The Incredible Cars Of A Prince Of Europe
Prince Rainier III of Monaco had a long history of collecting cars, beginning as a racing enthusiast in his late 20s. Until his passing in 2005, the Prince had been collecting cars for nearly 50 years and had some rare and unique models as a result, like the first car to win the Monaco Grand Prix and a Ferrari driven by championship-winning Monegasque driver, Charles Leclerc. Let's examine some of the most amazing cars in the Prince's collection.
Where They're Stored
With more than 70 cars in the collection (after dozens were auctioned off in the years gone by), the Monegasque Royal Family needed somewhere to keep their beloved patriarch's extraordinary collection on display, in immaculate condition. The cars are kept in a museum that spans almost an acre, known as the Terrasses De Fontvielle, in a suburb of Monaco. The museum is an air-conditioned, five-story space near the Monaco Grand Prix racetrack.
Robert LeRoy Knudsen, Wikimedia Commons
The Cars
There's no doubt that Prince Rainier III may have had the most extensive collection of vehicles anywhere in Europe—rivalled only by Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah's extraordinary collection of 7,000 vehicles. Let's examine nearly 70 cars that are on display, including one very special F1 racer.
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The First Car
The very first car that Prince Rainier bought when he was 25 was the 1903 De Dion Bouton, first driving the car in 1953 as a student in England. We're not sure how many times he took the De Dion Bouton out for a spin, but he did drive it from London to Brighton in 1968 as part of a gathering of the world's classic cars. The 0.4L four-wheeled rode on 12-spoke wooden wheels.
The Tiny Three-Wheeler
As you'll discover, the Prince was no stranger to small and quirky cars, but this BMW Isetta is one of the finest. Running on three wheels, it had a single-cylinder engine that gave 78 mpg. It was the highest-selling single-cylinder car in the world, selling more than 160,000 units. It may not be a German classic in the traditional sense, but it certainly turned heads.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ferrari Testarossa
One of the best Ferraris of the 1980s, the Testarossa was a gorgeous 12-cylinder grand tourer with a rear-mid engine design that kept the weight balanced more evenly, despite the incredible power it could produce: up to 380 hp from its 3.9L engine. With a top speed of 180 mph, the Prince reportedly used it as his official business car when in Monaco.
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Mitsubishi Pajero
We all know that the Prince of Monaco loved rally racing, but perhaps even he wasn't prepared for this highly-collectible Mitsubishi Pajero from the 1984 Dakar Rally to wind up in his collection. Prince Albert of Monaco (Rainier's son) raced in a very similar Pajero in 1985, meaning that his father had to have one. It was powered by a four-cylinder, 2.5L turbocharged engine that produced 325 hp.
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F1 Lotus E21 Car
Another love of Prince Rainier III's life was Formula One, so he picked up a few F1 cars as part of this adoration of the extreme. He started with an F1 car driven by Kimi Räikkônen in 2013 which won the Australian Grand Prix and finished 10th in the Monaco GP that year. Powered by a 2.4L V8 engine, the Lotus E21 must have impressed the Prince.
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F1 Mercedes AMG Petronas Car
Another F1 beauty in Rainier's collection is this F1 Mercedes Petronas car, driven by Nico Rosberg. With a gorgeous silver and electric blue livery, the Petronas car is a gorgeous vehicle and one of the cleanest designs on the showroom floor.
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Ford GPW Jeep
During Prince Rainier III's military service, he rode in one of these: a Ford GPW Jeep. Serving during the Alsace campaign of World War II, upon his return from the forces (gazetted with medals like the American Bronze Star), the Prince picked himself up a 2.1L four-cylinder GPW Jeep.
Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Renault 4CV Sport
In 1957, Renault offered this classy fastback, known as the 4CV, featuring a 0.76L engine that only produced about 20 hp. The 4CV Sport had a top speed of 60 mph and was restored to its original "Periwinkle Blue" coloring for the Prince.
