POPE-MOBILES
The creation of three Pope-mobiles between 1997 and 2002 was a wonderful experience, one consequence of which was the opportunity for Alfredo, Francesco and Maria Paola Stola to have an audience with Pope John Paul II.
In a meeting at the offices of the of the Rivoli modellers between Bruno Sacco, Monsignor Danzi and other clergy, and Mr. Piero Cicchetti, the Pope's driver , the decision was taken to build a new S-Class Landaulet.
Rome 1960 Pope John XXIII with the Mercedes 300 Laundaulet in service until 1997.
This was replacement for the now-dated Mercedes S Class W 111 Landaulet, in service since 1959 with Pope John XXIII, and it still operational.
The requirements for reliability and respect for emission standards made the Stuttgart company decide to donate to the Vatican a new vehicle based on the new W140 chassis.
January 1997 Rivoli via Ferrero 9. At the metrological room of Stola s.p.a. the Mercedes 300 Laundaulet still in service since 1960 for four Popes.
Ergonomic surveys are carried out in order to obtain useful information for the future and new Mercedes
Laundaulet.
The basic design for the new Laundaulet.It was a sensitive project not only because of the who the customer was but also because cutting up an S-Class and making a Landaulet version is a demanding operation.
The design and modeling were performed by the Stola team directed by Gottardo Bustreo and Stefano Ardagna following the stylistic indications of Andrea Deufel from Mercedes.
The actual construction and painting of the prototype was entrusted by STOLA to Salvatore Diomante of Nichelino SD .
Nichelino December 1997. Roberto Stola examines the Laudaulet before delivery to the Vatican State by Mercedes Italia.
Rivoli January 1998 at Stola s.p.a. in via Ferrero 9, the final touches before delivery.
San Mauro Torinese January 1998 at the property of Roberto Stola Villa La Vista the souvenir photos before delivery.
Vatican City - Rome: the first official outing of Pope John Paul II with the Mercedes S Class Landoulet
For reasons of security, between 2000 and 2002,the Vatican State asked Mercedes to imagine a new model of Popemobile that could be used even when the pope was standing and offering maximum visibility.
Given their recent excellent experience, Peter Pfeiffer ,Director of the Style Center, together with the special cars department in Stuttgart entrust this work to STOLA.
Monsignor Danzi and driver Piero Cicchetti both made valuable contributions to the project, in particular to all questions of internal ergonomics and accessibility to the vehicle.
The design and modeling were carried out at STOLA in Rivoli, whilst the construction of the prototypes was given to SD of Nichelino.
Nichelino 2001 at SD Alfrdo Stola, Salvatore Diomante and Gregorio Apuzzo
Alfredo Stola and Dalessio
A. Stola poses for a souvenir photo.
Nichelino 2001 a few moments before the delivery of the first Popemobile to Mercedes Italia.
The ordered vehicles were twins, the starting point was the M Class W 240, styling was by Peter Arcadipane and the agreement was that all the ballistic safety materials would be supplied by Mercedes.
This time the painting of the two white Popemobiles would be carried out by Vercar in Beinasco,STOLA's usual supplier.
The reason for this choice was that such a tall painting booth was not available at either SD or STOLA spa.
Turin 2001 the official photo of the Popemobile M Class W 240 taken before being sent to Mercedes Italia. The following year a second twin model will be built, again by Stola spa.
The first person to use these 3 vehicles was Pope John II, Official delivery of the three vehicles to the vatican was made by Mercedes' Gregorio Apuzzo, manager of the Mercedes special production department (police cars, taxis, etc.)and the man who managed the project.
The Holy Father was aware of the work done in Rivoli, and so, through Monsignor Danzi, In the spring of 2003 he sent two personally signed books to Roberto and Alfredo Stola.
Alfredo Stola with his wife Maria Paola and his son Francesco were invited to a touching audience in St. Peter's in front of Karol Wojtyla, and at that time the assistant of the Holy Father reminded him that company Stola had cooperated in the construction of his cars.
Vatican City April 2003 Alfredo, Francesco e Maria Paola Stola at the Vatican garage with the Laundaulet
and the M-Class Popemobile.
Vatican City April 19, 2003 Maria Paola, Francesco and Alfredo Stola in audience
with Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.
These 3 papal cars were then used again by Pope Ratzinger Benedict XVI, and are now exhibited in the Vatican museum, in the hall dedicated to cars and carriages.
Vatican City 2002 Pope John Paul II in St. Peter's Square.
Pope John Paul II.
Washington April 16, 2008 Pope Benedict XVI visits the President of the United States of America George W. Bush.
Pope Benedict XVI