Forget the years and years of tradition and history, forget the controversial viewpoints and statements, forget the priceless spiritual connections, some people are just as fascinated by the Pope’s ride as they are by the man himself.
Euphemistically known as the “Pope Mobile,” the automobile that transports the pontiff on his endeavors is shrouded in lore and is the subject of great interest in its own right.
As it turns out, there have been several different versions of the Pope Mobile over the years.
For example, Pope John Paul II cruised around in a Polish-made FCS Star truck. There have also been modified Mercedes-Benzes and Fiats.
One thing that all of these various Pope Mobiles have in common are extreme safety enhancements. Some of the most notable features include bulletproof glass and bombproof parts.
Unlike the special armored cars that transport American politicians and dignitaries, the Pope Mobile must accommodate the Pope addressing large crowds. To facilitate this, some Pope Mobiles have been designed as open air vehicles with a protective class border enclosing the Pope. Think of an empty fish tank.
Still other Pope Mobiles are fully contained with a sort of built-in room in the back that allows the Pope to stand and address his audiences.
Many interested car/Pope enthusiasts have visited Pope Mobiles like the modified Land Rover that is on display (ironically enough) at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas.
For those looking to take a Pope Mobile on a spin, it may prove to be an insurmountable challenge. “We have exotic cars, we have very difficult to find cars, and we have some armored cars, but no Pope Mobiles,” chuckled Ron Sturgeon. Sturgeon, a millionaire businessman and car fanatic collects exotic cars and operates several exotic car businesses.
Sturgeon’s Dallas exotic car club, exotic car rental agency, and exotic car tour company specialize in meeting the sometimes extreme demands of their clientele. But even Sturgeon has his limits. “They don’t exactly make Pope Mobiles available at auctions,” continued Sturgeon.
Still, if you want to have feeling of cruising down the street in an armored Hummer, Sturgeon’s got you covered.
Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.
