Carat Duchatelet

Back in January, Team Bentley Spotting posted about a Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit II Limousine by Trasco International being offered for sale.

 

Here is the car:

 

 

 

And here is a link to the post: http://www.bentleyspotting.com/2014/01/trasco-international.html?m=0

 

The same vendor now also has a Carat Duchatelet Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit II Limousine on offer, and this one has armour protection:

 

 

 

 

 

The thick black band noticeable around the windows indicates bullet-proof glass.

 

 

Carat Duchatelet, like Trasco International, is best known for its Mercedes-Benz conversions, but was also known to create bespoke Rolls-Royce & Bentley cars.

 

More information about the Belgian coachbuilder can be found at 1000SEL: http://www.1000sel.com/index.php/carat-by-duchatelet.

 

In stretching this car, Carat Duchatelet extended the bodywork beyond the rear doors, an approach also adopted by Mulliner Park Ward for the factory Silver Spur II and Silver Spur III Touring Limousines.

 

Its a more elegant but also more expensive approach than the usual centre stretch:

 

 

 

 

 

Carat Duchatelet also modified the interior.

 

The front compartment looks as standard:

 

 

 

 

But the rear compartment with its division, centre console and all-round curtains is definitely bespoke:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LCX32936 was originally supplied in Belgium via Beherman Distribution in April 1990, and with only 2,726 kms recorded, is almost a new car:

 

 

 

But what if you actually want to have a new car?

 

Well Carat Duchatelet is still in business as part of Carat Security Group: http://www.caratsecurity.com/

 

And its still making bespoke Rolls-Royce and Bentley and Mercedes, many of which are sold to Chinese billionarires, and many of which still feature armour protection.

 

Here is a Bentley Mulsanne Limousine by Carat Duchatelet:

 

 

 

 

 

It's available as a standard wheelbase or with a stretch of 30-95cm.

The roof height can also be raised by 10cm and it can be specificed with B6 ballistic protection including 39mm bullet-proof glass.

 

This car features a 65cm stretch and bespoke rear compartment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The tech may be more modern, but its easy to see many similarities with the earlier car - plutocrats still need to travel in style!

 

Photos - webfinds

 

Thanks to 1000SEL and rrsilverspirit.com for information.

 

(Posted by Andy)