Skip to main content

Tanking along

Italian police recently stopped a tractor that had been converted into a home-made armoured car. The police believed the vehicle, which was equipped with weaponry, was on its way to be used by protestors for a demonstration in Venice. The people arrested when the vehicle was seized included a prominent politician. This is not the first time a home-made armoured car has been linked to political protests in Venice, as in 1997 a similar vehicle was used in an attack on the Bell Tower in St Mark’s Square in the
June 27, 2014 Read time: 1 min
Italian police recently stopped a tractor that had been converted into a home-made armoured car. The police believed the vehicle, which was equipped with weaponry, was on its way to be used by protestors for a demonstration in Venice. The people arrested when the vehicle was seized included a prominent politician. This is not the first time a home-made armoured car has been linked to political protests in Venice, as in 1997 a similar vehicle was used in an attack on the Bell Tower in St Mark’s Square in the city.

Related Content

  • Not gone in 60 seconds
    June 10, 2019
    Our Skidmarks page is highly rated by readers. Your input could help make this page even more entertaining. If you come across any amusing road-related stories or pictures email me at [email protected] NOT GONE IN 60 SECONDS A bungling young car thief in Norway found one vehicle too tempting, and also too difficult for his (lack of) skills. The man managed to break into a Volvo saloon but then discovered to his horror that not only was he unable to start it, he was also unable to get out of it. The car
  • A history lesson in private public partnerships
    April 12, 2012
    Michel Démarre gives some historical insights into public-private partnerships conceived to implement urban infrastructure projects, a concept that surprisingly dates back to as early as the 13th century! All over the world today, the role of public authorities in the process of planning and, in most cases, designing, financing and procuring urban roads is paramount. Even for modifications to existing roads, decisions are made by these public authorities (usually after due consultation with the population)
  • Let’s go party
    October 3, 2018
    Some friends in the US decided to turn a toy Barbie Mustang car into something rather more entertaining. The men fitted a Honda motorcycle engine and new driveline components, including go-kart tyres. This allowed a top speed of 115km/h, which it could reach in just six seconds, making it rather lively and spirited and also difficult to control. The vehicle is definitely not likely to be made road legal any time soon and nor is a model with a similar performance ever likely to be available from the original
  • Lobby harder and louder if you want better roads says UK transport politician Christopher Chope at PPRS Paris 2015
    February 24, 2015
    A huge leap in highway investment, more privately-run toll motorways and a stronger road industry lobby would all be welcomed by Christopher Chope, chairman of the UK’s highway maintenance all-party parliamentary group. Speaking exclusively to World Highways at the PPRS Paris 2015 pavement preservation and recycling summit, Chope said “yes, I would very much like to have a lot more capital investment in the roads sector. There are still too many pinch points out there … where one motorway meets another for