I wonder how the authenticity can be proven in the absence of ownership records. Maybe Pol Pot left his teeth marks on a pencil in the glove box.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... otohosting
[/img]For Sale - one classic 1973 Mercedes Benz Stretch Limousine (short-wheel base stretch) - previously used by one infamous owner - Pol Pot who led the Khmer Rouge during its genocidal regime in Cambodia from 1975 - 1979.
Currently on display at the famous French colonial renakse hotel (Monireth Boulevard) - opposite the Kings' Royal Palace. The car was discovered by a previous editor of the Phnom Penh Post being used to transport water melon's to the Central Market (Psar Thmei). The current owner purchased the car in 2001 and has painstakingly restored it to its current glory. The restoration of the car was filmed by Yorkshire TV for Channel 4 and a clip from this documentary can be viewed at:
(copy and paste to YouTube or search using the words 'Pol Pot' and 'Mercedes') . The full programme can be obtained from the current owner.
The car was also used by Matt Dillon in the making of his cult classic - City of Ghosts - starring Gerard Depardieu and James Caan and the one photo listed here shows the car being lifted on a crane for transporting to Bokhor in Kompot Province, Cambodia.
The car has its original 3.5L diesel engine and air conditioning has subsequently been repaired by the current owner. The car is black and the interior has been reupholstered to a high standard. No wing mirrors exist since it was impossible to find the original ones locally. The Khmer Rouge regime detroyed all official documents during their tenure as the de-facto government in Cambodia during the 1970's (even blowing up the Bank of Lao and destrying all currency) and hence no official papers for the car exist. It enjoys a reputation in Phnom Penh as "Pol Pot's Car or PP1'. Listed are some photo's from the Documentation Centre in Cambodia where the car can be seen at Pochentong Airport. The car in the library photo is an example of the type of car that was used to collect and ferry dignitaries and VIP's. It should not be construed as being the actual car listed on this auction, There can however have been no other use for a car such as this during the Maoist dictatorship where the whole poulation was forced under some bizarre agro-experiment to work in the fields to demonstrate that Cambodia could be self-sufficient.
Interested parties can view the car at its current resting place (The Renakse Hotel). The winning bidder will be responsible for all shipping costs. The current owner will arrange for transportation to any global destination. The car is 'sold as seen' since it is now some 37+ years old and the current owner is not a mechanic. It is however available for any inspection. Whilst it would certainly benefit from some restoration work (there is a limit to the skills available in Cambodia) the car has been used by its current owner for Sunday drives around Phnom Penh and the outskirts. Part of the proceeds of the sale will be given to a Cambodian children's charity. Having since moved to the Lao PDR a decision was made to sell the car. Payment for the car can be arranged either by Letter Of Credit (should this be a preferred method) or cash / PayPal / Bankers Draft / TT