Can any car be made bullet proof?

5 Bulletproof Vehicles You Can Actually Drive On The Street

Drivers of all sorts may dream of a unique heavy-duty vehicle that can withstand any sort of punishment you might throw at it. Bulletproof vehicles are one class of toughened cars that often make the rounds when it comes to extreme off-roading, or even for those who have been tasked with protecting an important person or equipment.

Wherever your needs lie in the arena of street-legal armored vehicles, thankfully there’s actually quite a full range of options when it comes to these tools. Some are outfitted like veritable tanks, like the Paramount Marauder, which is actually utilized in peacekeeping missions across the world. This tool isn’t exactly nimble, however, and dwarfs other similar vehicles like the iconic Humvee in size.

Unlike the Marauder, these five bulletproof vehicles offer something of a compromise between the firmly blast-resistant outer shell (which in this case, is built to withstand the detonation of a mine!) of the Marauder and the legitimate maneuverability of a standard automobile that might not offer any protection from gunfire, rollovers, or otherwise.

Range Rover Sentinel

The Range Rover Sentinel is a fitting place to begin when discussing armored street-legal vehicles. Land Rover has been building tough street and offroad-capable automobiles for years. Governments and military outfits across the globe rely on Land Rover vehicles for transportation and security (including the U.S. Army). The Sentinel model appears visually similar to the standard Range Rover that a typical driver might park on their driveway.

The Range Rover Sentinel is powered by a 5.0-liter Supercharged V8 engine that can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds. The vehicle is a fortress on wheels and utilizes armored glass, blast protection in the roof, and an emergency escape system. The engine produces 380 PS (PferdStarke, or «horse strength» in German), which is roughly equivalent to the same in horsepower, and the Sentinel model can reach a top speed of 120 miles per hour.

It’s important to note that armored vehicles weigh significantly more than their standard counterparts, and therefore will be much slower overall. The BMW VR6, for instance, wears 1,760 pounds of armor on top of the vehicle’s own «natural» weight. Still, the Range Rover Sentinel starts things off with a bang, offering a performance crossover that adds critical defensive stability to a platform that doesn’t showcase its armor and retains maneuverability and handling facets that are essential for routine movement.

Karlmann King Ground Stealth Fighter

The Karlmann King Ground Stealth Fighter is a unique kind of armored vehicle. Unlike the Sentinel enhancements found in the Range Rover lineup, this vehicle is aggressive, angular, and places its dynamic purpose front and center. The vehicle is possibly the most muscular looking on this list and truly appears as if it should sit alongside the Batmobile in the masked vigilante’s high-tech cave.

The manufacturer notes that the vehicle is capable of traveling freely across challenging terrain, as well as city or suburban streets. It’s run on a 6.8-liter V10 engine that produces 360 horsepower. The most striking feature of the vehicle has to be the angled paneling that flows across its bodywork. Karlmann notes that it was developed by Poly Technologies Inc., a Chinese company, and that these vehicles are used in active duty by the Chinese military. The V-shaped chassis is designed to protect passengers from mines and IEDs, and the hardened exterior offers an armored vessel that’s perfect for making a statement while enhancing personal security at the same time.

Conquest Knight XV

The Conquest Knight XV is another vessel that’s purpose-built for protection rather than achieving its armored status as an aftermarket augmentation. The vehicle’s GVWR is 19,500 pounds and measures 19.58 feet from front to back along with sporting a roughly 14-inch ground clearance. The Knight XV is powered by either a Ford 6.8-liter gasoline V10 engine or a Ford 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel engine. These options, respectively, produce 362 horsepower with 462 pounds of torque and 300 horsepower with 660 pounds of torque. Paired with either engine is a 5-speed TorqShift automatic transmission.

The Conquest Knight XV is built on a Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis and weighs roughly 13,000 pounds on its own with a wheelbase of 145 inches. The vehicle utilizes run-flat tire technology and armored glass across the entire platform. For the armoring of the vehicle’s body, Knight works with clients to ensure that their individual needs are met. The manufacturer offers its highest quality Opaque Armor, which utilizes high-strength steel, ballistic aluminum, ceramics, aramid, and composite materials. The vehicle also includes a firewall between the engine and passenger compartment to protect against engine damage or hazardous malfunction.

