Building Cars For More Than Just Driving Around Town

By Author: Stelle Courney
Total Articles: 13
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The failed attempt at Blessed Pope John Paul II’s life urged the Vatican to increase the security detail of his transportation. One change included substituting the glass in the cubicle with bulletproof ones to thwart any more attempts at the lives of future popes.

The people behind the design of the cars that carry popes and state leaders are also the people responsible for the production of the car you’re driving right now. The moment they get an order to design a car to carry delegates and VIPs, car makers switch to an advanced level of safety protocols in designing the car. Here are two car manufacturers that were tasked with making such cars:

Mercedes-Benz: When the Pope has to go on a parade, he hops aboard what many people call the Popemobile. The one he commonly uses is a modified Mercedes-Benz M-Class sport utility vehicle. The rear section of the SUV was taken apart and a single-seat cubicle was built in place along with bulletproof glass.

Older models of the Popemobile also included the G-Class sport utility vehicle, a model made in 1979 and that is still in production to this day. As with ...
... the current Popemobile, the rear section of this SUV was also removed and replaced by a single-seat cubicle. However, this older version did not have bulletproof glass yet, as the need for it did not become apparent until after the 1981 assassination attempt.

Cadillac: The leader of the most powerful nation in the world requires the most powerful vehicle to protect him from threats. Cadillac was called by the U.S. government to design a presidential limo that has the durability and resilience of a tank. Nicknamed “The Beast,” Cadillac’s swanky ride is designed to defend itself from RPGs and anti-tank missiles. While most Cadillac models in Toronto used cars dealerships are not quite on par with this, it’s very reassuring to know that Cadillac takes safety very seriously.

Most of the security features of The Beast are classified; but given the fact that it’s transporting the President of the United States implies it is armor on wheels. The president usually rides this Cadillac tank even when outside the U.S., such as during his state visits to Canada. Some features of the limo are taken from various Cadillac models that are also available in dealerships of Toronto used cars.

For more information on how commercial car manufacturers protect prominent figures, visit the website Wheels.ca. Toronto used cars made by Mercedes Benz and Cadillac may not be as tough as the Popemobile or The Beast, but their makers have a reputation to uphold as the brands VIPs trust.