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Rolls-Royce Phantom V1
Known as the "New Phantom" in 1925, this stunning Rolls-Royce was reimagined by Martin & King, Australian body designers, matching their stunning coupé body with a 7.7L inline-six engine that produced 40 hp and had brakes on all four wheels (a big deal for the 1920s). This stunning Cherry Red Rolls-Royce is one of the oldest cars in the Prince's collection.
Efarestv, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lancia 037
Another stunning rally car from the early 1980s was the Lancia 037. It was the last rear-wheel drive car to ever win a World Rally Championship. Soon after, Audi released the Quattro and the Rally World was revolutionized. Lancia made a road-legal version—the Stradale—but the Prince gobbled up a legit Rally version, the one driven by Jean-Claude Andruet when he won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1973.
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Bora VW Formula Vee
The Bora VW was one model from Volkswagen's Formula Vee program—a series of cars designed for the open-wheel single-seater "Formula Vee" racing format. This little car was likely something the Prince drove around the racetrack at Monte Carlo in his spare time as a younger man.
Felix Wong, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Porsche 911 Carrera RS
In addition to classic rounded headlights and a stunning, deep emerald-like green color, this 1973 RS had a 2.7L engine that produced 207 hp. The Carrera RS' top speed was 180 mph and it was an incredible car for the era. Definitely one of the Prince's favorites.
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Citroen 2CV
Made with a 4.2L flat-twin engine that produced just 12 horsepower and a top speed of 47 mph, the Prince was going nowhere fast in the 2CV, but it was one of Citroen's finest cars of the late 1940s. Featuring an air-cooled engine, the 2CV was well-loved by Europeans royal and common alike. The Prince even took a trip to Africa in his 2CV in the 1950s.
Mercedes-Benz 220A
Produced in the mid-1950s, Mercedes' 220A was one of their first luxury sedans produced after World War II and it did not disappoint. The 2.2L inline-six produced 105 hp as Mercedes added a second carburetor, allowing the Prince to reach a top speed of 87 mph—blindingly fast in this luxury-of-luxury cars.
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Nash Healey Roadster
One of the newest purchases for Prince Rainier's collection would be made by his son, Prince Albert, who bought this Nash Healey Roadster in 2007 at an auction. A collaboration between Britain and America, with Italian bodywork featured a six-cylinder 3.85L engine that produced 125 hp and had a top speed of 99.6 mph.
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Citroen 15/6
Back to France we go with this stunning Citroen 15/6. Also known as the "Traction Avant", the 15/6 is a gorgeous car of French invention. Painted in all-black with stunning curves and in immaculate condition, the Citroen 15/6's six-cylinder 2.9L engine produces an impressive 77 hp and a top speed of 80 mph. But you're not driving a beauty like this anywhere in a hurry. It's meant to be ogled at.
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Maserati Mistral 4000
From the slow lane of the 15/6 to the super fast lane of the Italian Maserati Mistral 4000. The most powerful version of the Mistral, Maserati's flagship sports car of the 1960s, this 4000 model was purchased in 1990 by the Prince at auction. It's travelled over 10,000 miles since he owned it and its inline-six engine is still producing over 400 hp and propelling it to a top speed of 149 mph.
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Cisitalia 202
A gift from the House of Grimaldi to their leader, the Cisitalia 202 was given to Prince Rainier in 1997, a convertible model of the same car that the Prince used when he raced in the opening race of Monaco Grand Prix in 1948. The four-cylinder 1-liter engine produces 40 hp and a top speed of just under 110 mph.
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Rolls-Royce Phantom II
An upgrade from his Rolls-Royce Phantom I, the Phantom II was released in 1929 and produced until 1935. The Prince's model was the "Trouville" model, which featured a rear luggage rack, twin-blade bumpers and spare wheels in the fenders. The whitewall tires of the car were classic American-model RRs in the 1930s. This was another car Rainier used for official business in Monaco.
