Armoured Toyota LandCruisers Delivered to Melbourne

A fleet of bulletproof Toyota 200 Series LandCruisers has been delivered to driver training company, Driver Dynamics.

The four Toyota SUVs will allow the company – based at Sandown Raceway in Melbourne’s south – to provide training to police, defence, and other personnel who are employed with the task of executive or close protection, or special operations.

While the exact level of ballistic protection can vary, an armoured 200 Series LandCruiser can weigh approximately 4830kg – or more than 2000kg over a standard model, significantly changing accelerating, braking, and cornering characteristics.

Despite details of the cars’ past lives remaining a mystery, it’s believed they are likely to have been used by the diplomatic corps in Islamabad – the capital of Pakistan – based on their number plates.

In 2018, a military attaché of the USA was involved in a fatal road accident in Islamabad while driving a 200 Series LandCruiser with a similar number plate designation.

Though senior Australian Government officials and foreign dignitaries are typically transported using a fleet of armoured BMW X5 SUVs, operated by the Australian Federal Police, several special operations groups within state police – colloquially referred to as SWAT teams – are known to use Toyota LandCruisers.

In Australia, bulletproof vehicles are highly regulated – with individuals or companies required to undergo background checks and provide a legitimate reason to the government for their ownership.

While these armoured LandCruisers will mainly be used for training, Driver Dynamics says they are also available for short or long-term lease for police, military, or other government departments.