The history of the popemobile dates back nearly 100 years. It all began with a gift: In 1930, Daimler-Benz AG presented Pope Pius XI with a Nürburg 460. The Pullman limousine was the first car that a pope used on a regular basis. This was followed by ceremonial limousines and landaulets.
A major development milestone occurred in 1980. For Pope John Paul II’s visit to Germany, a vehicle was created for the first time based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class—which had been unveiled a year earlier—featuring a higher seating position, a transparent dome, and a mother-of-pearl paint finish.
This changed perceptions: The focus was on ensuring the Pope was clearly visible during public appearances and on facilitating direct contact with the people.
This basic concept also shaped later papal vehicles based on the G-Class and M-Class. Since 2024, the Vatican has had its first fully electric Popemobile at its disposal: a specially customized Mercedes-Benz G 580.
To mark the “140 Years of Innovation” anniversary, two additional vehicles are on display: a 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, which marked the beginning of automotive history, and a current S-Class that was on the “140 Places” tour across six continents until mid-October.
Through January 31, 2027, eight vehicles from the papal fleet—ranging from the Pullman limousine to the Popemobile—will be on display in a glass pavilion at the Vatican Pinacoteca.
The exhibits
• Nürburg 460 (W 08), 1930 – Pullman limousine with a 4.6-liter eight-cylinder engine, fitted with a single seat upholstered in silk brocade for Pius XI.
• 300 d Landaulet (W 189), 1960 – for John XXIII. Extended wheelbase, removable rear side windows, and automatically extending running boards.
• 600 Pullman Landaulet (W 100), 1965 – delivered to Paul VI in the fall of 1965. Widened rear doors, raised rear roof, adjustable single seat, and intercom system to the driver.
• 300 SEL Pullman (W 109), 1967 – a six-seater extended by 650 millimeters, intended for high-ranking guests of the Vatican.
• 230 G (W 460), 1980 – the first Popemobile, built for John Paul II’s visit to Germany: transparent dome, mother-of-pearl paint, and gold-colored trim. A structurally identical 230 GE followed in 1982.
• S 500 Long Landaulet (140 Series), 1997 – a classic Landaulet for John Paul II with an electrohydraulic convertible top.
• ML 430 “Popemobile” (W 163), 2002 – adapts the concept to the M-Class and made its debut at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto.
• ML 500 “Popemobile” (W 166), 2012 – for Benedict XVI. The larger glass dome makes it easier to get in and provides a better view of the Pope.
