Presidents, dictators, and even religious leaders have in one way or another shaped the history of the world as we know it. They might come from different countries and with different political ideologies, however, they all have one thing in common: they had to get from point A to point B.
The means of transportation used by political figures always generate interest among the public and some of these cars have become as iconic as the people they have transported. Extravagance and unique features are common themes among the cars chosen by these leaders throughout the years. They are special vehicles meant for the most important people.
10 Mercedes-Benz M-Class - Pope
Mercedes has a rich history of being chosen as the designated vehicle used by the Pope, from the 1930s to this day. The 'Popemobile' is based on the highly appreciated Mercedes SUV, the M-Class. On the back of the car, there's a dome with a throne used by the pope.
In order to guarantee extra security, the glass around the cabin is bullet-proof. The feature has been installed in every single car used by the pope after the attempted assassination of John Paul II in 1981.
9 Toyota Century Royal - Emperor of Japan
This car is truly considered the ultimate pinnacle of beauty and elegance. The Century Royal is considered the flagship model and one of the rarest Toyota cars ever and it is very rare that you will ever see one outside of Japan. The car which has been in production from 1967 has seen only 3 generations.
This vehicle is so exclusive that it can't even be bought at Lexus dealerships across Japan but can only be found at specific and high-end Toyota dealerships. The car is powered by a V8 engine that produces 375 horsepower and an electric engine that brings the total output to 425 horsepower. This car is only used by the family royals or Japanese diplomats abroad.
8 Ford Thunderbird Convertible - John F. Kennedy
JFK owned a 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible third generation. This car is known as the 'bullet bird' as the new design of the front of the vehicle had been completely reshaped and made pointier. It was a quite powerful model as it was powered by a 6.4-liter V8 that produced over 300 horsepower.
The same model was also used in 1961 as the Pace Car for the Indy 500. President Kennedy loved this car so much that for his inauguration parade he used 50 identical Thunderbirds made specifically for that day.
7 Jeep CJ-8 Scrambler - Ronald Reagan
This absolutely iconic car was a present from his wife, Nancy, and it was used as a shuttle around the president's ranch. It has also been used to carry visiting dignitaries such as Mikhail Gorbachev. The car which was painted in a rather unique blue was a true off-road beast and it was powered by a four-cylinder engine that produced just 82 horsepower.
The 1983 CJ-8 is basically as good as new as it has less than twenty thousand miles on the odometer and it is currently exposed at the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara, California.
6 Cadillac One - US President Donald Trump
As the name suggests this is the one, the ultimate Cadillac. It is basically a tank in disguise and as a matter of fact it is referred to as 'the beast.' The windows of the car are made of 5 layers of glass and polycarbonate, making them bullet-proof and virtually indestructible.
The tires are shred and puncture-resistant and the doors are reinforced with steel plates that can easily sustain an explosion blast. Also, in order to prevent any fire, the gas tank is filled with a special foam that prevents it from catching fire even when directly hit. According to an NBC report, the Cadillac weighs an incredible 20,000 pounds.
5 Corvette Stingray C2 - Joe Biden
The beautiful 1967 C2 is just one of the many examples that shows how much Joe Biden loves Corvettes. The Stingray is one of the most beautiful cars ever produced and it was a wedding present from his father.
The C2 was and still is a beautiful beast as it is powered by an L79 V8 engine that generates a fantastic 350 horsepower and can push the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. This model is one of the most iconic cars ever built by Chevrolet thanks to its unique design.
4 Mercedes-Benz 600s Pullman - Saddam Hussein
This 1978 model is rather unique as it has a solid roof in the front seats and a foldable one in the back so that it is possible to open it and stand up in the car. The 600s model has been used by a wide variety of people in the 80s from pop stars to dictators as for years it has been considered the ultimate symbol of luxury and elegance.
Once the Hussein government was overthrown in 2003, the car was stolen and driven to Jordan where it was sold. Incredibly, the car has found its way to the U.S and it is currently at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles, California.
3 Citroën DS19 - Charles de Gaulle
This car was known as 'La Deesse', the goddess, as it is credited to have saved the life of De Gaulle during an assassination attempt in 1962. The car was first presented in 1955 and it had a 1.9-liter engine and it was equipped with a rather unique hydro-pneumatic suspension.
The system was equipped with shock absorbers that allowed the car suspensions to adjust its height and firmness depending on the load weight and the road type. Thanks to this advanced system, when all four tires were punctured by the bullets during the assassination attempt, the car was still drivable as the suspension kept it stable, allowing the driver to maintain control of the vehicle and speed up away.
2 Mercedes Benz 300 SL - Justin Trudeau
This car was inherited by his father and it was used by Trudeau on his wedding day in 2005. The 300 SL is one of the most iconic cars ever produced by the German automaker. When it came out in 1955, it was the fastest car in the entire world.
It was powered by a 3.0-liter six-cylinder that produced 240 horsepower and pushed the car to 163 mph. The car has also become an icon thanks to its gull-wing doors. However, this version of the vehicle does not have this particular feature as it is the coupe.
1 Amphicar - Lyndon B. Johnson
This is probably one of the most extravagant cars ever built as it can go both on land and in the water. The car was loved by the President as he enjoyed playing pranks, at his ranch, on his guests such as White House secretary Vicky McCammon.
Johnson would bring the car to the top of a hill and then drive the vehicle down towards the lake and scream that the brakes were malfunctioning, ultimately terrifying his unaware passengers. The Amphicar was in production from 1961 to 1968 and it had two propellers under the rear bumper that allowed the vehicle to easily navigate in the water.