Ministerial Cars

[maxi_crawf]

[QUOTE=maxi_crawf;2495900]I would imagine that unless they still belong to a government department, have had the additions stripped out when disposed of so no one knows what the 'upgrades' are, or have been scrapped then someone knowingly or unknowingly probably had one.

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[steve-45]

Armoured vehicles are sold off from time to time, I remember the MOD had 3 Jaguar XJ6 type vehicles for sale that were described as " armoured / bullet proof".

This must have been about 18 to 24 months ago.

I don't think theres too much secret about the processes involved, as they can be purchased by anybody who has enough cash to do so.

[SCP440]

A lot of the goverment armoured cars are blown up for two reasons.

1 so the wrong people don't get hold of them so they can find the week spots and target those points.

2 they can practice blowing up vehicles.

I was at a SAS training ground many years ago and they were blowing up Granada's. They looked perfectly normal on the outside but were V8's and armoured. Even with several pounds of high explosive they still looked intact but the second go and even more explosive sorted them.

[Rikki]

Having spent time with 20 Car Sqn RCT back in the day, I can tell you that very few MOD Staff cars were armoured, even at the height of the Irish troubles- However there were a few, normally used for visiting dignitaries that may have a few people living in the UK that might want to make a "statement"- I cant remember seeing any Rovers, but the Granada's were easy to spot, despite uprated suspension they sat very low, the doors never shut right they were that heavy on the pillars they sagged when opened.- the protection they offered was dubious, combined with the small fact that speed to get out of trouble wasn't an option, they were that heavy that they had the acceleration of a slug overdosed on morphine and the road holding was almost zero, they rolled through bends like they would tip over at anything faster than walking speed-almost all the manouveres taught on the evasive driving course in the Army were impossible in the heavy Granada's

[steve-45]

I remember seeing an armoured Range Rover at the "defence and arms show" in London last year and the side window glasses were about an inch thick !!!

[clf]

Originally Posted by Rikki

Having spent time with 20 Car Sqn RCT back in the day, I can tell you that very few MOD Staff cars were armoured, even at the height of the Irish troubles- However there were a few, normally used for visiting dignitaries that may have a few people living in the UK that might want to make a "statement"- I cant remember seeing any Rovers, but the Granada's were easy to spot, despite uprated suspension they sat very low, the doors never shut right they were that heavy on the pillars they sagged when opened.- the protection they offered was dubious, combined with the small fact that speed to get out of trouble wasn't an option, they were that heavy that they had the acceleration of a slug overdosed on morphine and the road holding was almost zero, they rolled through bends like they would tip over at anything faster than walking speed-almost all the manouveres taught on the evasive driving course in the Army were impossible in the heavy Granada's

I can attest to the speed or lack of with armoured cars. I was, let's say, 'given a lift' in the back of an armoured 214/216 (not sure which engine it was, it was a petrol, with 3 burly, well fat lol, cops, myself and my mate). I dont think it reached 60mph, on the motorway, and it noticeably struggled going around the roundabout! Squirming on its tyres. This was just prior to the Good Friday Agreement, when quite a lot of our patrol cars were armoured to various degrees. Some were plated, others just had bullet proof windows. Some hatchback had bullet proof screens on the shelf instead of a window replacement. I wasnt arrested by the way, although I could have been, it wasnt anything malicious by the way!

There are some armoured policecars, certainly bullet proof windows on patrol (they were supposed to have been phased out at the formation of the PSNI, I believe). I have seen some Discovery 3s with armouring, recently, used I believe for ministers, visiting dignitaries and judges. Along with the patrol Land Rovers (Tangis or something they are called, I cannot recall) too.

I dont recall ever seeing any 75s as patrol cars with armouring. Patrol cars tended to be mainly (but not exclusively) Fords back in the day. There was, at least 3 years ago, a V8 ZT, at the PSNI garage at Seapark, Carrickfergus used for traffic evaluation, but rejected I believe.

I was told from the 70's through to the 90's, M&S managers had armoured cars here, as they were under threat apparently. I know there were at least 2 Rover 800s used for them. A former colleague had to fit clifford alarm security systems to them. Apparently they had to use specialised tools for routing the wiring and cabling.

Off topic I apologise.

[Southside]

Couple of amroured jags on eBay so they do get sold on after use.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162244241819

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/162244249387

[berkshirelad]

Just to be pedantic, there is no such thing as bullet-proof glass.

There is bullet-resistant glass...

[clf]

Originally Posted by berkshirelad

Just to be pedantic, there is no such thing as bullet-proof glass.

There is bullet-resistant glass...

Or ballistic composites

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[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by Rikki

I cant remember seeing any Rovers, but the Granada's were easy to spot, despite uprated suspension they sat very low, the doors never shut right they were that heavy on the pillars they sagged when opened.- the protection they offered was dubious, combined with the small fact that speed to get out of trouble wasn't an option, they were that heavy that they had the acceleration of a slug overdosed on morphine and the road holding was almost zero, they rolled through bends like they would tip over at anything faster than walking speed-almost all the manouveres taught on the evasive driving course in the Army were impossible in the heavy Granada's

Yep the Granadas went better when stripped out.



I did have a bit of armour in there though - no good against ordnance but pretty useful when hit hard by one of the Jags or other heavier cars on the track.





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