Inkas Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG

This one is a thing of beauty. Not only is the Inkas-customized Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG a beautiful automobile, but the vehicle also adds perimeter surveillance tools, ballistic glass, and reinforced body armor that will keep even the most precious of cargo safe. The Inkas G63 AMG is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo engine that’s paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and bolstered by a torque converter. The vehicle is able to produce 577 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, providing ample power when it’s needed the most.

The vehicle offers discretion in the same way that the Range Rover Sentinel provides. The Inkas team has prioritized keeping the visual aesthetics of the G63 AMG as similar to the stock model from Mercedes-Benz as possible. This gives riders the protection they need as well as a discrete vessel that won’t draw unwanted attention from passersby. The vehicle includes comprehensive protection from impact at all angles and can soak up high-powered rifle ammunition without giving way. Similarly, the floor is reinforced to allow protection in the event of the simultaneous detonation of two hand grenades directly below the chassis. It also offers a reinforced suspension and run-flat tire technology to ensure mobility even under extreme duress.

US Specialty Vehicles Rhino GX

Last, but certainly not least, is the Rhino GX made by US Specialty Vehicles. The vehicle appears as a cross between a Cadillac Escalade and an armored transport that a SWAT team might arrive in. The vehicle is one of the largest SUVs on the market measuring almost 19 feet from front to back (without including the added functional distance of the spare tire). The GVWR of the Rhino GX is 14,000 pounds, and the vehicle is built on a wheelbase of 140.8 inches. The Rhino GX makes use of an upgraded Ford F-450 Super Duty chassis and is powered by the pairing of a 5-speed automatic transmission and either a 6.7-liter Powerstroke V8 Turbo Diesel or a 6.8-liter V10 gasoline engine. With either engine housed under the monstrous hood, the Rhino GX is run on a four-wheel drive platform with power assist steering and 20-inch customized aluminum wheels.

For armor, the Rhino GX is built with a dual-layer cold steel and roll cage body frame as well as steel body panels. Like others on this list, the interior is outfitted with a comprehensive entertainment system, as well as the SmartNav 5 navigation system and backup camera complete with an ultrasonic parking radar. The interior dimensions are completed with the addition of luxury, leather seating for all passengers within the secure, armor-enhanced vehicle.

Curved Bullet Resistant Glass FAQ

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James Bond movies and television shows have made “Bulletproof Glass” a household name. It has become a mysterious enigma, so to speak. We will try and dispel the mystery and misinformation about bulletproof glass.

In the real world, “bullet proof” does not exist. When speaking in terms of protection from hand guns and rifles the proper term is bullet resistant, as nothing is truly bulletproof. If given enough time and effort, any bullet resistant product can be defeated.

Bullet resistant glass is not at all like it has been portrayed. In movies and TV, bullet resistant glass is portrayed as being no thicker or different from “normal” glass. Bullet resistant glass is often assumed to be “bulletproof,” and it is assumed that it just stops bullets with no regards what is being shot at the glass from a small handgun to rockets. On TV, the bullets just bounce off the glass and away you go! The photo below shows the impact of a bullet into real bullet resistant glass. (Note that the bullets are embedded into the glass)

Bullet resistant glass is manufactured in different protection levels: from level 2, stopping handguns such as .9mm & .357 Magnums at .825″ thick, to our Level 7- Armor Piercing Protection from a .30-06 Rifle at 2.27″ thick. As the level of protection increases, so does the weight, thickness and price.

Let’s start by explaining what bullet resistant glass is in the first place:

Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass is a Glass-Clad Polycarbonate multi-ply composite laminate combing polycarbonate and glass using special polyurethane high adhesion bonding interlayers which allow or the expansion/contraction differential of both materials. This special interlayer and the manufacturing process are key elements in controlling the 10:1 thermal expansion ratio. This design allows us significant latitude to almost any ballistic threat from .9mm handguns to .30-06 AP rounds. Combining the the obvious advantages of glass and polycarbonate provides three primary benefits over ALL-Glass composites. #1= Thickness and weight savings up to 60% over conventional ALL-Glass systems. #2= Multiple impact protection and high ballistic protection from rifles. #3= The high structural integrity of polycarbonate with the abrasion, chemical, flame resistance of glass.

