Rides of Heads of State (Part 23)

With 151 cars and SUVs identified, we are past the 3/4 mark. Though there are just a handful of countries and vehicles left to identify, they will be tough to find. Many of them are in Oceania, where the countries are poor, small, and have little internet presence. Right now, I'm having one Dickens of a time trying to identify Palau's president's pickup truck based solely on a door handle and B-pillar.

Yesterday was the Superbowl. In the pre-game show, there was a Mercedes S-class ad in which the narrator touted the fact that more world leaders opted for the S-class than any other vehicle. Well, I did not see the ad cite this blog as the source, but I will take its word for it.

146. Cambodia. The King is seen here returning to Cambodia with his older S-class awaiting him.
147. Republic of the Congo. Here we see the president with RSA's prez in Brazzaville in another S-class.


148, 149, 150. Democratic Republic of Congo (PM), Equatorial Guinea (president), Togo (president). All S-classes. I discovered that recently, a gang of assassins in Nissan X Trails (compact SUVs) tried to take the DRC PM's life. The PM fled successfully, but broke both axles in the process. Unfortunately, I found this news piece after watching DRC Pres. Joseph Kabila's nauseating wedding video.


151. Tajikistan. Merc G-wagen. In a propaganda video involving glorious Farsi song and starring the leaders of Tajikistan and Iran in a plush jet, I finally found Rahmon's ride, an all black G-wagen.


Updated tally:
S-class: 51
7 series: 15
Land Cruiser: 15
A8: 8
Maybach: 6
Phaeton: 4
Caddy: 4
G-wagen: 4
Holden-Chevy-Opel: 3
H2: 3
Jag: 2
ZIL: 2
Volvo: 2
Touareg: 2
Mitsubishi Montero: 2
Suburban: 2

One of each of the following: Lancia, Hyundai, Skoda, A6, Peugeot, Renault, Lincoln, VW van, London taxi, Daimler, Toyota Century, Hongqi, Bentley, Rolls, Ford Fairlane, Aston Martin, SEAT, Ford Expedition, Nissan Patrol, Stutz, Suzuki, Camry, Toyota Crown, Toyota Sequoia, Proton, Land Rover

CKY