A look at King Charles III's car collection, valued at $15 million

2024-12-24 09:48:05 source: category:Scams

Members of Britain's royal family have been pictured over the years behind the wheel of some of the world's most iconic cars, and the new monarch, King Charles III, is no exception.

Ahead of the king's coronation ceremony on May 6, U.K. car leasing company Nationwide Vehicle Contracts released a list of the rare and classic vehicles owned by the royals — and their estimated value.

"Luxury cars have long been associated with the monarch and King Charles III, in particular, is known for his fondness of motor vehicles," Nationwide's director Keith Hawes told CBS News on Tuesday. "His impressive collection features sentimental value with motors passed down from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to cars bought for him by his parents."

King Charles III arrives in his Bentley State Limousine to inspect the 200th Sovereign's parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, April 14, 2023 in Camberley, England. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Nationwide listed 12 vehicles in the royal fleet, with the most valuable being two Bentley State Limousines valued at more than $12 million each. They're the only two limos of their kind in existence, built by Bentley specifically for the 2002 Golden Jubilee of Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

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The Bentleys are the official state cars of Great Britain, and both are described by Nationwide as having "fully armored bodywork and glass, blast-resistant tires, and blue flashing lights."

The rear interior of the Bentley State Limousine, which was presented to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Fiona Hanson/PA Images/Getty

The interior of the vehicles can be sealed air-tight to protect occupants in the event of a gas attack, Nationwide said in its press release, coming with "James Bond-esque engineering as standard."

One of the vehicles set to carry King Charles for his coronation, however, is a far less-modern people carrier. The Gold State Coach may be the world's oldest and most exclusive vehicle.

A hologram of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation is projected in the Gold State Coach on June 5, 2022, in London, England, amid celebrations for the queen's Platinum Jubilee. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty

The coach was commissioned by King George III and built in 1760, according to Buckingham Palace, and has been used at every coronation since 1831. It is scheduled to carry Charles and his wife Queen Camilla in a procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace on coronation day.

The ornate, gilded coach is valued at around $2 million, Nationwide said. According to the palace, it will be drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses on coronation day and, "due to its weight" of almost 4.5 tons, "will travel at walking pace."

The third most expensive car in the king's garage(s) is a 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Volante. The sports car valued by Nationwide at just over $1.2 million was a 21st birthday present from his parents — but the royal did make some distinct modifications.

Then Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the then-Duchess of Cornwall arrives, driving his 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante, to play in the Burberry Cup polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club, June 17, 2005 in Cirencester, England. Several years later Charles had the car converted to run on bioethanol. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

The king's passion for environmentalism is well known, and in 2008, when he was the Prince of Wales, he had the Aston converted to run on bioethanol, or more specifically leftover wine.

The other nine vehicles on the list include another Aston Martin and a Rolls Royce valued between $600,000 and $700,000, and then a more modest set that Nationwide said was worth between about $200,000 and $37,000.

Prince Charles, then the Prince of Wales, arrives in his 1994 Aston Martin Virage Volante to play polo at Cirencester Park Polo Club, July 21, 2005, in Cirencester, England. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
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