Polycarbonate is plastic material thirty times stronger than acrylic, which is seventeen times stronger than an equal thickness of single strength glass. Polycarbonate, therefore, is an excellent impact barrier and is used as the core material of our bullet resistant composite. Polycarbonate is susceptible to abrasion, scratching, chemical attack, heat and flame. Polycarbonate alone is not an effective ballistics barrier above handgun protection. Our solution is a combination of these materials to take advantage of their benefits while eliminating their individual shortcomings.

All of our protective glass systems are directly interchangeable with OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) glass. Our Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass meets standards set by: [ANSI] American National Standards Institute, [SAE] the Society of Automotive Engineers [DOT] Department of Transportation, and [ASTM] American Standard Testing Materials. Ballistic testing provided by: H.P. White Laboratories Inc.

Question: Can Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass made for any vehicle?

Answer: Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass can be custom manufactured for most vehicles. However, some vehicles are not well suited for Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass, vehicles such as Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Dodge Viper, Pontiac Trans-Am, and other such vehicles. Vehicles with no upper door frame and convertible top vehicles are NOT good choices for Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass.

Question: Is Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass thicker than normal glass?

Answer: Standard Auto Glass is 5/32″ thick. Unlike in Bond movies and television shows, real Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass is anywhere from .825″ to 2.27″ thick.

Question: Is Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass heavier than normal glass?

Answer: The standard auto glass in your vehicle weighs approx. 3.5 lbs per sq.ft. Real Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass weight is anywhere from 8.98 lbs.per sq. ft. to 26.71 lbs. per sq. ft.

Question: Will My Side Door Windows Still Roll Up and Down?

Answer: Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass does not work very well in the rolled down position! All kidding aside, installing a set of Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass in your vehicle is a very serious consideration. Our Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass is designed to save your life from handguns and rifles. Operable side door vehicle glass is not very common in vehicle armoring.

Standard auto glass is 5/32″ thick. Most modern vehicle doors now have side air bags, side impact braces, etc. There is usually not much room left for thicker bullet resistant glass to fit inside the door without some modification to the door and trim. In most cases you can expect to get from 4″-7″ of roll down, depending on your type of vehicle and level of protection needed.

Question: How does thicker Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass fit in my vehicle?

Answer: Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Door Glass is manufactured with glass offsets. If you look at the photo (above left) of the open drivers door, you will notice a partly rolled down bullet resistant window. You will notice that we have left an apron 1″ of glass that is just a little thicker than the glass in your current vehicle, or “offset”. These “offsets” are at the top and sides of the door, thus allowing our thicker glass to fit inside your vehicles door frame. With the Bullet Resistant window rolled all the way up, or permanently installed, the glass rests against the rubber window trim, with the addition of a black paint band around the glass as the above photo shows. We are able to hide this offset from showing. This also optically hides the thickness of the glass from view, making your vehicle look stock.

Curved bullet resistant vehicle windshields and back lights are manufactured in much the same way as side door glass. That thick black paint border on most vehicles is there for one reason: to hide where the glass is glued to your vehicle and where the inside trim meets the glass. If the windshield were removed from your vehicle, you would notice that there is an “offset” in the metal on the roof and spiller posts. This “offset” is approx. 1-2″ wide and the thickness of your vehicles OEM Glass. These “offsets” are at the top and sides of the windshield. The back light and rear window also has an “offset” of approx. 1-2″ wide plus the thickness of your vehicle’s OEM glass around all sides. We manufacture an apron 1″ of glass that is just a little thicker than the glass in your current vehicle or “offset”. These “offsets” allow our thicker glass to fit inside your vehicles windshield and rear window frames. Again, with the addition of a black paint banding around the glass, we are able to hide this offset from showing. This also optically hides the thickness of glass from view, making your vehicle look stock.

Question: What about my rear window defroster… will it still work?

Answer: We can manufacture Curved Bullet Resistant rear windows using the existing glass, along with with our glass and polycarbonate, or we can add heat strips to the unit in our manufacturing process.

Question: Is Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass expensive?