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Jaguar Mark IV
The Jaguar Mark IV was punctuated by a sumptuous interior design of wood, leather and carpets, with a stunning light-green exterior paint job. It produced 105 hp from a 2.7L inline-six engine, with a top speed of just under 70 mph. While we're not sure how far the Prince drove this "green machine", it certainly was a beautiful sight.
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Packard Super Eight Convertible
One of the greatest luxury cars of the 1930s, the Packard Super Eight Convertible was an eight-cylinder, 6.3L beast of a car. The two-door convertible produced 150 hp and had a top speed of 90 mph, but as with so many of the Prince's cars, you weren't driving this one anywhere fast. The gorgeous American classic was one Rainier's favorites.
Pool BENAINOUS/SCORCELLETTI, Getty Images
Delage D8-15
This time, a European model of the stunning two-door, long-body, long-hood cars in the Prince's collection. The Delage D8-15 was produced by French outfit Letourneur & Marchand, bodyworkers dedicated to producing pristine two- and four-door sedan bodies. Under the glorious bodywork churned a 4.0L engine that produced 102 hp and gave the D8 a top speed of 75 mph. A cruiser meant for cruising around, as the Prince often did.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lincoln Type L
Back to the United States we go with the Lincoln Type L. The very first car produced by the Lincoln Motor Company in 1920, the Prince owned this collector's item of a cream-and-red Type L for many years. Powered by a 6.3L V8 engine, the Type L choked out 90 hp and had a top speed of 80 mph.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hispano Suiza H6B
You might be seeing a pattern here: long, luxury, coach-built cars. As was the case with the Hispano Suiza H6B, which was custom-made for the Prince in the Kellner workshops in Paris. Sparing absolutely no expense, the Hispano Suiza H6B featured a 6.5L inline-six engine producing 135 hp and propelling this extraordinary custom to a top speed of 75 mph.
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Renault KJ
Renault's KJ was somewhat revolutionary when it was released in 1922. Renault designed a new hood for the car called an "alligator hood", with radiators placed on either side and behind the engine, giving the hood a pointed look. The KJ's gorgeous blue and black coloring was complemented by its engine—a four-cylinder 0.95L that could putter along at about 40 mph. No bother for Rainier, who was in no hurry to get anywhere.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Peugeot Quadrilette Type 161
The Peugeot Quadrilette Type 161 was a revolution at the time, a one-piece sheet metal design that performed excellently at the "5-liter can" competitions, which were competitions across car manufacturers in Europe to see how far a car could go on five liters of gasoline. The Peugeot covered 72 miles on a single can. We're not sure if the Prince ever put this to the test himself, although he wouldn't have to worry about fuel prices.
UNIC C9
The Unic C9 was the first car produced by Georges Richard's UNIC car company, restarted in 1905 with a cash injection from Baron Henri de Rothschild. "UNIC" is supposed to stand for unique, unparalleled vehicles. While the company may not have lived up to the hype, Prince Rainier's C9 is a gorgeous piece of art.
Cycle Car Super Levêque
You'll want to drive one of these just for the novelty of it! The Cycle Car Super Levêque was a 1914 cross between a car and a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the brand went belly up after the start of World War I, but luckily for Rainier, a surviving model was found and purchased. A true piece of engineering history.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Humber 12/20 HP
This 3.5L four-cylinder engined Humber 12/20 HP was produced between 1898 and 1911 in Beeston, England. Curiously, the law at the time meant that a man had to run ahead of the Humber 12/20 waving a red flag to indicate that the automobile was on its way. With a top speed of 43 mph, we're sure nobody was running ahead of Prince Rainier, as we know he always had a need for speed.
Ben Sutherland, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Renault AX
The Renault AX was one of the best in show at the 1908 Paris Motor Show. It featured a 1.0L inline two-cylinder engine that produced just 8 hp, giving it a top speed of just 35 mph. But its beauty was in its simplicity and the more than century-old model had been in Rainier's possession for many decades.
