Pope's old car sold for €572,000

A light blue 1975 Ford Escort GL once owned by Pope John Paul II sold for $690,000 (€572,000) to a Houston multimillionaire who said he plans to put it in a museum he wants to build in his home town.

“To me, it’s a piece of history,” said John O’Quinn, 62, a Baptist who said he has a collection of about 600 vehicles. “What a great human being Pope John Paul was.”

Built 30 years ago at a Ford plant in Cologne, Germany, the car sold yesterday in what auctioneer Dean Kruse said was original papal condition – no hubcaps, no air conditioning, no radio, but with several nicks and dents.

“The car will never be driven,” said O’Quinn, who said that at least temporarily it will be warehoused with his other cars. “But hopefully, in my life, I’ll be able to go back and touch this car and feel the Pope’s spirit.”

The seller, Jim Rich, 41, bought the car for $102,000 (€85,000) at an auction in 1996, and said he promised the Pope when he received the keys at the Vatican that he would display the vehicle proudly at his Chicago West restaurant and never part with it.