Mercedes Providing Popemobile For 80 Years

Mercedes-Benz continues the honor of transporting the pope, something the company has taken pride in since 1930. It started with a Mercedes-Benz Nurburg 460 given as a gift to Pope Pius XI and since then the German automaker has supplied the Vatican with landaulets, converted limousines and off-road vehicles.

Bergen County NJ used GL dealers are proud of Mercedes-Benz history with the G-Class and M-Class models used by many popes over the years. The most famous may be those used by Pope John Paul II in the papal colors of gold and mother-of-pearl and outfitted with the glass surround. This is probably the one most of us have seen in news footage, or if youre as old as I am, remember seeing on the nightly news.

The current papal auto is a Mercedes-Benz M-Class with a custom body. Rockland County NY ML customers should be impressed with the number and variety of vehicles Mercedes has made specially for popes over the years. The vehicles have been adapted to meet the traveling needs of different pontiffs over the years and have ranged from limousines to the more rugged off-road vehicles of recent years.

Since the most recent car for the pope from Mercedes is a 2002 M-Class, its time for a new one and the company has worked closely with the Vatican to design this new vehicle. In appreciation for these vehicles, Pope John Paul II even asked media in Rome in 2002 not to use the term papa-mobile, which he felt was not dignified enough.

Dignitary figures like the pope for centuries were transported by sedan chairs or carriages during public appearances or formal processions. Even after 1886, the year the automobile was invented, it was many years before the Vatican adopted use of a motorized vehicle, mostly due to Italian politics. Rockland County NY ML dealers are glad that the politics changed.

In fact, politics were such with the dissolving of the Italian states and the role of the pope and the Vatican so questioned that the popes stayed virtually confined to Vatican City for almost 60 years. Although other vehicles were presented to the Vatican in the early 19th century from brands like Graham-Paige, Itala, Citroen, Fiat and Bianchi, there was not much need for them until Pope Pius XI came along in 1922. He was very interested in the mechanical operations and began using the vehicles frequently.

When the Vatican was approached about having a Mercedes-Benz as the official car for the pope, officials were agreeable and planning was undertaken in 1929. Bergen County NJ used GL dealers appreciate the history Mercedes-Benz has with the Vatican and take pride in such an important connection.

About the Author:
Fred Lightner is a freelance writer and auto enthusiast. His article features information on Bergen County NJ used GL for customers of Rockland County NY ML.