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Renault CB
When the Renault CB wasn't transporting heads of state around Europe, it was setting a speed record in Monte Carlo, covering 50 miles at a maximum speed of 118 mph, and covered 2,589 miles in 24 hours. Once it was done setting speed records in the 1920s, the CB was snatched up by Rainier III, after serving as the official transport of French presidents.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lexus LS600
Converted to a Landaulet configuration (open-top with door frames removed), this Lexus LS600 was used at the wedding of Prince Rainier III's son, Prince Albert, in 2011. It was also a hybrid. Although his father had long since passed, the Prince saw fit to place this special car in the collection.
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Lotus Seven IV
Only 630 of the Lotus Seven IV were ever produced. The last two-seater roadster made by Lotus, the Seven IV featured a 1.6L four-cylinder engine that produced just 84 hp and had a top speed of 105 mph. While we're sure Prince Rainier didn't build this himself, others could! The car came as a self-assembled kit.
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Cadillac Fleetwood
Serving as a state car for Prince Rainier III, the Prince bought the Fleetwood brand-new in 1961. Powered by a 6.3L V8 engine, the Fleetwood produced 325 hp and a top speed of just under 120 mph. The Fleetwood likely received a few armoured upgrades as a state car, but still maintained that raw American power thatRainier was so fond of.
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Fiat 600 Jolly
The Fiat 600 Jolly was indeed a jolly car. Painted in a gorgeous teal-esque blue color, this became the family car for the Prince in the late 1950s. Powered by a 0.63L four-cylinder engine, the Fiat 600 Jolly made sure you enjoyed the ride, with just 22 hp and a top speed of 60 mph. Driving one was all about the journey rather than the destination.
J&O Engineering Toy Car
A simply joyous toy car is in Prince Rainier's collection, likely one of his when he was a child. This J&O Engineering-designed toy car featured a two-stroke single-cylinder engine that provided a top speed of just 27 mph. All about the fun that a small child could have, the Prince added a toy car to his collection as he got older, although we doubt he'd fit in his original one now.
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Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I
Received by Prince Rainier as a wedding gift in 1956 from the merchants of Monaco, this incredible Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I was in service for decades as a ceremonial car. Powered by a six-cylinder inline engine that produced 155 hp and a top speed of 105 mph, this exquisite Rolls-Royce has to have been one of the Prince's favorites.
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Sunbeam Alpine Mark I
Bearing striking resemblance to that car in To Catch A Thief (1955), which is filmed in the hills above Monaco, the Sunbeam Alpine Mark I was purchased in 2012 by Rainier's family and will be restored to be identical to the Sunbeam Alpine Mark I from the movie. Powered by a 2.2L four-cylinder engine that produces 80 hp and a top speed of 93 mph, the Alpine Mark I clearly holds a special place in Monegasque hearts.
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Austin Taxi FX3
Reminiscent of the London Taxi Cabs? That's because it's the exact same model! The Austin FX3 was the favorite traveling car of Princess Grace, Rainier III's American wife, who once allowed their son, Prince Albert, to ride in the luggage compartment!
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Ford Station Woody Wagon
Designed in the spirit of a utility vehicle, the 1937 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon was one of the most unique of the Prince's collection. Originally purchased by Prince Louis II of Monaco, the Woody Wagon featured varnished wood doors and a wood cab cover. Powered by a 3.6L V8 engine, the Ford Deluxe Station Wagon produced 85 hp and a top speed of 95 mph.
Sleeping Post Coupé
Built before 1889, the Sleeping Post Coupé bore the royal cypher of King Charles III, who founded Monte Carlo's famous casino.
Wagonette
Belonging to Prince Albert I between 1848 and 1922, this open-top horse-drawn carriage was manufactured by Rostaing, a coachbuilder based in Paris in the mid-19th century. The Wagonette now belongs as part of the permanent collection of Rainier III—despite having not seen a horse, nor the road, in many decades.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Daumont Carriage
The Daumont Carriage has a storied history in the Monegasque Royal Family. With the wheel caps bearing the number "949", it also belonged to Prince Charles III and was used by Prince Albert I to open the Oceanographic Museum in 1910.
