Armored passenger cars have existed since the early 20th century. In the First World War, Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost chassis were turned into armored cars; in the 1920s and 1930s, gangsters and heads of state ordered armored sedans; and during the Cold War and waves of kidnappings in the 1970s and 1980s, civilian armoring became an industry. Today, manufacturers offer factory-armored models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Guard and BMW 7 Series Protection, while specialists armor SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban and Cadillac Escalade.

Timeline

Era Development
1914–18 Rolls-Royce armored cars in WWI
1920s–30s Armored sedans for gangsters and heads of state
1940s–60s Armored presidential and state limousines
1970s–80s Growth of civilian armoring amid kidnappings
Today Factory-armored luxury cars and armored SUVs

Early armored cars

Wartime armored cars were built on strong luxury chassis like the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Read the Silver Ghost.

Gangsters and presidents

In the Prohibition era, gangsters such as Al Capone were reported to use armored Cadillacs. Governments ordered armored limousines for heads of state, and U.S. presidential cars became fully armored after 1963. Read presidential limousine history.

The civilian armoring industry

Kidnappings of executives in parts of Latin America and Europe in the 1970s and 1980s created demand for discreet armored cars. Specialist companies learned to armor vehicles while keeping their appearance ordinary.

Protection standards

Modern armored vehicles are rated against recognized ballistic standards, such as the European VPAM “VR” levels and CEN ratings, that specify which weapons and ammunition the armor can withstand. Read armored vehicle protection levels.

Factory armor today

  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class Guard and Mercedes-Maybach S-Class Guard.
  • BMW 7 Series Protection and i7 Protection.
  • Audi A8 L Security.
  • Armored SUVs by specialist upfitters.

Executive protection and chauffeured travel

For most executives, the right protection is a professional chauffeur, route planning and discretion rather than armor. Read confidentiality and your chauffeur and duty of care in ground transportation.