The First Popemobile ?
(UPDATE: or Graham Paige the first?)
Today is All Saint’s Day, in many Catholic countries a holy day. A good reason to show this picture that, although a bit unclear, is nevertheless quite interesting. The photo comes from the collection of Vlad Capotescu who tells us that it is a Fiat 525 from 1929. But it’s not an ordinary Fiat, because this one was especially made for Pope Pius XI (click main pic for enlargement). It was an armoured car, but for the pope’s comfort it had special leather and silk chairs, gold plated wood inside and all the metal parts of the interior were also made of... gold. We wonder if this Fiat still exists. Can you tell us?
UPDATE by Rick A. Jorgensen: "My understanding is that the first motor vehicle made for a Pope was a Graham-Paige. I have heard that the car still exists in the Vatican. Photo at:
check the Vatican's museum page. Please also see Catholic News : >>> "When the 1929 Lateran Pacts finally allowed popes to go freely outside Vatican City walls, Pope Pius XI became the first pope to put the rubber to the road in a U.S. Graham-Paige.
He amassed a small fleet of donated papal cars and became something of an auto aficionado."
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