Quote:
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
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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.