Armoured 205 GTI

[aaron_2000]

Never expected such a car to exist, I wonder if it's actually a good car to drive, surely 1400kg means it'll be pretty slow? Can't imagine the handling will be anything to write home about anymore, would be an amazing show car though.

[TooMany2cvs]

Any chance of... y'know... a link?

[CubanPete]

I don't imagine it will be very armoured at 1400kg.

[0ddball]

I feel like half a conversation is missing.

[Evolved]

Cool story.

[TooMany2cvs]

Don't you worry your pretty head, Aaron. We've got it.

https://bringatrailer.com/2018/02/03/french-billio...
http://www.artandrevs.com/car.php?id=560

"used as a daily driver for some years... sold in 2009 to a collector... 14,700km from new"
<scratches head>

[aaron_2000]

TooMany2cvs said:

Any chance of... y'know... a link?

It was late

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[DonkeyApple]

CubanPete said:

I don't imagine it will be very armoured at 1400kg.

It says level 2 so that’s just to stop light, low velocity shots like from a basic pistol or revolver.

I assume that’s just the glass, doors, side panels and boot. Probably just matting but the glass is going to be where most of the weight has been added. I imagine that changes the way it goes round corners somewhat!!!!

Ideal for someone living in South London though.

[BugLebowski]

I can't think of a car which is less suited to being armoured that a 205. Presumably Mr French Billionaire could have chosen any number of boaty and wafty Citroens from the same period and still retained his anonymity.

[TooMany2cvs]

BugLebowski said:

I can't think of a car which is less suited to being armoured that a 205. Presumably Mr French Billionaire could have chosen any number of boaty and wafty Citroens from the same period and still retained his anonymity.

Chief exec of LVMH, so you can bet there was a certain style element in the choice which, say, an XM (or 605 or 25) wouldn't quite have fulfilled.

<thinks> Hmm. Armoured A610...? Probably not low-key enough.

And let's face it, it's not like it actually got used...! 9k miles from new?

[Dapster]

What are the controls ahead of the gear lever? I'd rather hope one would deploy a bottle of '67 Lafite from the glovebox and the other would remove your mistress's knickers...

[DonkeyApple]

They look like aftermarket air on controls from that era. I imagine that as the windows wouldn’t open it would need ac fitted?

[MorganP104]

DonkeyApple said:

They look like aftermarket air on controls from that era. I imagine that as the windows wouldn’t open it would need ac fitted?

You mean these non-opening windows?

[DonkeyApple]

MorganP104 said:

DonkeyApple said:

They look like aftermarket air on controls from that era. I imagine that as the windows wouldn’t open it would need ac fitted?

You mean these non-opening windows?

Christ, those are going to need some pokey motors!! Mind you, dropping those windows will massively lower CoG and help cornering.

[Dapster]

article ... said:

Arnault reportedly had the car built so that he could drive himself in relative anonymity, which helps explain the dark tint as well as the armor

I assume Arnault had Les frères Trotters Trading Indépendant to do the conversion. Total anonymity guaranteed by tinting only the rear windows!!

[Filibuster]

I absolutely love this!!

I'm I the only one who has a (totally incomprehensible) urge towards armoured cars??
Level II will stop calibers up to 9mm and .38 special. Magnum cartridges will penetrate.
But most guns around (in Europe at least) fall into the first category.
You will be protected against "semi planned" attacks by weirdos. If there are professionals after you, you'd need a whole lot more security than any armoured car can provide.

IMHO a very smart car and absolutely suitable for a french billionaire driving around Paris in the 90's. And that's surely exactly what he did with this car.
For parking purpose alone, you'd want nothing bigger than a 205, so why not armour one of those? Would still be a very good car for purpose, even today!

Also, at ~ 1.3 tons its not very far off a Diesel 120 HDi Pug 208. I'm sure the performance will still be not worse than a stock 205 1.0. Handling will not matter too much pottering around Paris too.

I have just been to Paris and you see the most posh people in beaten up 90's/00's hatchbacks (old school Parisian money at least).
It would only stand out, because it looks in too good shape. But after a month of normal driving around in Paris, it will blend in completely

[BugLebowski]

Filibuster said:

I absolutely love this!!

I'm I the only one who has a (totally incomprehensible) urge towards armoured cars??
Level II will stop calibers up to 9mm and .38 special. Magnum cartridges will penetrate.
But most guns around (in Europe at least) fall into the first category.
You will be protected against "semi planned" attacks by weirdos. If there are professionals after you, you'd need a whole lot more security than any armoured car can provide.

Sitting in one will soon clear up any urges you have towards them! Especially the cheaper ones which have fixed in place windows and tend to be a bit claustrophobic. God help you if you ever have a crash in one also.

[forzaminardi]

A very smart and "Arnault-looking" car, this - low key but classy. For any 'normal' person, armouring a 205 is bonkers and sort of ruins the point of the car but I can see it being very appealing to the money-no-object bloke who requires some security and some day-to-day anonymity.

[rallycross]

if you needed a bullet proof car this is about the last thing you would chose to convert, I guess he love the 205 and had to have one?

[PixelpeepS3]

CubanPete said:

I don't imagine it will be very armoured at 1400kg.

the original weighed like 400grams