Photos courtesy Miami Armored
Did you know that if you win a sizeable enough lottery jackpot in certain states that your name, residence, prize amount, and other details become matter of public record that are essentially out of your control? That might be nice when Lamborghini solicits you to come test drive that Revuelto you’ve always wanted, but guess what? Your anonymity is pretty much out the window.
At the very least, you’ll start getting letters from random people asking you to help them with hospital bills they say they can’t afford. Those in the exploitation business are also actively reviewing these records and whatever else they can find about what you and your family look like, where you go, and potential areas of vulnerability, so they can begin to work up an extortion agenda.
Did you really think you’d just get to live a life of luxury without the invasiveness of the internet, state law, and the criminal element making it hard for you to keep a low profile? Oof.
Even if you earned your wealth the old-fashioned way, having status, resources, and being in a position of leadership makes you a target. So, what must change about your lifestyle?
For starters, there needs to be layers of protection insulating you from those who’d hope to kill, carjack, or otherwise intercept you in transit. Do your favorite car companies offer models built to be impenetrable from a roadside ambush?
Meh, not likely, but Miami Armored can help you get your vehicular protection game face on without compromising your stylistic preferences or threat susceptibility.
Currently, Miami Armored is the only exclusive armored-vehicle dealership in the U.S., and a division of INKAS, a Canadian armored vehicle manufacturer with over three decades in the game. That little thing we had a few years ago called the pandemic did more than just introduce a virus into the world. It’s also set off a global rise in crime and vilification of law enforcement.
That being said, Miami Armored is providing not only off-the-shelf armored vehicles to select from but also offers clients the ability to modify their personally owned vehicle with ballistic protection and related modifications.
Although it may be hard to know where to start, logic would indicate you don’t skimp on cost and verify the credentials of the company you’re working with. Miami Armored guarantees both materials and workmanship, as almost every one of their components are made in-house. Many clients will presumably need some handholding through this process so they can better understand practicality versus desire.
Consulting goes from initial discussions to post-purchase follow-up to ensure your needs are met. Armoring options range from handgun protection of B4-level armor all the way up to B6 (7.62×51 and explosive resistance), which is the highest level permitted in the U.S. that’ll comply with domestic safety standards.
There’s an obvious balance that needs to be struck between protection and vehicular design since there’s some deviation from the manufacturer’s intentions. Armoring a vehicle could add hundreds to thousands of pounds.
Aside from keeping the ballistic enhancements from calling attention to themselves, reinforcements to the chassis and brake upgrades may be needed to handle the extra weight and keep the performance safe and manageable. Options include additional tactical enhancements, luxury upgrades like partitions, infotainment or leather appointments, and various other custom touches such as communications, runflat, fire suppression, and lighting systems.
Prearmored vehicles from Miami Armored include various popular domestic and foreign options from sedans to SUVs to pickups. Vans, tactical vehicles, and limos are some of the other offerings that are part of their standard inventory. If you’re looking to kit out your own car or truck, there are some prerequisites.
It must be in good condition, have less than 50K miles, be a ’22 or newer model year, be owned outright, and its shape and structure must be conducive to adding ballistic protection. Hybrids, EVs, and sports cars tend to be a bit more difficult to upgrade with armor, but you have nothing to lose by asking. Expect at least a five-week lead time depending on what all your wish list consists of. Prices may range from roughly $80,000 to $200,000 to uparmor your personal vehicle.
There seems to be a rising tide of armored vehicles at the moment, which makes us wonder if tactical upgrades will remain exclusively aftermarket or it’ll become an OEM thing one day. Two things are certain though.
You don’t need to be a uniform-crime-report analyst to know things aren’t getting safer. You also no longer need to be in government, law enforcement, or the private security business to have access to services like Miami Armored’s that’ll configure your personal ride or sell you a turnkey version with features specific to protecting you from John Q. Kidnapper.
Still not convinced you need one? Do a quick online search for the Mormon women and children killed while traveling in northern Mexico a few years ago. And that’s just one of the countless roadside ambushes happening around the world that actually received media attention.
Whether the victims of these sorts of attacks are the intended targets or not, better to be proactive about your modes of transportation. Being reactive after situations like these might not even be possible.
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