"The Beast" - Obama's car.

Voodoomelon · 23-05-2011 8:15pm

It actually looks like the suspension failed in some way if you watch some of the other videos, the front wheels collapse inwards.

Irish Fire · 23-05-2011 8:18pm

Ah "the beast".... She's bombproof....... She's Bulletproof....... She has anti missile radar...... but she's not ramp proof, bit like H.R.H.'s Range Rover....... oh and 8 mile to the gallon......

DublinDilbert · 23-05-2011 8:20pm

Voodoomelon wrote: »

It actually looks like the suspension failed in some way if you watch some of the other videos, the front wheels collapse inwards.

I think it's a hydrostatic self levelling suspension, like what was on the old citrons. When the fluid rushed to the rear the front dropped down. It's a serious design flaw if it is this, an air suspension would of allowed them to raise the vehicle and drive over such obstacles...

Plowman · 23-05-2011 8:37pm

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Matt Simis · 23-05-2011 8:43pm

Plowman wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I think they had Irish plates if that narrows it down. I thought they looked well, unlike the monstrosity the Americans brought to the party.

Plowman · 23-05-2011 8:51pm

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mickdw · 23-05-2011 9:08pm

Some of the bmws were left hand drive. I believe they have been supplier by BMW Ireland for the duration of these visits. I dont know why the left hand drive - maybe specially fitted out cars from germany or something

23-05-2011 9:23pm

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I think it would be much better if he had about 20 fiat puntos and 19 look-a-likes.

Haha!

Brilliant mental image just there of a sniper watching 20 little yellow Puntos flying down the road, zipping in and out in front of and behind each other and all over the place, with the sniper trying to figure out which one's which.

Fey! · 23-05-2011 9:24pm

I wouldn't mind getting my paws on one of those 7 series; I think that they look really well.

You'd think that someone would have thought to bring a towrope just in case!!

Eric Cartman · 23-05-2011 9:24pm

mickdw wrote: »

Some of the bmws were left hand drive. I believe they have been supplier by BMW Ireland for the duration of these visits. I dont know why the left hand drive - maybe specially fitted out cars from germany or something

id say they were the factory armoured ones, id say the chances of them sitting around anywhere in rhd are quite low, id say they were just brought over from munich last week , regd as a favour and theyll be returned next week

johnos1984 · 23-05-2011 9:30pm

I believe it fell foul of the latest Taliban plot

camel_speed_hump_sign_postcard-p239959013171207717trdg_400.jpg

fonecrusher1 · 23-05-2011 9:32pm

Its no octavia.

:pac:

mickdw · 23-05-2011 9:36pm

The 7 series had not alot to spare either coming out the gate.

coylemj · 23-05-2011 9:42pm

RTE News tweeted this earlier...

D889FBF92C3D46ACA1249903831BE1A7-0000321176-0002334310-00600L-D3E56E4360EF42B79C8FC310D389D2B0.jpg

rabbitinlights · 23-05-2011 10:03pm

Great picture!

It weights 9 tons supposedly, so doubt many normal removal trucks could have moved it.

S.

delly · 23-05-2011 10:15pm

Apparently the bmw's are supplied direct from Germany for escort duties and not just as a one off for little old us. They get good publicity in exchange for there use, although it would be interesting to see if any money changed hands.

WIZE · 23-05-2011 10:20pm

Looking at the Video Again , How did the Car not have issues driving into the Embassy

G Luxel · 23-05-2011 10:22pm

The car at the embassy isnt ''The Beast'' but its one of the older Bushmobiles from 1999 onwards. They are based on a Deville but are really GMC truck chassis with cadillac styling...........:)

Voodoomelon · 23-05-2011 10:26pm

The 7s are at least 750s, possibly 760s, judging by the exhaust pipes.

