Pope’s Philly Fiat Up For Auction

If you bought it new, the 500L Fiat retails for about $20,000 but a used version up for bid through the Philadelphia Auto Show will draw far more given its former owner – the pontiff.

One of the four-door Fiats Pope Francis cruised around in during his trip to Philadelphia will be auctioned off at the Philadelphia Auto Show Black Tie Tailgate Jan 29 and a second will be displayed at the Auto Show.

Interested buyers can bid in-person or remotely for the vehicle, with proceeds going to various charities.

The car – not to be confused with the white Jeep “popemobile” Francis used in Philadelphia – gets decent fuel economy (33 m.p.g. highway, 25 city) and can go from 0 to 60 in about nine seconds.

Archdiocese spokesman Ken Gavin called the timing “providential,” at a news conference Wednesday. Chrysler-Fiat officials reached out to the World Meeting of Families in December saying they wanted to donate the two cars, which the Secret Service had returned to the company after the visit.

For the skeptics – Secret Service vouched for the Vin numbers on the two cars as those used that weekend. Fiat made some changes, like dialing back the tint put on the windows for the pontiff.