Buying a Spanish Army bulldozer for around €1,500 might sound like the perfect Christmas gift for some gardeners who have everything, but Spain’s Ministry of Defence is actually offering one as part of a public auction of surplus Army equipment.
The 17 lots have combined starting prices of approximately €1.49 million, according to the official auction notice published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE).
The sale covers everything from ageing construction machinery and vehicle spare parts to specialist military electronics, radar components and blank-firing grenade launchers.
However, the advertised prices are starting bids rather than guaranteed sale prices, and anyone interested must follow the official auction procedure.
What can you buy at the Spanish Army auction?
One of the more unusual lots contains five pieces of construction machinery, including a tracked Fiat-Allis 14C bulldozer with a starting price of €1,505. The lot also includes three JCB 3CX-4T backhoe loaders, aged between 27 and 29 years, and an AUSA RC-5 machine.
Other lots contain a wide variety of surplus equipment, including:
- Military electronics: Missile interconnections, radar components, Skyguard system cameras and specialist infrared detectors.
- Vehicle spares: Thousands of washers, injectors, cylinder-head gaskets and parts for BMR armoured vehicles.
- Heavy machinery components: One lot includes 53 turbochargers valued at almost €95,000 in total.
- Smaller items: The cheapest lot starts at €105.38 and contains 27 generator drainage valves and a 20-metre rubber hose.
A separate lot containing just 6.4 kilos of specialist electronic equipment has a starting price of €82,833. The catalogue also lists five blank-firing grenade launchers, described as equipment for firing salutes. Their inclusion does not mean that operational weapons are being offered for unrestricted public sale.
How to bid for Spanish Army equipment
Anyone wishing to participate must request the detailed auction documentation from the Army’s disposal board. The documents explain the lots, bidding requirements and conditions of sale. They can be requested by emailing juseenet@mde.es, quoting auction reference 2228/0002/26/00/11.
According to the official BOE auction conditions, the deadline to request the documentation is November 4, 2026, at 1pm. Bids must be submitted by November 11 at 10.30am, with the opening of bids scheduled for December 2 at 10am in Madrid.
A provisional guarantee of 20 per cent of the relevant starting price is required. For a lot starting at €1,505, that means a deposit of €301.
Potential bidders can also request to inspect the goods before bidding, with visits scheduled on working days until November 4, between 10am and 1pm.
Check the conditions before bidding
The equipment is sold in its existing condition, so prospective buyers should check the detailed inventory and arrange an inspection before committing themselves. Transport, collection and any other costs should also be checked in the official auction documents.
Public auctions have also featured in previous EWN coverage. Readers can find out more in our report on Madrid auctioning more than 200 vehicles from €80.
For anyone looking for machinery or spare parts, the auction offers an unusual opportunity to see what the Spanish Army is disposing of. The key is to check exactly what each lot contains before making an offer.