Citroën DS
Very few cars can match the user-friendliness of the Citroën DS. The car has such a style that suits the stature of Charles De Gaulle. It’s no wonder he used it throughout his leadership. Especially, the car is so good that when it was attacked in 1962, had a flat tire, the Citroën DS still managed to move and take the French President to safety.
Although DS is also liked by others, French leaders also use models from Peugeot and Renault. However, the current President Emmanuel Macron has returned to DS with a very recognizable name: Presidential DS 7 Crossback – Photo of Charles De Gaulle on Citroën DS: Autocar
Rolls-Royce Phantom V
If Phantom V of the British Royal Family is relatively low-key, the same can’t be said for former Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. However, the most famous owner of the Phantom V is not a former head of state, but a different kind of “leader”: John Lennon, the singer of The Beatles.
John Lennon’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V – Photo: Autocar
With only 516 units ever produced, the Phantom V has a wheelbase of up to 3,650mm, the engine has “just enough” power due to the increased weight of the owner’s custom additional features.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is remembered as the car that carried US President John F. Kennedy when he was assassinated in Dallas in November 1963. Since then, all US presidential cars have to be bulletproof and convertible-topless.
The Continental that President Kennedy used on that fateful day has also been converted to a hardtop and is now on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan – Photo: Autocar
Mercedes 600 Pullman
Mercedes happily sold 600 to anyone who wanted one, but the 600 Pullman was only targeted at leaders, not just the super wealthy. The owners of the Mercedes 600 Pullman include the Pope, the King of Kenya, Saddam Hussein (former President of Iraq), Idi Amin (former President of Uganda), Robert Mugabe (former President of Zimbabwe)…
The Mercedes 600 Pullman, discontinued in 1981, has a complex air suspension system paired with a 6.3L V8 engine producing 247 horsepower and a top speed of 127 km/h – Photo: Autocar
Rover P5B
The classy look made the Rover P5B the ideal vehicle for the British upper class: elegant enough to spoil them, fast enough to outrun any paparazzi, and refined enough to not make voters uncomfortable about extravagant spending. Later P5Bs were heavily updated with bulletproof glass and other security features.
The V8 3.5L P5B was a favored product of British Prime Ministers, starting with Harold Wilson. Margaret Thatcher entered Downing Street in a P5B after winning the 1979 general election.
Margaret Thatcher was associated with the P5B throughout the 1980s until she noticed that the Series 2 XJ Jaguars had less rear headroom and only changed cars when the Series 3 XJ was introduced – Photo: Autocar
Daimler DS420
More heads of state were given the DS420 than any other vehicle. That’s thanks to Daimler’s royal connections as well as the car’s elegant lines.
It was the Danish royal family who first discovered that DS420 made an excellent royal limousine after they tried out a pre-production model in 1968. Queen Elizabeth II has used several DS420s during her 24 years often in her foreign visits.
The Daimler DS420 was based on the Jaguar 420G and often went hand in hand with royalty – Photo: Autocar
Citroën CX
Like the Rover P5B in the UK, the Citroën CX was loved by French leaders. President Jacques Chirac was a CX enthusiast and used one until the car was replaced by the XM. In late 1995, he still opted for the CX because of its excellent ride comfort.
Other notable owners included King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
Always associated with the image of French Presidents beginning with DS, Citroën soon released the CX Prestige with an extended wheelbase to address complaints about legroom in the rear – Photo: Pinterest
Maserati Quattroporte
The Italian President can be said to use the “cheapest” official car on this list: the Maserati Quattroporte. The first one was presented to President Sandro Pertini in 1979, later upgraded to an armored version in 1982. The next one was the Royale in 1986 with an even more luxurious cabin and advanced features such as a built-in telephone and folding table in the rear door. Only 51 units of the Royale were ever produced.
President Pertini also used the Quattroporte as a template for Ferrari to produce from, but the Italian carmaker ignored the offer as the two sides were rivals. But then in 1993, Maserati also came under Fiat’s ownership.
This is the most modern version serving heads of state – Photo: Autocar
Queen’s State Bentley
Queen Elizabeth II was presented with a State Limousine from Bentley on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee (2002). It was not based on any existing Bentley models but custom designed from the ground up.
Only two examples were built, 83cm longer than an Arnage. Bentley used life-size foam images to ensure the design offered the most comfortable space for the Queen and the rear doors open at a 90-degree angle for easy access.
The Queen’s State Bentley is powered by a 6.75L V8 engine with 400 horsepower – Photo: Autocar
Maybach 62
The Maybach brand revival by Mercedes may not have been as successful as they hoped, but it is still the choice of leaders as their preferred mode of transport. For example, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the King of Thailand both use the Maybach 62.
While favored by leaders, the Maybach often falls short of sales targets. Now it only appears as the top-most luxury trim level within the S-Class and GLS model lines – Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Toyota Century Royal
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