S.A. firm armors locally built Tundra

[dascrow]

The black Toyota Tundra sitting on the shop floor of Texas Armoring Corp. recently didn't look like much. All the seats and carpeting had been removed, along with the door panels, windshield and windows. It was a shell with electronics.

But by the first week in June, the San Antonio-built truck will be something James Bond might drive. "We call it the James Bond package," said Texas Armoring President Trent Kimball.

For good reason. Once fully outfitted, the 2007 limited edition double cab will be able to withstand armor-piercing rounds, thanks to steel more than a quarter-inch thick. The glass in the windows will be more than 2 inches thick.

The doors also will be filled with more than 2 inches of a woven polymer to stop armor-piercing rounds while keeping the doors from sagging like they would with heavier steel reinforcement. The tires are reinforced so the truck still would be drivable if the tires were shot out.

Further Hollywoodlike accoutrements: The truck can dump tacks on the road to stop pursuers, create a smoke screen in the back and zap intruders trying to get in, thanks to electrified door handles.
The final tally for this protection: about $90,000.

The customer, whom Kimball would not identify, is a Mexican businessman who has had two brothers killed by drug dealers. He and his family are supporters of Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who is keen to put the drug lords out of business. His family now lives in San Antonio.
"He has an agricultural business that he needs to tend to," Kimball said. "He was looking at buying this or a (Hummer) H2. We recommended the Tundra since he liked Toyotas anyway." The customer used to drive a Tacoma pickup.

Trent Kimball's dad, Ronald Kimball, founded an armoring company in 1975 after four years as an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He sold the company in 1993. In 1995, the younger Kimball started Texas Armoring Corp. Over the years, the company has armored sport utility vehicles from the Detroit Three as well as Land Rovers, Mercedes and Lexuses. This is its first Toyota pickup.

Most customers are from Mexico. But Texas Armoring's vehicles have been shipped to customers in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. A Cadillac Escalade is bound for Somalia. "These are for people who are worried about kidnapping or death," Kimball said. The Tundra has created some challenges for the company. Because the truck is new, workers have no patterns for the steel, the glass or the polymer that goes into the doors.
All the equipment will add more than 2,000 pounds to the more-than-5,000-pound pickup.

Bill Kwong, spokesman for Toyota Motor Sales USA, said the new truck should handle the extra weight. But this is the first example he's heard of a new Tundra getting the James Bond treatment. "It would make sense for a larger vehicle that has the capabilities," Kwong said.

MySA.com: Automotive

[maximus7479]

i am so doing this to my truck lol

[dascrow]

I was hoping for some performance mods, so the truck get escape faster

[maximus7479]

Originally Posted by dascrow

I was hoping for some performance mods, so the truck get escape faster

the only question is how much would all this stuff cost

[4x4Balls]

is it OEM?

[mitch]

Originally Posted by maximus7479

the only question is how much would all this stuff cost

If you need this stuff, you probably don't have to ask.

[08CREWMAXX]

Originally Posted by maximus7479

the only question is how much would all this stuff cost

The final tally for this protection: about $90,000.

[08CREWMAXX]

heres news footage on the new tundra armored


YouTube - Bulletproof Toyota Tundra

[MarcDW]

I would like to know how much weight does this add to the truck and how much the usable load is left??

[atelisara]

thats a lot of weight put on the truck....wonder how much reinforcement for the suspension system is needed....Anyways, sounds like a truck 50 Cent would need.....lol

[Mickey]

Wow that's a different twist.