Coach/Limo builder in Europe?

[guillaume]

Hi,
Just joined. This is an awesome forum!

I'm preparing a TV report for a French broadcaster about Limos, I'm trying to locate informations about Limousine builders that are active in Europe, ideally in France / UK/ Germany, but other European countries might also be interesting.

I have found quite a lot of coach builders in the US, but I haven't been lucky as far as Europe is concerned. Anyone here could be of any help?

Also, are there any "European experts" on Limos? I see that most of the keyplayers in the industry are US-based. I'd like to find European figures, possibly available for TV interviews. If you have any advice, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

G. Coudray, Paris, France

[Dick Hall]

Hey fella you are not looking hard enough.

Look at Duchatelet in Belgium, they make excellent vehicles.

I think O'Gara Hess and Eisenhardt now trading under a different name have bought out a German Company, and do'nt forget Coleman and Milne in England or Jankel at Weybridge in Surrey.

And remember Rolls Royce have a department that build customized vehicles to a clients spec.

Good luck Dick Hall

[guillaume]

Many thanks Dick, I'll be googling like mad with the names you just gave. Actually I had been trying quite hard already... One thing I discovered is the fact that there used to be some Limousine manufacturers in France (Heuliez, Chapron in Levallois Perret, Pourtout in Rueil Malmaison, ...)but they seem to have all stopped this activity. Well, if it's my mistake, I'd be very glad to know. If you have an explanation for this death of French Limo industry, I'd be glad to read it!

Cheers.

Guillaume

[Alimo]

One of the least known companies is Jankel, based in the U.K. who mainly stretch high end cars ( Rolls/Bently) for heads of state, they also are the only company that I know to fully armour stretched R/Royces and of course the U.K. Prime ministers Jaguar to higher than level 7, the prices however mean that their clients are very well heeled. Mercedes now have their own builder that stretch their top end vehicles but price is a major factor, the main reason that there are few builders outside the U.S. is the cost and lack of ameneties compared to interiors that are found in U.S. manufactured Limo's. Here's one for Dick, in 1991 Colman Milne asked me to allow them to inspect one of my Limo's so they could work out how the stretched conversion was done ! One other factor in the Limousine saga is that European vehicles are shorter and narrower than U.S. vehicles with smaller engines so U.S. vehicles make for a bigger roomier interior than EU cars and in most cases don't require an engine upgrade.

[guillaume]

Thanks Alimo for these informative facts. I'd be curious to know if there has already been TV documentaries or reports shot in the premises of these coach builders. Any ideas?

Best

[Alimo]

Quite a few of the specialists will not want you to film some of their technical innovations for the obvious reason that it would be giving away information that could be useful to a potential threat,( as at one time the case of shooting at the "Bright bits", gaps around the doors that are chromed known as gap joints in the armour ! ) I assume that you are aware that ALL armoured vehicles are still prone to eventual defeat if they stop in one location, the armouring is a first hit defence system that gives a driver time in which to get away, the more time it takes to defeat the vehicles protection, the more chance of survival of the occupants by leaving the scene of an attack. I have yet to see a true "Bullet proof" vehicle as continuous fire at the same spot will eventually get through with some of the high powered weapons available today.

[guillaume]

thanks for the informations!

[Rupert]

Guillaume,

have you checked for German companies BINZ and TRASCO? Both are building special vehicles ...

As for European "experts" that may be hard as the limo industry is a fairly new breed in Europe. You may try to visit the upcoming limo show in London, see more here http://www.limo-show.co.uk

Other than that I know of some colleague who has been in that business for some 8 years, I myself have been around for about 5 years and in Austria, we are the "old boys" in the biz!

Good luck with your report!

Rupert
www.amadeuslimo.com (http://www.amadeuslimo.com)