Welcome Guest. ( logon | register )   
FAQ Member List Albums Today's Posts Search

PointedThree :  Vans, Trucks, SUVs and Other Forums : G-Class : Papamobile

Page 1 of 3 123
Papamobile
Topic Tools Message Format
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 9:05 PM
heinz
Regular




Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Vehicle(s): G500
Posts: 83
50
Papamobile

On November 19th, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI got a new G-Class for his General Audiences at the Piazza di San Petro in the Vatican. It is a G-Class Convertible customized for the pope with a height adjustable seat in the rear and a tiltable windshield. It has electrically retracting steps in the rear for an ease of entry and exit. It has a roof construction of alloy and plexiglass as accessory for bad weather conditions.





(dsc_8932.jpg)



(dsc_9019.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments dsc_8932.jpg (100KB - 16 downloads)
Attachments dsc_9019.jpg (155KB - 9 downloads)
#97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 9:12 PM
DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Vehicle(s): 2000 G500 NMLE, 2010 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI
5000
RE: Papamobile

heinz - 11/28/2007 9:05 PM

On November 19th, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI got a new G-Class for his General Audiences at the Piazza di San Petro in the Vatican. It is a G-Class Convertible customized for the pope with a height adjustable seat in the rear and a tiltable windshield. It has electrically retracting steps in the rear for an ease of entry and exit. It has a roof construction of alloy and plexiglass as accessory for bad weather conditions.



Wow! Thanks for sharing this with us!!
#97910 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 9:22 PM
ogrenutz
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2007
Location: Peoples Republic of Virginia
Vehicle(s): '81 300 GD Cabrio
Posts: 800
500
RE: Papamobile

Perhaps it's just me. But, don't they all look a little diabolical in that first pic. The G looks innocent enough though.
#97912 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 10:37 PM
Jonathan Joseph
Expert




Date registered: Oct 2006
Location: Charleston, South Carolina
Vehicle(s): 1986 300GD, 2006 Beetle TDI, Volvo Diesel in boat!
Posts: 1453
1000
RE: Papamobile

I'm sure the mean looking dudes in the dark suits are diabolical, and far from priests.

Jonathan
#97922 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 10:49 PM
DesertStar



Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/08-G500
1000
RE: Papamobile

The white dashboard sure stands out and is different.
Mike
#97924 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 11:14 PM
4x4abc



Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Mexico - Georgetown, Rubicon
Vehicle(s): FJ, TJ, JGC, G500
2000
RE: Papamobile

did you snap those pics, Heinz?
#97927 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/28/2007 11:15 PM
Wolf
Regular




Date registered: Jan 2007
Location: Victoria, Australia
Vehicle(s): W461 300GD, Range Rover III, BMW 735i, BMW R1200GS
Posts: 56
50
RE: Papamobile

Basic configuration is not dissimilar to my own Pope mobile:



(Wolf image.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments Wolf image.jpg (211KB - 5 downloads)
#97928 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 1:31 AM
Luky
Elite Veteran


Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Bratislava, Slovakia, EU
Vehicle(s): G, VW
Posts: 683
500
Re: Papamobile

Looks pretty interesting. The front part looks like it is from a W463, and the rear like from a W461. Would like to know the VIN.
Is it a factory built one of somebody customized it?
#97935 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 1:43 AM
amzimmy
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: South Africa
Vehicle(s): GD300 1981, Alfa GT 3,2 V6, Alfa Brera Q4 3,2 V6.
Posts: 819
500
Re: Papamobile

Here some other picks of the Papamobile. Nice Dash-Board! And......nice "Mafia-looking" characters!

amzimmy

Edited by amzimmy 11/29/2007 1:49 AM




(Papamobile3.JPG)



(Papamobile_5yg9.JPG)



(Papamobile_01.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments Papamobile3.JPG (375KB - 9 downloads)
Attachments Papamobile_5yg9.JPG (249KB - 6 downloads)
Attachments Papamobile_01.jpg (114KB - 11 downloads)
#97938 - in reply to #97935
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 1:55 AM
amzimmy
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: South Africa
Vehicle(s): GD300 1981, Alfa GT 3,2 V6, Alfa Brera Q4 3,2 V6.
Posts: 819
500
RE: Papamobile

4x4abc - 11/28/2007 5:14 AM

did you snap those pics, Heinz?


