The original Range Rover had one of the longest production runs of any car ever made and despite only being minimally changed between its 1970 launch and its 1996 discontinuation, its legacy lives on thanks to the amazing work undertaken by enthusiasts and aftermarket engine suppliers.

Despite only receiving slight changes and alterations in 36 years of production despite its move upmarket in the 1980s, it is also famous for being a platform perfectly suited for modifications of all shapes and sizes.

Two of the most unique, unusual and expensive of these were built for a literal saint and cost £128,000 to modify, which equates to over half a million pounds adjusted for inflation.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II visited the United Kingdom in a highly anticipated event, but part of the requirements for his elaborate visit was the creation of a popemobile to transport the pontiff from engagement to engagement throughout his journey.

This vehicle, traditionally seen as a form of “sedia gestatoria” or “carrying chair”, is white, typically robust and has been provided by a wide variety of different manufacturers.

British Leyland created three popemobiles for the occasion. One was a modified Leyland Constructor truck, whilst the other two were modified Range Rovers.

The latter two were the first two bulletproof popemobiles, seen as necessary partly due to Pope John Paul’s “rock star” reputation for drawing huge crowds, but mostly due to an attempted assassination attempt in 1981.

This crime, which took place whilst the Pope was riding on an open-top Fiat popemobile, led to a rigorous overhaul of safety and security requirements.

One of the popemobiles is on display at the Cars of the Stars Museum, whilst the other was so popular with the pontiff that it was taken to the Vatican and was used for at least three decades, even after John Paul II died and was sanctified.