Nadine TOUDIC, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Binder Brothers City Sedan
Another horse-drawn carriage that belonged to Prince Charles III was the Binder Brothers City Sedan. Featuring curtains for privacy, the City Sedan bore the Prince's coat of arms and the Monegasque royal motto: "Deo Juvante", or "With God's Help".
Rolls-Royce Twenty
Prince Rainier III's car was produced with a removable windshield in the rear to protect the occupants for drafty winds, allowing optimal airflow. It was powered by an inline-six engine with a top speed of 43 mph. Produced between 1922 and 1929, the Twenty would have been sold to customers with chauffeurs back in the day, making it a perfect choice for the Prince some 60 years later.
Andrew Bone, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Lamborghini Countach 5000 LP
While not big on supercars, Prince Rainier III's collection does contain one classic: a Lamborghini Countach LP 5000—the "Quattrovalvolle" version, with four valves per cylinder, hence the name. Powered by a 5.2L V12 that produced 449 hp and a top speed of 183 mph, we're sure Prince Rainier took this special Lamborghini for a whip around the track at Monte Carlo.
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Rolls Royce Phantom I
Another Rolls-Royce in the Prince's collection was this Phantom I, one of just 3,500 cars produced between 1925 and 1931. One thing that likely drew the Prince to purchase the Phantom I was its quietness: Compared to other vehicles of its era, the Phantom I was quiet as a mouse. It produced 106 hp and had a top speed of 90 mph.
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Renault Florida
The Renault Florida was presented to Princess Grace (Rainier's wife) in 1959, making it one of the very first examples to leave the Renault factory. Since 1959, the car has covered less than 5,000 miles. Painted in Borneo Green, the Renault Florida is powered by an inline-four engine that produces 40 hp and a top speed of 70 mph.
Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Ferrari 250 GT Convertible II
Like any good car collection, the Prince's had to have a classic Ferrari. It doesn't get much more classic than the Ferrari 250 Convertible GT II. Powered by a 2.9L V12 engine, the 250 GT routinely ranks among the most classic Ferraris in history. The 250 GT produces 240 hp and has a top speed of 150 mph. It's an exquisite representation of the Prince's commitment to style and panache.
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Alfa Romeo 1600 Giulia Spider
Another classic Italian convertible in the Prince's collection is the Alfa Romeo 1600 Giulia Spider. With its four-cylinder, inline 1.5L engine, the Alfa produces 92 hp and a top speed of 106 mph. This stunning convertible likely reminded Prince Rainier of the joys of winding along the Amalfi Coast with the breeze in his hair, as he often took this car on vacations to other parts of Europe.
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Packard S236 Roadster
The 4.7L Packard S236 Roadster was an alternative in the US to Cadillac in the 1930s, if you wanted luxury. Cheekily, it was fitted with what was known as a "mother in-law's seat": a small bucket seat located outside the passenger's compartment that folded down to become part of the trunk. We're sure Princess Grace's mom didn't sit in it.
Delahaye 35 MS
Princess Rainier is said to have found this French-engineered coupé, a Delahaye 35 MS, in a Monaco garage in 1985 and bought it on the spot. Fully restored to its former glory, the Delahaye 135 MS was one of the last cars ever produced by the company before they went belly up in 1952.
Andromeda2064, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Napier 1914
Napier was a British engineering company that had been designing luxury cars since the turn of the 20th century, the precursor to Rolls-Royce. Napier produced this exceedingly rare T-78 soft-top convertible with electric headlights. It was powered by a 2.7L inline-six engine that produced just 20 hp.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Limousine Barker
This extra-long version of the OG Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost from the early 1920s was designed to be a limousine for the rich and famous, or royalty in the case of Prince Rainier III. Coach-built by Barker & Co of London, this gorgeous all-black Silver Ghost featured a 7.4L six-cylinder engine that produced 85 hp and a top speed of 71 mph.