Harold, believe me, nobody (without extra-impossible-to-obtain-permission or you're working for the Vatican-Press) can get that near to the Pope to take a picture!

amzimmy

Edited by amzimmy 11/29/2007 2:04 AM
#97945 - in reply to #97927
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 2:35 AM
30MBZ
Member




Date registered: Oct 2006
Location: Australia
Vehicle(s): 300GD LWB 1983
Posts: 30
25
RE: Papamobile

That nickname is going to stick WOLF. We shall now call you the POPE!!
#97948 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 2:56 AM
4x4abc



Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Mexico - Georgetown, Rubicon
Vehicle(s): FJ, TJ, JGC, G500
2000
RE: Papamobile

hmmmm.

the Pope is driving a G (more like driven in one)
Santa Claus is driving a G (see Dutch's pic)
Oprah drives one (she's pretty important and does good)

that makes up for the shady characters owning Gs as well
#97950 - in reply to #97910
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 5:08 AM
Maxwell Smart
Expert




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: London
Vehicle(s): a hackney carriage
Posts: 1797
1000
Re: Papamobile

I don't know that first two in your list are pretty shady.....

I'm surprised its not bullet proof like the old one.
#97953 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 6:31 AM
David J. Pearson
Regular




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Cumbria, UK
Vehicle(s): 230 GES,G500 Classic,300TE 24, 200 CLK Cab. 73 TR6
Posts: 69
50
RE: Papamobile

Hi
I was in Stuttgart last week. I have a couple of close up pics of one in the Mercedes Museum if anyone would like to see them.
Was surprised by the thickness of the plexiglas. I had the impression it was not very thick on pictures I had seen of it before.
David
#97955 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 10:53 AM
EuroTruck
Extreme Veteran


Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oakwood, Georgia - USA
Vehicle(s): 1979 230G, 2004 VW Jetta TDI Wagon
Posts: 469
300
RE: Papamobile

Jonathan Joseph - 11/28/2007 10:37 PM I'm sure the mean looking dudes in the dark suits are diabolical, and far from priests. Jonathan

 

The "dudes" are most likely members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, and as you can see first hand, they take their job seriously. In the past, these guys were actually Swiss Mercenaries that swore their allegiance to the Vatican.

Oh yeah, beautiful G-Wagen and in my favorite color too!

 

-SP

#97978 - in reply to #97922
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 11:40 AM
heinz
Regular




Date registered: Dec 2006
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Vehicle(s): G500
Posts: 83
50
RE: Papamobile

I guess the pics were snapped by Mercedes-Benz Italia. I got the original information from the German Daimler Blog: http://blog.daimler.de/2007/11/19/il-papa-hat-einen-neuen-stern/
It's a G500 and obviously a mixture of a 463 and 461 BA10 (open long wheel base). It's built in the factory in Graz as a unique hand made version.
Here is one more pic with the whole gang:



(DSC_8917.JPG)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments DSC_8917.JPG (169KB - 6 downloads)
#97987 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 11/29/2007 11:50 AM
nadd
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Britain
Vehicle(s): 1991 300GE SWB RHD, 2000 G500 LHD
Posts: 749
500
Re: Papamobile

I like the treatment of the fender, it nicely does away with the black rubber strip on the side, that no longer serves a purpose in the "urban" jungle...whoever you side-swipe will hit the fender-extenders first. I guess the air intake and handles were not painted because the required quality is not reasonably achievable on that material (yet).
#97988 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 12/1/2007 1:15 AM
mray44
Member




Date registered: Jul 2007
Location: Newport Beach
Vehicle(s): 1985 280GE Cab, 1986 560SL
Posts: 19

Re: Papamobile

This is one of the reasons I love this forum. What a special treat to see these pix! Thank you!
#98221 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 12/2/2007 6:12 AM
mortinson
Elite Veteran




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Old Beehive, Madrid, España
Vehicle(s): '91 G300D, '91 190E 1.8, '99 ML320
Posts: 1034
1000
RE: Papamobile

ogrenutz - 11/29/2007 3:22 AM

Perhaps it's just me. But, don't they all look a little diabolical in that first pic. The G looks innocent enough though.


I think that you should show a little respect for all the catholics reading this forum. I am sure that you would not hesitate showing that same respect towards other faiths.

Edited:

What I mean is that some readers in this forum can take offence of this comment so you may well consider editing.

Edited by mortinson 12/2/2007 6:25 AM
#98355 - in reply to #97912
Top of the page Bottom of the page
Author
Posted 12/2/2007 7:47 AM
Maxwell Smart
Expert




Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: London
Vehicle(s): a hackney carriage
Posts: 1797
1000
RE: Papamobile

Well I would guess they take their job seriously - especially considering it is an open vehicle and the pope has in the past been the subject of assasination plots.

If it makes anyone feel better they look more like tired men here....

however.... and sorry to the Catholics for causing offense but I can't help but look at Pope Benedict XVI and think Emperor Palpatine

 

 

 

 

 

#98360 - in reply to #97908
Top of the page Bottom of the page
« View previous thread :: View next thread »
Page 1 of 3 123
Forum Jump :
All times are EST.  The time is now 7:55:04 AM.

Execution: 0.544 seconds, 104 cached, 22 executed.