You will be surprised to know that there are over 100,000 armored vehicles on the road around the world which are being driven by civilians. That’s a huge number, isn’t it? Yes, that’s a large number of secure vehicles which look just the same way as other cars driving down the highway – especially at first glance. As a matter of fact, in the last 20 years, armored vehicles have grown from that stage where they look like forefathers-tanks. They are now electric cars with many family-friendly options like the types produced by Troy Armoring.
While many armored vehicles are designed to be distinctive live police or military vehicles, many of them are built to blend in and remain as inconspicuous as possible. Therefore, how can you rightly tell if the car you are seeing is just an ordinary car or an armored one?
#1: A Heavy-Duty Steel Frame
The first thing added to armored car frame is ballistic-grade steel. This makes their body looks really different from every regular car you see on the road. The whole frame of the cars is covered in tempered steel and applied to the frame like a jigsaw puzzle without leaving any gap. That way, these vehicles can maintain their shape while still providing a high level of security.
#2: Ballistic Glass
There are lots of differences between the glass of an ordinary car and that of an armored car. The windows of armored vehicles are made up of a mix of polycarbonate substrate and leaded glass. This allows the windshield, and the rare window to stand repeated assaults without breaking. The glass is usually very thick – up to three inches thick.
#3: Rebuilt Mechanics
Because of the additional weight of steel and glass, armored cars will often have modified brakes, engine components, and suspension in order to bear the armor. Also, these changes mean that a car that is just newly armored will feel a bit more different to drive once it is fully armored.
#4: It Has Robust Tires and Bumpers
It is expected that bumpers of armored vehicles will be able to run through just about anything. In this particular type of dangerous occasion, it is expected that armored vehicles get their passengers to safety. So, they are equipped with bumpers that can withstand a continuous impact and tires that will still be standing even when punctured.
With the help of new technologies, ballistic glass is now becoming lightweight and more powerful. So, very soon, armored vehicles will become less heavy-duty and more transparent.
Above are some features that distinguish an armored car from a regular one, so the next time you come across one on the road, it should be easy for you tell if you are standing before a =n armored car or not.