Land Rover Fact #118

Range Rover as Popemobile

By JOSEPH V. KUCA

That's right, even the late head of the Roman Catholic Church, his Holiness the Pontiff, Pope John Paul II, may be counted among the world's many Land Rover enthusiasts.

For John Paul II's visit to the UK in 1982, two specially converted Range Rover 'Popemobiles' were especially produced by the design firm of Ogle.  One vehicle which, after the visit, had passed into private hands, was sold on to the Cars of Stars Museum in Las Vegas, NV for exhibition.  The second vehicle was dispatched to the Vatican following the Pope's 1982 visit to Scotland.  It is still in service at the Holy See as a Popemobile for the current Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI.

Not your everyday Range Rover, the Popemobile.  Modifications on these stock 1982 Range Rover vehicles included the use and outfitting of each with armor plating which included 2 mm thick steel plate and 21 mm thick laminated glass.  Now, if the Pope feels at home, safe and comfortable in a Land Rover, need you look any further?

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