Voodoomelon · 23-05-2011 10:28pm

Love that chap that shouts out "do you need a push?".

alexlyons · 23-05-2011 11:02pm

Irish Fire wrote: »

oh and 8 mile to the gallon......

that's not bad, I was expecting 8 gallon to the mile

Paulw · 24-05-2011 6:08pm

WIZE wrote: »

How did the Car not have issues driving into the Embassy

I can only assume it drove in the other gate, the one they then had to go back to to get out.

haymur · 24-05-2011 7:57pm

The Queens Range Rover and the BMW behind it were armour plated and must have been imported for the event but the glass was only half as thick as The beast it must have had very special tyres to hold 9 tons on fairly narrow wheels with no sign of flat bulge on the bottom

meercat · 24-05-2011 8:11pm

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

peasant · 24-05-2011 8:14pm

Fey! wrote: »

I wouldn't mind getting my paws on one of those 7 series; I think that they look really well.

yours for 285 k

!!sc9W7w!20~$(KGrHqZ,!jIEv1+0MsqtBMNFuI2-N!~~_27.JPG

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=de&id=130473509&pageNumber=1&__lp=1&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gepanzert&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&tabNumber=2

Armored vechicle RIDA on the base of BMW 760 Li, according to CEN B6+ (also protected: roof, floor, engine, fuel tank).
Only CERTIFIED materials are used (Ulm, Germany).

Standard features: upgraded suspension (heavy duty), fire suppression system of the engine, integral armour of the doors including window frames, all windows are electrically operable, run-flat system, intercom (internal/external), reinforced door hinges, protected engine control unit and battery, spare wheel, fuel tank protection, flashing front strobe lights, tinted windows. Other options available upon request
Class of protection:
B6: 7,62 x 51 mm FMJ/PB/SC, 5,56 x 45 mm FJ/PB/SCP SS 109, FNB
additionally: Dragunov 7,62 x 54 mm 57-Н-323С, Kalaschnikov 7,62 x 39 mm 57-Н-231 thermo strengthened.
Guarantee: 2 years or 40,000 km, 5 years for glass

This is a German vehicle.

Location: Germany
Production time: 1 month from the date of order

Sofiztikated · 24-05-2011 8:19pm

peasant wrote: »

yours for 285 k

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/showDetails.html?lang=de&id=130473509&pageNumber=1&__lp=1&scopeId=C&sortOption.sortBy=price.consumerGrossEuro&makeModelVariant1.makeId=3500&makeModelVariant1.modelDescription=gepanzert&negativeFeatures=EXPORT&tabNumber=2

Does it come with an Mpack and in diesel?

:pac:

SRBRGS · 24-05-2011 8:49pm

5581554710_b515a00aab.jpg

A possible option for his next visit??

JMSE · 24-05-2011 9:06pm

meercat wrote: »

would it be possible that there would be a security measure inbuilt (possibly tilt switch)that would make the beast" sit down" in the event of possible hijack where the vehicle was lifted
the ramp may have been too steep or there may have been a trigger underneath which drops the beast to prevent any attacker from accessing the underside

I think there is a plate visible on the concrete in the middle of the two gates where the pin drops down into as you see on any driveway. I also think that the BMW rubs off this as it goes over, theres definitely a sound. Then the longer chassis of the beast goes over and catches on it. Ok the beast should have ripped it right out of the ground but this is the US Embassy and is probably a bombproof fitting.

meercat · 24-05-2011 9:18pm

JMSE wrote: »

I think there is a plate visible on the concrete in the middle of the two gates where the pin drops down into as you see on any driveway. I also think that the BMW rubs off this as it goes over, theres definitely a sound. Then the longer chassis of the beast goes over and catches on it. Ok the beast should have ripped it right out of the ground but this is the US Embassy and is probably a bombproof fitting.

the tow truck operator said on the joe duffy show today that the suspension collapsed and the vehicle was immobilised
surely a pin shouldnt have caused this on" the beast"
looked at the video again and it looks like the car drops onto the retaining spud for the gates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BvABn7L_So

JMSE · 24-05-2011 9:27pm

Yeah heard that alright, but I think the car hit the plate and that caused the collapse in the front suspension. Sounded a bit of a stretch though when he said the American cars use different lifting points. If you look at the vid you can feel the crowd going 'ouch' when the beemer goes over and catches, then you can just see whats about to happen with the longer car.

My edit to see your edit :-)
I dont mean the pin in the gate, I mean the plate/spud on the ground

"The Beast" - Obama's car.

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