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Humber Beeston 1911
Humber Beeston of England used to make powered bicycles and tricycles, but in 1911, they outfitted one of these with a four-speed gearbox and a 6.3L engine. Two rows of leather seating and a gorgeous detailed bodywork meant that the Prince would certainly stand out in his Humber Beeston. The car only had a top speed of about 33 mph, but you don't drive one of these to go anywhere in a hurry.
Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Humber 2.75 HP
Prince Albert I, Rainier's great-grandfather, was the original owner of this 2.75 hp motorcycle made by Humber. In 1902, Albert I traveled between Monaco and Paris three times in three consecutive years between 1903 and 1905. This Humber is an exact replica of the motorcycle driven by Albert I, which had long since disappeared after his death in 1921.
ceridwen, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Weasel 1943
Used by scientist Paul Victor on his polar expeditions from 1947 to 1955, the 1943 Weasel was an American-built amphibious car used by the French for their campaign in Indochina during World War II. Purchased by the Prince's collection as an homage to Paul Victor's contributions to science, this stunning tracked vehicle could operate at temperatures below -40℃.
Patrick Peccatte & Michel Le Querrec from near Paris, France, Wikimedia Commons
F1 Renault R28
Another spectacular F1 addition to the Prince's collection is this Renault R28, driven by Fernando Alonso in 2008. It finished first at the Singapore and Japanese Grand Prix. Renault introduced a new nose design, the moustache shape, to this car and all forthcoming Renault F1 cars. The car must have reminded the Grimaldis of the Prince, as they added it to the collection after its excellent racing season.
kevinmcgill, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Alpine Renault A110 1600 S
The most emblematic French sports car of the 1960s and 70s: the Renault A110 1600 S. It was the most successful French rally car of the era too, winning two European championships in 1970 and 1971 and a World Championship in 1973. With a legacy like that, it's no wonder the Prince snapped up a replica of the glory days of French rally racing.
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Cadillac Coupe DeVille
From France to the United States, the Cadillac Coupe DeVille was the luxury car of post-war America in the 1940s. Enamored with the sheer size of the Coupe DeVille, along with the sweeping bumpers and side-pillarless design, the Coupe DeVille was always going to have a place among Rainier III's many luxury autos.
Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Facel Vega II
Less than 200 of these were produced. The Vega II, produced by Facel Industries of France (one of many post-war car companies), had conventional round headlights in two sets of two on the front, along with a sweeping grille and a gorgeous beige color scheme. The Prince loved driving around in this light and bright car that produced 355 hp and a surprisingly quick top speed of 158 mph.
F1 Ferrari 640
Perhaps it was the bright red allure of the Ferrari 640 that caught the Prince's eye. In any case, a final F1 addition to his extraordinary collection came in the form of a Ferrari 640 driven by the team of Brit Nigel Mansell and Austrian Gerhard Berger. Finishing third in the Constructors Championship in 1989, clearly the Prince thought it a worthy addition to a collection full of F1 firepower.
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Citroen DS3 Rally Car
This 2014 Citroen DS Rally Car is a display version (without the engine) of the car that won the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally. If the car had an engine, it would be fitted with a 1.6L four-cylinder engine that produced 325 hp. Maybe owning the car gave the Prince a throwback to when he participated in the Monte Carlo Rally under a pseudonym.
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The Hélica
Crafted by French designer Marcel Leyat, the Hélica was the "plane without wings", and closely resembled an aircraft, but it was on wheels and powered by an 8-hp engine and a giant, four-blade propeller out front. The body was made of plywood and it once reached a top speed of 106 mph. We're not sure if the Prince ever got to drive this one, but it's very cool and one of only 30 ever made.
Leyat, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Which Of The Prince's Cars Is Your Favorite?
If you could only have one of the Prince's extraordinary cars, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below! Are you a stickler for the speed of Formula One? Or prefer a more refined automobile, like a Rolls-Royce?
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