Securicar

Revision as of 01:08, 23 December 2013 by A-Dust (talk | contribs)
Vehicle
Securicar
A Securicar in GTA III.
A Securicar in GTA III.
(Rear quarter view)
A Securicar in GTA III.
Appearance(s) GTA III
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA Liberty City Stories
GTA Vice City Stories
GTA IV
GTA V
Vehicle type Commercial truck
Body style 4-door armored truck
Capacity 4 (driver and 3 passengers)
Manufacturer Brute (HD Universe)
ADVERTISEMENT

The Securicar is an armored truck first introduced in Grand Theft Auto III, serving as the successor to the G4 Bank Van from Grand Theft Auto 2. Its name is both a combination of "Security" and "car," as well as a reference to G4S, formerly known as Group 4 Securicor.

Description

The Securicar is an armored truck, used to transport money, and in some missions, people (capable of carrying up to 4 occupants). Unlike in real life, the trucks are not bulletproof (except for some missions), nor do the driver(s) generally carry guns. The exception to this is GTA San Andreas, where drivers wear security uniforms, and have holstered Pistols; they still, however, behave like ordinary civilians, and do not fire at the player if car-jacked.

GTA III — GTA Vice City Stories

The Securicar was initially designed with a heavy (7 tonnes in the GTA III era games), robust truck-based body that is painted an overall dark blue. It was loosely based on a ram equipped Lenco Bear, a SWAT vehicle, unusual for a security firm. This design stuck for GTA Vice City, GTA Liberty City Stories, and GTA Vice City Stories, but in GTA San Andreas, it featured a radically different, somewhat smaller design, more reminiscent of real armored security vans, like a 1990s model GMC TopKick. The GTA San Andreas Securicar may be seen with the markings of Chuff Security (a lewd parody of real-life firm Chubb Security) or Lock and Load Security, or be unmarked. They can be driven to a garage at Portland Harbor for a sum of money. The Securicar in GTA Vice City also has a bulletproof windshield.

The truck is not generally recommended for anything other than regular street driving, as the uneven weight of the armor tends to flip the truck over even minor curves or hills. The Securicar in Vice City is the version least prone to flipping over in this era.

As the GTA San Andreas rendition assumes a completely different body design based on the International Harvester S-Series, the vehicle's performance differs slightly, but remains very undesirable. With its heavy weight, the Securicar's steering and braking fares poorly, in addition to a softer suspension which reduces stability when negotiating uneven turns. The vehicle does, however, have a slightly above-average top speed.

GTA IV — GTA V

In GTA IV, the Securicar, manufactured by Brute, is a larger vehicle with a realistic design, similar in shape to the GTA San Andreas rendition. The truck chassis is based on an armored 1989-2001 International 4000 Series, but the front turning signals have been omitted. The cargo area has a similarly shaped roof to the GTA San Andreas rendition. The Securicar shares its basic chassis with the NOOSE Enforcer and Police Stockade, the latter of which may be the "original"; the Enforcer lacks the Securicar's bulletproof side windows, but is equipped with a bulletproof windscreen.

The GTA IV Securicar will spawn a large amount of cash around it (usually at a range of $1,000 to $1,500) if blown up, but doing so with weapons will immediately attract a 2-star wanted level, regardless of where it is done. To avoid this, the player can use one of the car-bombs supplied by Patrick McReary (this is his friendship bonus) to blow up the car, or damage it enough while driving it that it will burst into flames and explode.

The Securicar's handling and acceleration have been greatly enhanced, and it will no longer tip over when turning through corners. It has a reasonable top speed of 130 km/h, or 81 mph. It is highly resistant to gunfire and everyday vehicle damage, but it is not explosion- or fire-proof, and so can be destroyed by a single grenade placed directly beneath it, or with a rocket.

The Securicar can be sold at S&M Auto Sales for $4,000 each in GTA IV after completion of Stevie's Car Thefts.

References to Group 4 Securicor

The Securicar in its entirety may be a reference to two real-life security companies, which, coincidentally, would merge years after the introduction of the Securicar in the GTA series.

The name of the Securicar may be a pun on Securicor, a British security company that merged with Belgium-based security company Group 4 Falck in 2004 to form the infamous Group 4 Securicor (now known simply as G4S). Renditions of the Securicar in GTA III, GTA Vice City, GTA Liberty City Stories and GTA Vice City Stories have "Gruppe Sechs" ("group sex") logos on the side, a German language pun on both the Group 4 company, and the term "group sex". In GTA IV, the fleet markings render the company name as "Gruppe 6", but the vehicle still features "Gruppe Sechs" decals in much smaller print on various surfaces. The GTA San Andreas rendition, however, substitutes all Gruppe Sechs markings with other security company brand names.

Trivia

  • During one point of game development of GTA III, the Securicar was known as the Security Van[1]
  • A vehicle resembling GTA III's Securicar can be found in Rockstar North's Manhunt.
  • In GTA San Andreas, a Securicar is stolen by Carl Johnson by being airlifted with a Leviathan in preparation for the robbery of Caligula's Palace.
  • The GTA San Andreas version of the Securicar plays Bounce FM by default when entered.
  • Instead of emitting warning flames in the rear wheel arches to indicate that it is close to exploding, the GTA IV Securicar will have this flame burning within the cab.
  • The Securicar in GTA IV has no radio; a police radio is added in its place.

Locations

GTA III
  • In front of Bank of Liberty, Ghost Town. The two securicars there are not accessible due to the ground there is not solid, but the player may "cross" the cars to see the interior.
GTA Vice City
GTA San Andreas
GTA Vice City Stories
GTA IV
  • Sometimes found parked to the south of the cemetery under the Algonquin Bridge in Colony Island. The Securicar is most often found driven on the streets in industrial areas, like BOABO in Broker and the industrial zone of Dukes.
  • Found driving around the industrial district in Bohan, especially if one is already driving a Securicar.
  • Occasionally found in the parking lot of The Triangle Club.

Reference

  1. Rockstar North's website>Menu>The Lab>Vehicle Design>GTA3>Secuirty Van.

See also