WWII tank buried under street for 74 years now being restored to full working order

A remarkable WWII tank buried for 74 years is on a mission to get back on the road after a huge restoration effort.

The Buffalo LVT4 landing vehicle was discovered in Crowland, near Peterborough, in 2021 after farmer Daniel Abbott helped lead a three-year operation to recover the long-lost machine, as reported by the Peterborough Telegraph.

Now the Crowland Buffalo LVT Association is working to get the amphibious vehicle moving under its own power once again — and is appealing for £10,000 to make it happen.

The extraordinary story began in March 1947 when the River Welland burst its banks, flooding huge areas of surrounding farmland.

Several Buffalo vehicles were brought in and positioned along the riverbank to create a temporary barrier while the floodwater was pumped away.

But when the water receded, some of the vehicles floated away.

Over the decades, stories of the mysterious Buffalo tanks became part of local folklore, with some questioning whether the vehicles had really existed.

That mystery was finally put to bed when the Crowland Buffalo was recovered from beneath the ground in 2021.

The charity is now determined to take the restoration to the next level and have the Buffalo running on its own tracks so it can appear at events around the country.

Daniel Abbott said the vehicle is believed to be the only operational LVT4 of its kind in the UK.

“We need to raise a massive £10k to get this Buffalo tracking around events,” he said.

“If everyone donated £1, it would go a long way towards our goal for the upcoming winter.”

The Buffalo also has a remarkable wartime history, having been used as an escort vehicle during Winston Churchill's crossing of the Rhine in 1945.

But getting the giant machine to events is already a major logistical challenge.

The Buffalo currently sits on a trailer, with the restoration team relying on specialist equipment to move it.

Daniel said support from Park Farm Thorney, which has a suitably sized telehandler, had been crucial.

“Without this support or the events covering the cost of transport you would not be able to see the Buffalo at these events,” he said.

He is now urging supporters to keep donations coming as the charity closes in on its target.

The team hopes the latest fundraising push will finally see the historic machine powering along on its own tracks once again.

To support the restoration and preservation project, donations can be made through the Crowland Buffalo Restoration Museum fundraising campaign.