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Brazilian Teen's Ride: Pink, Sporty, Bulletproof

In Sao Paulo, armoring a car is as much about status as protection

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 10, 2009 1:06 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Sao Paulo, Brazil, is known as the armored car capital of the world, and for good reason, the Wall Street Journal reports. Brazil's murder rate is 5 times the rate in the US, and the wealthy are historically at risk for kidnapping. Add to that a recent influx of wealth, and you get all kinds, from a teen with an armored VW Beetle in pink—“it’s a very pretty and expressive color”—to the businessman with a nondescript bulletproof cab: “something very strong and very unseen.”

The armor ardor is about more than just protection. “They want to wear a suit, have a nice watch and buy a nice car, so then it needs to be armored,” a dealer says. “There's an aspect of keeping up with the Joneses to it,” a skeptical businesswoman adds. A standard job costs about $25,000, and 6,000 cars are upgraded annually. But the trend can only go so far, because the army does not allow armor that would resist military weapons. That “would not be convenient for internal security,” a spokesman says.

The streets of Sao Paulo aren't the kindest, particularly in outlying slums.
The streets of Sao Paulo aren't the kindest, particularly in outlying slums.   (AP Photo)
Heidi Klum stands with a decidedly unarmored pink Beetle.
Heidi Klum stands with a decidedly unarmored pink Beetle.   (AP Photo)
A bullet proof windshield after is was shot.
A bullet proof windshield after is was shot.   (AP Photo)
Welders outfit a vehicle with armor.
Welders outfit a vehicle with armor.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
RoundDog
Sep 10, 2009 10:42 AM CDT
Read up on the Disarmament Statute, currently making it's way through the legislature. It will ban civilians from owning weapons without permits, at least until a national vote on gun laws can be conducted. It also puts procedures into place to stop the biggest problem, which is police officers buying weapons, which do not have to be registered, and then selling them to criminal gangs for usage or resale.
prowlerzee
Sep 10, 2009 9:14 AM CDT
I see a niche black market business opportunity here. I'm not rich or Brazilian, but if I were and my gummint said no military-grade bullet-proof, that is exactly what I would seek.
Spudsy
Sep 10, 2009 7:10 AM CDT
Just don't take their guns away.

 
Brazil • kidnapping • Sao Paulo • Volkswagen • automobile • wealthy • armored car • status

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