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A famed Fiat that transported Pope Francis around New York last September sold for $300K in an online auction six months later.
The new owner is Miles Nadal, 58, a philanthropist, businessman and car collector.
Proceeds from the March 31 sale of the sleek black 2015 Fiat 500 Lounge Hatchback, donated by the archdiocese, will go to archdiocesan Catholic schools and Catholic Charities; Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).
“This car is special to me since I am a collector thrilled to own such a unique piece of history,” Nadal said in a statement through the auction site Charitybuzz.
“As a Jew, I am interested in helping all communities and appreciate any opportunity but particularly this one, to be able to contribute to organizations benefiting children,” added Nadal, a Toronto native who now resides in the Bahamas.
The sedan in which Pope Francis rode during his Sept. 24-26 visit to the archdiocese has a base MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) of $24,695.
A similar Fiat used to transport the pope during the Philadelphia leg of his journey to the United States last fall sold for $82,000 at an auction there in January.
The auction winner of the New York automobile also earned an opportunity to meet with Cardinal Dolan in the archdiocese to have the car blessed.
The vehicle was provided by Chrysler for the Papal Visit to the United States Sept. 22-27. The Secret Service confirmed the pope used the Fiat, as reported by the archdiocese, which will provide a letter of confirmation to Nadal.
On March 17, Msgr. Robert Ritchie, rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, drove the Papal Fiat—one of two Fiat 500 sedans used during the papal visit to New York—to the cathedral where Cardinal Dolan reviewed it before its participation in the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. The car was then driven for the rest of the parade route.
Bidding on the car opened that same day. According to charitybuzz.com, the first bid came in at $10,500.