Answer: You would be surprised at the replacement cost for your vehicles OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) Glass. OEM glass for your vehicle could be from around $2,500.00 to over $6,000.00 in price for a Ford Expedition. Pricing for Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass can start from around $7,000.00 to well over $20,000.00, depending on your type of vehicle and level of protection needed.

Question: Why is Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass expensive?

Answer: Fair question… most individuals have never been in the market for Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass and have nothing to base a price quotation on, other than what they feel the price should be. An informed consumer is always in a better position to make a decision with the proper knowledge and information.

The custom manufacture of Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass is part art, part science, and requires the proper equipment and technical expertise. Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass can cost anywhere from $6,000.00 for a pick up truck to $18,000.00 for a large SUV.

How Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass is Manufactured:

Vehicle Glass Molds: The custom manufacture of Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass starts with us making a set of molds of your vehicle’s OEM glass. The molds are an exact copy of the glass in your vehicle. This gives us all of the curvature and bends that your vehicle’s glass has. These molds will be later used in the bending process explained below.

Layout and Cutting: The next step in manufacturing process is to cut all of the needed door and window units from flat sheet glass stock, along with the sheets of polycarbonate and polyurethane bonding interlayers. The first layer of of glass is cut to the exact size of your vehicle’s OEM glass. The next layer is the first of several of polyurethane bonding interlayers. The next set of glass is cut to the “offsets” as described above. The final “lay-up” can be from 2-5 units of glass and 1-2 layers of Polycarbonate. The inside of your new Curved Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass can be manufactured for you in two ways: Low Spall: (Glass on the inside of the vehicle) and No-Spall: (Polycarbonate on the inside of the vehicle).

Glass Bending: The next step in manufacturing process is the “bending” oven. Here, the molds come into play. We take the cut flat glass and polycarbonate units as described above, and set them on the molds in the bending oven. Bending ovens look almost like giant pizza ovens. The “lay-up” heats up slowly over eight hours to a certain temperature and then slowly slumps the glass to the exact size and dimensions of the mold. The bent glass must slowly cool down again over about 8 hours before it can be safely removed from the bending oven. At this point, the glass is very fragile any quick temperature change during the cool down process will cause the unit to break or crack, at which point the process must be started over.

Clean Room Assembly: Once the “lay-up” has cooled down properly and has been removed from the bending oven, all the individual units are completely cleaned. We now take the cleaned “lay-up” to our cleanroom for final assembly. There, all the bent glass and the layers of polyurethane bonding inter-layers are assembled in the proper configuration. Then, we thoroughly inspect the final assembly for proper size, and for defects in the manufacturing process. Our General Manager, Shop Foreman, and Production Manager must all check off on the final assembly before it is sent to the autoclave for final bonding of the unit.

Vacuum Bag Assembly: After passing our very stringent inspection, the full “lay-up” is then inserted into a vacuum bag and sealed. We then pull a vacuum on the bag, removing all of the air.

Autoclaving: The final step in manufacture is loading the vacuum bagged assembly in to one of our two large autoclaves. (These are just a slightly larger version of what your local dentist uses to sterilize their instruments.) The heat and pressure of the autoclave bonds all of layers of polyurethane, glass, and bonding interlayers together. The autoclave cycle takes 12 hours to bond the vacuum bagged assembly in to the finished product. It also takes about 8 hours for proper cooldown time.

Final Inspection & Boxing: After the finished Curved Bullet Resistant Glass has been removed from the autoclave, it is rechecked against the molds and OEM glass to make sure the new glass has a proper fit and appearance. Again our General Manager, Shop Foreman, and Production Manager must all check off on the final assembly before it is boxed for shipment to you.

Bulldog Direct’s Bullet Resistant Vehicle Glass Systems provide Ballistic Protection that is designed to defeat National Institute of Justice [ N.I.J.] and Underwriters Laboratories [ U.L.] threat levels.

Tested By: H.P. White Laboratories Inc.

Manhattan Armor is America’s Armored Car Dealership. Located in New York, Our Business is Keeping You Safe. In today’s world the importance of

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Discrete Armoring and Bespoke enhancements for the most discerning individuals… Since 1979.

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