussions with Valiant Air Command representatives about jointly promoting their attractions, perhaps with discounted ticket packages to the two museums.
"We are definitely talking about how we can market with him," said Yon, whose Warbird Museum is expanding by adding a $900,000, 25,000-square-foot hangar to house Vietnam-era aircraft from its collection.
Titusville Economic Development Director Matt Chesnut said adding Knight's proposed military museum to the cluster of existing Titusville-area attractions sets up the area nicely for tourism groups with an interest in space, the military and history, seeking to spend a day or more in the area. He said the new museum also would benefit local hotels and restaurants.
Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce President Marcia Gaedcke called Knight's collection "amazing," and said the military museum would create "a museum row there which would be a nice enhancement to our area."
Eddy Pauley, Brevard County's federal lobbyist in Washington, said he is using his Department of Defense and other contacts to help Knight's project move forward. That includes seeking logistical help in moving a large number of tanks across the country, should Knight acquire the California collection, as well as getting input from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration on the tourism benefits of the proposed military museum.
Working with a marketing company, the Space Coast Office of Tourism this month is surveying visitors to Brevard County about their interest in Knight's proposed museum.
"We're doing everything we can to help the project," Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive Director Rob Varley said. "It could really help Titusville when they need the help. That's a great spot for a new attraction. It's a dynamic idea. We're committed to market the hell out of that place," and will work to attract national and regional military reunions there.
Pauley emphasized that, while he understands Knight wants to put the museum in Titusville, it's not a done deal, and representatives from other communities may try to lure it away.
As part of the financial incentives to keep the project in Titusville, Fisher indicated in a letter to Knight that the Brevard County Commission can waive all transportation impact fees for new construction if a building permit is received by March 1, 2011, and a certificate of occupancy is received by March 1, 2012. In the case of a 250,000-square-foot museum, Fisher told Knight, this would equate to $333,000.
"We are pleased and excited about the prospect," Fisher wrote to Knight. "At a time when our county faces unprecedented economic hardships, it is encouraging to have individuals such as yourself with a vision for the future that will certainly benefit our community."
More on the collection
C. Reed Knight Jr.'s collection currently is housed in what's known as The Institute of Military Technology, a 100,000-square-foot facility on Knight's Armament Co. complex in Titusville. A video on the institute's website calls it "one of the largest privately owned military collections in the United States," and shows that it includes military and nonmilitary weapons, tanks and military uniforms. Some of the weapons on display are the original production models.
Economic impact projections
Museum operations: The Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast estimates that the proposed military museum in Titusville, when fully operational, would boost economic activity in Brevard County by $7.46 million a year, support 88 jobs and generate $3.42 million in local income. This would include revenue generated by operation of the museum itself (employing 50 people) and spending by out-of area visitors to the museum (assumed to be half of the estimated 100,000 annual visitors). Museum construction: The $25 million in estimated construction spending associated with the museum is anticipated to generate $37.65 million in total area sales, support the equivalent of 273 jobs over a year's time, and generate $12.18 million in wages over the length of construction activity.

Well he bought the collection from the Hubbard Ohio museum several years ago

www.com-central.net/in...ht=hubbard

Too bad it has been locked away for several years now