Reprinted from The Robb Report Collection, October 2003
Although he frequently customized the interiors of armored cars,
Howard Becker never intended to get into the armoring business
himself. Defending a passenger from bullets is, after all, a
far different exercise from crafting a luxurious interior. But
clients kept asking Becker for the service, and he decided that
armoring complemented his core business of creating stealthy
vehicles that disguise ultraluxe interiors behind the relatively
unassuming façade of SUV and van exteriors. The first
rule in the world of security is to avoid trouble by going unnoticed,
and Becker's focus on discreet transportation dovetailed nicely
with the understatement that security experts crave for their
clients.
Once he moved into the armoring field, Becker pursued advanced
technology with gusto. On a tour of his Oxnard, Calif., shop,
just north of Los Angeles, he picks up a series of bullet riddled
material samples for examination. "Tell me if I'm getting
too technical for what you need to know," he says as he
discusses the pros and cons of each.
(For the uninitiated, the basic rule of thumb is that the lighter
the material, the greater the cost.) His staff of 40 is currently
working on about 15 cars, and some are in the initial stages
of the armoring process. He points out design cues like overlapping
door frames that prevent bullets from ricocheting into the passenger
compartment, and simple-yet effective-latches on door handles
that prevent intruders from opening the doors even when the
car is unlocked. Becker is most proud of a proprietary mechanism
that allows windows to be raised and lowered completely, something
nearly unheard of in the armoring world.
This feature illustrates Becker's overriding mission: to make
an armored vehicle seem as normal as possible for its passengers,
especially when they are children. "It's best if the kids
can't tell that anything is different," he says. Becker
believes that vans and SUVs are the best way to accomplish that
end-they simply have more room to accommodate what can be bulky
armoring material without intruding on interior space, and creating
a claustrophobic environment and a constant reminder that you
are riding in an armored car.
And,
indeed, when you stand next to the white Ford Excursion he recently
completed for a California family, it is virtually impossible
to tell that it isn't a standard model driven off a dealer's
lot. Looking very closely reveals built-up window frames, which
in themselves do not seem especially bulky. The extra weight
from the armoring can be felt when driving; it isn't overly
distracting, however, and approximates the experience in a standard
SUV. When asked what prompted the owners of this Excursion to
buy an armored car, Becker says they did not have specific concerns
but felt more comfortable knowing that armoring added an extra
measure of safety. It is becoming an increasingly common rationale.
The owners of the newly armored Ford van, however, never travel
without a bodyguard, and Becker coordinated with their security
team on the van's development. Like the Excursion, its exterior
looks just like any other family car on the road. But unlike
the Excursion, its lavish interior looks more like the marriage
between a Learjet and a Bentley than a mundane conversion van.
(The Excursion has been send back for the full tilt interior
treatment.) To Becker's credit, when you sit in one of the rear
chairs, there is nary a hint that the van's windows could stop
a bullet. "Children can feel normal back here," he
says. "They don't even need to know that the van is armored."
Becker's armoring packages, excluding the cost of the car and
interior accoutrements, start at around $100,000 and go up to
about $145,000, and a fully armored vehicle with a complete
interior can cost $365,000. To put both your mind and body at
rest, it's a small price to pay.
each.
(For the uninitiated, the basic rule of thumb is that the lighter
the material, the greater the cost.) His staff of 40 is currently
working on about 15 cars, and some are in the initial stages
of the armoring process. He points out design cues like overlapping
door frames that prevent bullets from ricocheting into the passenger
compartment, and simple-yet effective-latches on door handles
that prevent intruders from opening the doors even when the
car is unlocked. Becker is most proud of a proprietary mechanism
that allows windows to be raised and lowered completely, something
nearly unheard of in the armoring world. 
And,
indeed, when you stand next to the white Ford Excursion he recently
completed for a California family, it is virtually impossible
to tell that it isn't a standard model driven off a dealer's
lot. Looking very closely reveals built-up window frames, which
in themselves do not seem especially bulky. The extra weight
from the armoring can be felt when driving; it isn't overly
distracting, however, and approximates the experience in a standard
SUV. When asked what prompted the owners of this Excursion to
buy an armored car, Becker says they did not have specific concerns
but felt more comfortable knowing that armoring added an extra
measure of safety. It is becoming an increasingly common rationale.
