Formal vehicles for Presidents and Royalty

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

• Oct 31, 2006

• #1

Mirage77 said:

Which car makers do you think, in this day and age, build for these people who still live extremely formal lives?

Click to expand...

I don't think there really are any vehicles designed specifically for that kind of thing these days. If a President or Head of State does require a formal State limousine, they are usually either modified production cars, or the usual S class, 7 series, A8. etc.

For example, Queen Elizabeth II of England uses old Daimlers, Rolls-Royce Phantom VIs, and of course her specially-built Bentley Limousine. Prince Charles uses an A8 and A6, but on formal occasions he has his old Bentley Turbo R. The Swedish Royal family use Saabs. The Japanese Royal family use Toyota Centuries. President Bush has his purpose-built armoured Cadillac. Prime Minister Blair uses an armoured Daimler Super Eight. President Chirac uses Peugeot 607s, Chancellor Merkel uses Audi A8s and Mercedes S class'.

On very formal occasions however, like a royal wedding or state visit, the classic old limos are often used.

The Daimler DS420.


Rolls-Royce Phantom IV (The noblest of all Rolls-Royces ever made). The Dutch Royal family use theirs on very special occasions.


Phantom VI

Mercedes-Benz 600 -- even Kim Jung Il has one.

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Thread starter

• Oct 31, 2006

• #2

Here is the Toyota Century used by Japan's Royal family. This is the most prestigeous and formal Japanese limousine.

 

ree

Kraftwagen König

• Oct 31, 2006

• #3

It looks like a Rolls Royce Phantom.

 

Centurion

Subscriber

• Oct 31, 2006

• #4

^^
It has just about the same shape as the Phantom. Any interior pictures?

 

MikeJ

M-Power Meister

• Oct 31, 2006

• #5

Finnish Presidential Mercedes, an armoured S600:

Its predecessor was a W140, but the one before that was something of a bit more unusual choice in Europe:

Now available for rent...

 

Mr. M

Tire Trailblazer

• Oct 31, 2006

• #6

Thanks Rob.

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Thread starter

• Oct 31, 2006

• #7

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Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko decided to replace their 30 year old "Nissan Prince Royal," with a new ride: a customized Toyota eight-seater limousine with a 5.0 V12 engine, that costs a mere 52.5 million yen (455.000 USD).

Inside, the Century Royal features granite stone in the steps, wool fabric for its seats and Japanese hand-crafted paper for the lighting systems on the ceiling. Officials report that the Imperial Couple will begin using their limousine in Aug. 15, when they will attend a memorial ceremony for the war dead in Tokyo.

The Century Royal, Toyota's most luxurious model, is produced in limited numbers mainly for corporate executives and government leaders, and there are no plans to sell the special imperial version to the public.

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Thread starter

• Oct 31, 2006

• #8

Mirage77 said:

Thanks Rob.

Click to expand...

That's no problem M77

MikeJ said:

Finnish Presidential Mercedes, an armoured S600:

Its predecessor was a W140, but the one before that was something of a bit more unusual choice in Europe:

Now available for rent...

Click to expand...

Thank you for your contribution MikeJ, that old Caddy must have been an unusual sight in Finland, it does make a bold statement though.

 

donau

Kraftkurve King

• Oct 31, 2006

• #9

Nice thread Rob, thanks for all the interesting information too. And thanks to MikeJ too for the pics he posted. In the 60's and the early 70's all the government official vehicles that I ever saw in Finland were some American model car similar to the Caddy MikeJ posted.

I remember seeing the state president of South Africa, Mr. Diederichs, been driven in a Mercedes 600 Pullman Landaulet - looking car at what I seem to remember was his inaugural parade up and down Adderley Street in Cape Town at the beginning of 1975. The car looked something like the picture in one of Rob's earlier posts and this:

 

Osnabrueck

G-Class Explorer

• Oct 31, 2006

• #10

Roberto is correct. The world is an entirely different place than it was when Rolls Royce was in its heyday. BMW has been very keen to play upon our prejudices and long-held beliefs about this Marque to turn it into something that's viable for the 21st centry.

Rolls Royce is now an anachronism, and the brand trades heavily upon that. It's the last brand standing to carry the flame of old-world craftsmanship and implied elitist values, but at the same time, everybody involved is very cognizant of this.

We like to imagine that the Phantom is a car for aristocracy, but nothing could be further from the truth. However, because the brand's pedigree is without peer, there is room to pour it on thick and snooty without looking the fool.

 

bmer

Tire Trailblazer

• Oct 31, 2006

• #11

MikeJ said:

Finnish Presidential Mercedes, an armoured S600:


Its predecessor was a W140, but the one before that was something of a bit more unusual choice in Europe:

Now available for rent...

