Citroën DS
The Citroën DS is a car that stands out in terms of user-friendliness. Its style perfectly matches the stature of Charles De Gaulle, which is why he used it throughout his leadership. Even when it suffered an attack in 1962 and had a flat tire, the Citroën DS still managed to move and safely transport the French President to his destination.
The Citroën DS is not only loved by French leaders, but it is also favored by others. However, the current President Emmanuel Macron has returned to the Citroën DS with a recognizable model called Presidential DS 7 Crossback. Photo of Charles De Gaulle on Citroën DS: Autocar
Rolls-Royce Phantom V
While the British Royal Family’s Phantom V is known for its low-key appearance, the same cannot be said for former Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. However, the most famous owner of the Phantom V is John Lennon, the iconic singer of The Beatles.
John Lennon’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V – Photo: Autocar
The Phantom V, with only 516 units ever produced, features a long wheelbase of up to 3,650mm and an engine that provides sufficient power to accommodate the added weight of custom features requested by the owner.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental is best known for being the car in which US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in November 1963. Since that tragic event, all US presidential cars have been required to be bulletproof and convertible-topless.
The Continental used by President Kennedy on that fateful day has been modified to a hardtop version and is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan – Photo: Autocar
Mercedes 600 Pullman
Mercedes gladly sold the 600 to anyone who wanted one, but the 600 Pullman was specifically targeted at leaders rather than just the extremely 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), and many others.
The Mercedes 600 Pullman, discontinued in 1981, is equipped with a sophisticated air suspension system and is powered by a 6.3L V8 engine that produces 247 horsepower, allowing it to reach a top speed of 127 km/h – Photo: Autocar
Rover P5B
The Rover P5B’s elegant appearance made it the perfect choice for the British upper class. It was elegant enough to impress them, fast enough to outrun any paparazzi, and refined enough to avoid making voters uncomfortable due to extravagant spending. Later versions of the P5B were updated with bulletproof glass and other security features.
The V8 3.5L P5B became a favorite among British Prime Ministers, starting with Harold Wilson. Margaret Thatcher also rode in a P5B after winning the 1979 general election.
Margaret Thatcher was associated with the P5B throughout the 1980s until she realized that the Series 2 XJ Jaguars had less rear headroom. She subsequently switched to the Series 3 XJ when it was introduced – Photo: Autocar
Daimler DS420
The DS420 from Daimler is the most commonly used vehicle by heads of state. This is due to Daimler’s royal connections as well as the car’s elegant design.
It was the Danish royal family that first discovered the DS420’s potential as an excellent royal limousine after trying out a pre-production model in 1968. Queen Elizabeth II has used multiple DS420s during her 24-year reign, often during her visits abroad.
The Daimler DS420 is based on the Jaguar 420G and is often associated with royalty – Photo: Autocar
Citroën CX
Similar to the Rover P5B in the UK, the Citroën CX was beloved by French leaders. President Jacques Chirac was a CX enthusiast and continued to drive one even after the CX was replaced by the XM. As late as 1995, he still preferred the CX due to its excellent ride comfort.
Other notable owners of the Citroën CX include King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
Always associated with French Presidents starting from the DS, Citroën later introduced the CX Prestige with an extended wheelbase to address complaints about legroom in the rear – Photo: Pinterest
Maserati Quattroporte
The Italian President can be considered as the user of the “most affordable” official car on this list: the Maserati Quattroporte. The first Quattroporte was presented to President Sandro Pertini in 1979 and was later upgraded to an armored version in 1982. The subsequent model, called the Royale, was introduced in 1986 and featured an even more luxurious cabin with 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 proposed to Ferrari that they use the Quattroporte as a template for their own production. However, Ferrari declined the offer due to rivalry between the two brands. In 1993, Maserati became part of Fiat’s ownership.
This is the most modern version used by heads of state – Photo: Autocar
Queen’s State Bentley
On the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, Queen Elizabeth II received a State Limousine from Bentley. This car was custom-designed from the ground up and was not based on any existing Bentley models.
Only two examples were built, and they were 83cm longer than the Arnage model. Bentley used life-size foam models 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 revival of the Maybach brand by Mercedes may not have been as successful as they had hoped, but it remains the preferred mode of transport for many leaders. For example, both King Abdullah II of Jordan and the King of Thailand use the Maybach 62.
Although the Maybach falls short of sales targets, it continues to be favored by leaders. Currently, it only appears as the top luxury trim level within the S-Class and GLS model lines – Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Toyota Century Royal
The unique design cues of Japanese culture, such as the grille design reminiscent of a folding hand fan, are incorporated into the Toyota Century Royal. The Century Royal is a luxury car built exclusively for the Japanese Emperor and the royal family, and it reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship and sophistication.
One of the most distinctive features of the Century Royal is the unique “Century” emblem placed on the front grille – Photo: Autocar
Conclusion
The cars mentioned above have all been driven by leaders around the world and are known for their luxurious features, iconic designs, and association with power. Each car represents a different era and reflects the unique preferences of the leaders who chose them.
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Pham Xuan An’s Impressive Car Collection Featuring Vintage Cars in Saigon
General Pham Xuan An, a spy, was once seen outside a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, alongside a plethora of other distinctive car models, driving the iconic Renault 4 CV.
