Monday, August 21, 2006

Popemobile to be auctioned

The famous "Popemobile" used by John Paul II during his 1982 visit to Edinburgh is to be auctioned next month.

The 24-ton vehicle, which the Pope travelled in to visit Murrayfield and Glasgow's Bellahouston Park during his only official visit to Scotland, will be sold at a special auction of items from the Albion Museum in Dumfries.

The unique car, which is expected to be sold for £20,000, is a six-wheeled Range Rover and truck hybrid that was specially designed so that the Pope could be seen by the crowds in complete security.

It was one of only two to be commissioned for the Pope's tour of Britain in 1982, with the other used during the English legs of his visit.

Until recently, the Popemobile had been part of the collection at the Albion Museum. It was put up for sale following the death of its owner, Mick Hayton, earlier this year.

The auction will take place in Dumfries on September 2.

2 comments:

yellowdoggranny said...

oh ohohoooohhhhooo i want it..i always wanted a pope mobile...dont you know i would look cool tooling around in west with my little pope mobile? doing the pope wave????

dom said...

I think you'd look cool in it JS ... either that or a total prat