Click to expand...

It was funny that the Prime Minister got a new car in the same year and it costed more than the President's S600. It's an armored BMW 760Li which was worth ca. 500.000 €.

 

Mr. M

Tire Trailblazer

• Oct 31, 2006

• #12

Wow, these vehicles are really expensive and extravagant... To prevent citizen backlash asking about where public funds are being directed to, the President of Singapore drives a base run-of-the-mill white S350. At the back of my mind though, I think he drives something more exotic...

 

SDNR

Kraftwagen König

Thread starter

• Nov 5, 2006

• #13

There was talk at one time that the Japan's Emperor Akihito was considering acquiring a Maybach 62. Obviously his new Toyota Century was considerred to be a more politically correct and patrotic choice. Emperor Akihito's father (Emeror Hirohito), owned Mercedes 770Ks.

Former Emperor Hirohito's Mercedes-Benz 770K

Emperor Akihito's Rolls-Royces.

Toyoto Century

Nissan Prince Royal limousine.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in a Toyota Century.

I think this is Princess Kiko (not sure though), crown prince Naruhito's younger brother's wife, in a Nissan Prince Royal limousine.

The Royal carriage

The new Toyota Century Royal Limousine.

King Juan Carlos I of Spain has a blue Maybach 57S

 

Giannis

Staff member

• Nov 5, 2006

• #14

those mercedes and Rolls Royces of the japanses royal family are just great! that 770K us off the hook!

 

4

450SEL6.9

• Jan 26, 2007

• #15

Damn, can't believe I missed this thread!

Any interest in reviving it, Rob, MikeJ, others? I have a few pics I can share if there is interest.

 

PanterroR

Lap Time Luminary

• Jan 26, 2007

• #16

450SEL 6.9 said:

Damn, can't believe I missed this thread!

Any interest in reviving it? I have a few pics I can share if there is interest.

Click to expand...

If anyone, Rob will be interested, so.... DO IT!

 

4

450SEL6.9

• Jan 26, 2007

• #17

I'll post some pics soon. I'm more interested in the older 1980s or early-1990s limousines though, but I'll post what I have, mostly newer vehicles.

MikeJ, did you say that old Finnish government Cadillac limousine is available for rent? Do you know where I can find more about it?

It looks like a factory-stretched Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine or, perhaps, Fleetwood Formal Limousine. If it is armoured, and the glass looks as if it is, it is probably an O'Gara Hess & Eisenhardt modified car, but I'd like to confirm that somehow.

 

4

450SEL6.9

• Jan 26, 2007

• #18

Let's start in the Far East. The Hong Kong government's elite Very Important Person Protection Unit (G4) uses a pretty old BMW 750il High Security to carry people they are protecting. I wonder why they don't get the new model. HK is doing very well economically again.

They updated their follow-up vehicles from white Volvos to gray BMW 5-series recently.

 

MikeJ

M-Power Meister

• Jan 27, 2007

• #19

450SEL 6.9 said:

MikeJ, did you say that old Finnish government Cadillac limousine is available for rent? Do you know where I can find more about it?

It looks like a factory-stretched Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine or, perhaps, Fleetwood Formal Limousine. If it is armoured, and the glass looks as if it is, it is probably an O'Gara Hess & Eisenhardt modified car, but I'd like to confirm that somehow.

Click to expand...

Here's a link, unfortunately only in Finnish: http://www.jarimaki.fi/Default.aspx?id=442951

What it says is that the car was ordered and specced by long-time Finnish President Kekkonen, with black leather for the front and plush velour for the rear seats. There are jump seats for interpreters and a separate climate control. It doesn't mention anything about the car being bulletproof but apparently the whole rear compartment is completely soundproof.

As presidential limo 1979 to 1996, it has served three presidents until being replaced and sold to Jari Mäki who imports and sells all sorts of Americana in his shop in the small town of Koskenkorva.

Here's an interior pic:

I doubt those mats are original.


When looking for information about that car, I found out that there are at least three more presidential cars available for rent (at the Helsinki car museum), including these 1952 and 1969 Cadillacs:

...and this 1938 Buick:

 

Mr. M

Tire Trailblazer

• Jan 27, 2007

• #20

450SEL 6.9 said:

Let's start in the Far East. The Hong Kong government's elite Very Important Person Protection Unit (G4) uses a pretty old BMW 750il High Security to carry people they are protecting. I wonder why they don't get the new model. HK is doing very well economically again.

Click to expand...

Hey 450SEL 6.9, I read that 300 Phaetons have replaced 7ers as the official government transport... Would love to see some pictures if you have some.