7 Cars That Became Political Icons

Khodrocar - Official cars are some of the most visible symbols of any government. These cars are chosen to give a sense of power, strength, and professionalism at home and abroad while still conveying a sense of their country’s national identity. All this adds up to a difficult proposition for automakers. With a long list of do’s and don’ts, many of these cars are scrutinized and built for conditions that most civilian cars would never face. Sometimes an automaker rises to the occasion and builds a timeless, elegant classic. Others emerge as strange, dated curiosities that are analyzed as everything that’s wrong with their home country.

Cadillac One

The Presidential Limousine has come a long way from JFK’s nearly-stock Lincoln. The Cadillac One, (nicknamed "The Beast” by the Secret Service) may look like a regular Cadillac, but it’s more combat vehicle than luxury sedan. The diesel-powered limo is built on a heavy-duty truck platform, has armor strong enough to stop a rocket-propelled grenade, doors as heavy as a Boeing 747’s, a mobile communications center, self-contained oxygen system, and enough firepower to safely get the president out of a war zone. A new Beast is slated to arrive by 2018. Expect it to be even more impressive.

ZiL 41047

The ZiL limousines offered a rare glimpse into Soviet-style opulence. The long-serving official cars of the USSR received minor updates through the years, but the final model, the 41047, was little more than an updated version of the 1950s model. The ZiL was built largely unchanged between 1985 and 2002, and its legacy is a conflicting one. Fidel Castro’s limo has been relegated to taxi service on Havana streets, while Vladimir Putin ordered three new ZiL convertibles built for official ceremonies in 2010.

Hongqi L5

Believe it or not, the Hongqi L5 (or "Red Flag”) is a brand new car. Designed to look like Hongqi’s original model from 1958 (Mao’s car of choice), the L5 is the official car of Chinese Communist Party members and visiting heads of state. The 18-foot long cruiser is powered by an impressive 400 horsepower 6.0 liter V12 of Hongqi’s design. The car is for sale to the Chinese public, but its $801,624 price tag makes it the most expensive car in China.

Mercedes-Benz 600

For decades, the Mercedes-Benz 600 was the ultimate car for presidents, royalty, and tyrants. Available as a four-door sedan, stretch limousine and convertible Landaulet, the cars were hand-built around a 6.3 liter V8 and a fantastically complex hydraulic system that silently controlled everything from the suspension to the power windows. On top of this, a host of options (including "special protection” armored versions) were fitted to the owners’ specifications, making the 600 one of the most expensive cars of its day. In all, 2,677 of the 600s were produced, with 70 cars officially delivered to world leaders, and one to a pope: The one pictured above was presented by Mercedes to Pope Paul VI in 1965.

Renault 4

Being the leader of the Catholic Church has yet to go to to Pope Francis’ head. Since ascending to the Papacy in 2013, Francis has earned the reputation for being a forthright and thrifty Pope. So much so, that when he isn’t on official business, he drives himself in a 1984 Renault 4 that was a gift from an Italian pastor. And if you’re wondering why the Pope made a list for heads of state, remember, he’s also the sovereign of Vatican City.

Rolls-Royce Phantom IV

When the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV was released in 1950, it was announced with an advertising campaign highlighting the car’s advanced features – and how you could never buy it. Only 18 Phantom IV’s were built, and Rolls-Royce made it very well-known that they would only accept orders from heads of state. Today, Spain and England’s Phantoms are still maintained as official state vehicles, and 16 of the 18 cars survive. In 2008, Princess Margaret’s Phantom IV was sold in England (presumably to non-royalty) for 395,000 pounds.

Volkswagen Beetle

From 2010 to 2015, Uruguayan president José Mujica made international headlines as "the world’s poorest president.” A former guerrilla who fought against a brutal military regime in the 1960s and ’70s, Mujica believed his title shouldn’t separate him from his people. He reportedly donated 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to programs benefitting the poor and small businesses, lived on a small farm outside of Montevideo, and drove himself around in a Mexican-built 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. The old Beetle earned so much attention during his term that Mujica received a $1 million offer from an Arab oil sheik for the car. Naturally, he turned it down.

Source: cheatsheet.com