Long-time friends Lewis Evans and Tony Haworth discuss their Soviet swimmer
Although he has a mint condition GAZ 46 parked in the garage of his Sandside home in Cumbria, classic military vehicle collector
Lewis Evans is quick to point out that he only owns a quarter of the rare, Soviet amphibious vehicle. “My good friend Tony Haworth owns half and my wife Julie said she owns a quarter, which leaves just a quarter for me,” joked Lewis. Lewis and Tony, who have been friends since 1973, discovered their mutual interest in military vehicles when they first met on a beach near Morecambe. Lewis was in a Willys Jeep with his older brother
Steven and Tony was on a moped. Now 63-years-old, Lewis and Tony have together owned several military vehicles through the years in a partnership that has been mutually beneficial. “We’re both hands on,” said Lewis. “I’m good at bodywork and Tony is the mechanic so we make a good team.”
They bought the GAZ 46 MAV in 2004 from the owner of a Cheshire museum. Lewis gets to keep it as “I have the garage,” he explained. “I had always wanted a Ford GPA but ended with the GAZ. In fact, I think it’s a better-looking vehicle than the GPA, but obviously it’s not World War Two and isn’t as sought-after.”
