In troubled times, Ford banks on armored Town Cars

The world became more complicated after Sept. 11, 2001, and safety is now paramount at airports, in large cities and, in some cases, in your own vehicle. Ford Motor Co. in late January announced that its Lincoln division would build bullet-resistant versions of the Town Car sedan to meet increased demand for armored vehicles. The sturdy brand will cost about $140,000 and is being called the Lincoln Town Car Ballistic Protection Series (BPS). A regular Town Car sells for about $40,000.The vehicles should be ready for sale in mid2003, with Ford producing a batch of 300.

According to Ford, worldwide demand for armored passenger vehicles rose to 18,000 last year from …