Rare Car Archive

Makes › Mercedes-Benz Germany › 230 › 230 G Popemobile (W 460) · Royal, state & papal · 1980

Mercedes-Benz
230 G Popemobile (W 460)

First modern popemobile: G-Class with raised rear seat under a tall transparent dome, developed for John Paul II's 1980 visit to Germany; a second, virtually identical vehicle followed after the 1981 assassination attempt

Still being researched: why it matters, history, identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Mercedes-Benz 230 G Popemobile (W 460) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Mercedes-Benz 230 G Popemobile (W 460) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: John Bell from UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
1BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
1 Built
Years
1980
Engine
2,307 cc / 2.3 LFactory: 2,307 cc
Power
67.1 kW / 91.2 PSFactory: 90 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityOne-off 1 · Built1
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionindividual car (the 1980 original; a second near-identical vehicle built after 1981 not counted) 11 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard 230 G Popemobile (W 460).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeM 115 V 23 / 115.9732Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
LayoutNot yet verified
Cylinders42Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Displacement 2,307 cc / 2.3 LFactory: 2,307 cc2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Bore 93.75 mmFactory: 93.75 mm2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Stroke 83.6 mmFactory: 83.6 mm2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Compression ratio8.0:12Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ. Archive also lists an optional 9.0 compression ratio.
Valvetrain2 valves per cylinder; 1 overhead camshaft driven by duplex roller chain2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Fuel system1 Stromberg 175 CDTU horizontal-draught carburettor2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Power 67.1 kW / 91.2 PSFactory: 90 hp · converted2Rating: DINValue is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ. Archive: 66 kW / 90 DIN/hp at 5000 rpm; optional 75 kW / 102 DIN/hp at 5250 rpm.
Power at 5,000 rpm2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Torque 167 NmFactory: 167 Nm2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Torque at 2,500 rpm2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
Gears42Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Driven wheelsFour-wheel drive: permanent rear-wheel drive; disengageable front-wheel drive2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisBox-section ladder-type frame2Value is the base 230 G (W 460) series figure from the Mercedes-Benz archive; the page does not mention the Popemobile and the conversion may differ.
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weightNot yet verified
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Motor1 – Mercedes Popemobiles century exhibit Level C
    • 1 individual car (the 1980 original; a second near-identical vehicle built after 1981 not counted)
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    230 G (short wheelbase), 1979 - 1989 (base model page, 460 G 23) Level A Mercedes-Benz AG, Mercedes-Benz Public Archive (Classic M@RS)
    • Engine designation / type : M 115 V 23 / 115.973 (Drive)
    • Number of cylinders / arrangement : 4 / in-line (Drive)
    • Displacement : 2307 cc (Drive)
    • Bore : 93.75 mm (Drive)
    • Stroke : 83.6 mm (Drive)
    • Compression ratio : 8.0 (optional: 9.0) (Drive)
    • Number of valves per cylinder : 2; Valve operation : 1 overhead camshaft (Drive)
    • Injection pump / injection system (type) : 1 Stromberg 175 CDTU (Drive)
    • Rated power : 66 kW / 90 DIN/hp at 5000 rpm (Drive)
    • Nominal torque : 167 Nm at 2500 rpm (Drive)
    • Forward gears (total) : 4 (Transmission and driving performance)
    • Drive : four-wheel drive: permanent rear-wheel drive; disengageable front-wheel drive (Chassis and power transmission)
    • Frame design : box-section ladder-type frame (Chassis and power transmission)
    Accessed 2026-11-12

Keep exploring

More from Mercedes-Benz

See all 212 cars by Mercedes-Benz →

Germany More from Germany

71 other makes from Germany9ffAC SchnitzerAdlerAgria-WerkeAlbertAlpinaAMOAmphicarApolloArtegaAudiAuto UnionAutomobili PininfarinaBayerische AutowerkeBitterBMWBohseBoldmenBorgwardBovensiepenBrennaborBrütschChampionDauerDKWFMR (Messerschmitt)FuldamobilGemballaGepardGlasGoggomobilGoliathGumpertGutbrodHanomagHeinkelHorchHyundaiIFAIrmscherAll makes →