'SandCars' Attract Law-Enforcement Interest

SandCars, which resemble the dune buggies of the 1970s, are finding favor with law-enforcement agencies.

On June 7, 2007, Extreme Motorsports signed an agreement worth $39 million with Made in USA Industries to produce 400 SandCars geared for law enforcement.

Extreme Motorsports owner Alan McCaa explains that anti-terrorist and border patrol groups are interested in his company's cars to take some of the burden off their on-road police cruisers.

The vehicles can be outfitted with such features as Pelican Mobile laptops, infrared cameras, and armor plating. SandCars can host Corvette engines with as many as eight cylinders, and at 450 horsepower can travel at 110 m.p.h. or faster.

The cars are expensive, costing between $15,000 and $100,000-plus.

Although McCaa sells SandCars to private customers, he emphasizes that "government and law enforcement will end up being the bread and butter of our company." He thinks the two entities are becoming more aware of SandCars as a fast way to enter and exit remote locations.

Extreme Motorsports is based in Bakersfield, CA.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) from the Bakersfield Californian (06/06/07); Philp, Drew.