Eternal Performance: The Pope Is Selling His Lamborghini Huracn RWD
In the car world, Pope Francis is most famous for abandoning the popemobile to drive himself around in various small hatchbacks. Perhaps thinking he was an automobile enthusiast, Lamborghini gifted him a white Huracán RWD Coupe with gold detailing to match his catholic dressings on Wednesday, just outside the Vatican hotel where he lives.
Unfortunately, while he blessed the crap out of the car, he doesn’t want to keep it. Instead, the church will auction it off to fund the Nineveh Plains Reconstruction Project — a group primarily focused on helping women who were victims of trafficking at the hands of ISIS.
While we wish they would have orchestrated a photo shoot where His Holiness performs a burnout, turning to the camera to look over a pair of wraparound sunglasses whilst uttering “Good God,” we understand he’s supposed to remain reverent — or whatever. It just seemed like a missed opportunity and could have upped the resale value of the car the pontiff laid rubber with. Besides, it would have been for a good cause.
However, good taste prevailed and the Lamborghini will be sold with Francis’ blessing (and autograph) via Sotheby’s auction house. With a starting MSRP around $200,000, we would expect the ultra-rare papal custom to sell for substantially more. Interestingly, the Catholic News Agency said it was an all-wheel drive model, while Lamborghini indicated it was rear-drive. Based on our tire-shredding fantasy, we’re more inclined to believe the automaker.
A portion of the funds raised from the auction will also go toward supporting missionary work in Africa. But the bulk will be used on rebuilding homes, churches, and public buildings in Iraq that were devastated during three years of fighting by the Islamic State group. The Vatican said the purpose is to allow Christians who were forced to flee Nineveh “to finally return to their roots and recover their dignity.”
This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has auctioned off a used vehicle. In 2014, he sold a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to aid a homeless shelter in Rome, and it has been a longstanding practice for popes to sell popemobiles for charitable causes.
Lamborghini definitely knew that this car would change hands quickly. The presentation ceremony was attended by Stefano Domenicali, chairman and chief executive officer of Automobili Lamborghini, some of the company’s management board, and two technicians who built the special edition Huracán. Sotheby’s said the car will be auctioned on May 12th, 2018 — which should give you just enough time to get your finances in order.
[Images: Lamborghini]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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I say gift Pope an Alfa Romeo made on a Monday. If its still running without any major maintenance or dealer visits after a couple thousand miles, we'll know that indeed the Pope enjoys divine favor of the Lord Almighty.
I always saw him as more of a Gumpert Apollo man anyway. Not sure what that means, but I like typing Gumpert Apollo.