French President René COTY aboard a 1950 Talbot Lago T26 on May 08, 1955, during the celebration of the Armistice of 08/05/1945, place de l'Etoile, Paris
French coachbuilders were late in choosing the PEUGEOT brand for presidential limousines. Let's go back in time to understand: it was in 1954 that French President René COTY (President from 1954 to 1959) decided that, to welcome foreign heads of state to France with dignity, the Presidency needed a prestigious French limousine.
Citroën 15/6 H FRANAY for the President of the French Republic
The coachbuilder Marius FRANAY chose the top-of-the-range CITROËN of the time: the 15/6 H. From this base, the car is fitted with FORD Comète windscreens and bumpers, BUICK Roadmaster rear glass, BENTLEY door handles and CHEVROLET rear lights.
General de Gaulle later opted for the CITROËN DS for his trips to the provinces and commemorative events.
French President De Gaulle on a visit to the provinces in a DS19
Some of which had a fabric convertible top, allowing him to wave to the crowds....
The Presidential Citroën 15/6 H CHAPRON and the SM CHAPRON
In 1971, his successor, President Georges POMPIDOU, ordered a Citroën SM convertible to welcome Queen Elizabeth II of England to France. The brand turned to coachbuilder Henri CHAPRON, from whom France had already ordered a Citroën 15/6 H convertible and a DS 21.
Queen Elizabeth II and French President POMPIDOU aboard the SM CHAPRON Présidentielle in May 1972.
He proposed an SM Opéra with an extended rear overhang and a length increased to 5.60 meters. It would be convertible. And when Queen Elizabeth II visited the Champs Elysées in May 1972, she paraded alongside French President Georges POMPIDOU...
DS 23 IE PALLAS Presidential
In 1974, President Valéry GISCARD D'ESTAING (President from 1974 to 1981) used Citroën DS 23s for trips to the provinces or to government buildings.
A CX 25 Prestige in the courtyard of the Elysée Palace
Replaced in the late 70s by Citroën CX 25 Prestige.
Presidential Peugeot 604 CHAPRON LANDAULET
It was during Valéry Giscard d'Estaing's term of office that PEUGEOT models prepared by coachbuilder CHAPRON LANDAULET first appeared, with PEUGEOT 604s.
US President Jimmy CARTER during his visit to Paris on 06/01/1978 aboard a Presidential 604 CHAPRON LANDAULET
This model is based on a PEUGEOT 604 SL with a 20 cm longer wheelbase.
Presidential Peugeot 604 CHAPRON LANDAULET with President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Right from the start of the 604's design phase, PEUGEOT had imagined deriving versions for ministries and embassies.
King of Saudi Arabia's visit to France in the 70s
Two coachbuilders were contacted, and it was CHAPRON who produced a model presented on its stand at the 1975 Paris Motor Show: a sedan with driver separation and special fittings.
However, the Elysée Palace was not very keen on them, and used them very little.
Here, President François MITTERRAND in the 80s, boarding a French presidential helicopter.
However, coachbuilder HEULIEZ was to create a limousine model for export.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
HEULIEZ had launched a program with various extensions of 17, 25, 62 and 98 centimeters.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
The 62 cm extension was chosen.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
HEULIEZ presented its model at the 1978 Paris Motor Show.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
They were built at the CERIZAY plant in France.
The interior had nothing to envy of the MERCEDES or ROLL'S ROYCE models of the time...
And the separation between driver and passenger on some models of the 604 HLZ was of the highest quality.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
Here's the cover of the sales brochure.
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
It wasn't the success we'd hoped for: 124 604 HLZ limousines were assembled between 1978 and 1984...
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
Around 30% were exported, mainly to the Middle East and Africa.
Peugeot 605 Limousine Labbé - 1990
In the 1990s, the Labbé coachbuilder also produced limousines on PEUGEOT chassis, especially for embassy cars, as shown here with this extended Peugeot 605.
Peugeot 605 Limousine Labbé - 1990
This model was used by senior officials of an African Embassy in Paris.
Parade for Nicola SARKOZY's election in 2007 in a 607 Paladine
Much later, during the inauguration of French President Nicolas SARKOZY (President from 2007 to 2012) in 2007, he drove down the Champs-Elysées in a 607 PALADINE.
Peugeot 607 Paladine
This model, presented by PEUGEOT car Constructor at the Geneva Motor Show in 2000, had not been ordered by any country.
President Nicolas SARKOZY's ascent of the Champs Elysées during his election campaign in 2007.
Hence the idea of offering it to the new President of the French Republic on that day
Peugeot 607 Paladine
The originality of its retractable roof made it a car that could be transformed into a limousine.
Peugeot 607 Paladine
This one won't be kept by the Presidency of the Republic.
Peugeot 607 Paladine
It is currently at the Museum of PEUGEOT Adventure in Sochaux.
The French Presidential 5008 in the courtyard of the Elysée Palace
PEUGEOT's big comeback as the French presidential car came 10 years later, in 2017, with a Presidential PEUGEOT 5008 from CENTIGON coachbuilder.
Presidential motorcade near the Elysée Palace on July 14, 2017
The President of the French Republic uses it for ceremonies, as here during the National Day on July 14 in 2017.
Presidential motorcade near the Elysée Palace on July 14, 2017
This vehicle is equipped with bullet-proof glass and tires that allow it to roll even if they have been hit,
Presidential Peugeot 5008 to drive up the Champs Elysées in 2020
as well as armor plating against gunfire or explosions.
Presidential Peugeot 5008 leaving a French government building
The PEUGEOT 5008 is one of the Lion brand's success stories, and also demonstrates French know-how when the President of the Republic travels to France.
Presidential Peugeot 5008 in the courtyard of the Elysée Palace
It is currently used regularly on his travels.
This model also features personalized touches to indicate that it is a presidential car.
Presidential Peugeot 5008
On the side of the car, you can also see the ceremonial flag carrier and the French Presidency crest.
French Presidential Renault Espace Other models from other French brands are also used by the French President, as shown here with the Presidential Renault Espace.
President Nicolas SARKOZY's ascent of the Champs Elysées during his election campaign in 2007.
We can notice a great number of motorcyclists during the displacements of the Presidential PEUGEOT Paladine.
The reason is an immediate protection against the risk of a terrorist
act or of an unbalanced person who would approach the Presidential Car.
Indeed, the assassination of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia in FRANCE,
in the city of MARSEILLE, on October 09th 1934, showed the risk of bad
protections around the Car.
Departure of the car of King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia in the streets of Marseille on 09/10/1934
Back on this assassination to understand:
It
was agreed that King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia parade, before leaving
by train to PARIS, in several streets of MARSEILLE, on board a car with
the back opened to be seen by the crowd, but also by the reporters,
photographers and cameramen.
Departure of the car of King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia in the streets of Marseille on 09/10/1934
Initially
planned with an escort of policemen on bicycles around the car, it was
decided that two officers, with clear swords, would escort the car...
Departure of the car of King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia in the streets of Marseille on 09/10/1934
But
hardly had he gone 200 meters, when a man came out of the crowd and
fired a dozen bullets inside the King's Car killing him on the spot and
mortally wounding the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis BARTHOU.
Shooter on the running board of the car of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia
When
the cameramen are filming, the shooter has already fired. The officer
on horseback on the right will arrive too late. Only the driver of the
car on the right will have time to hold the shooter from inside the car
as can be seen on this picture...
Shooter on the running board of the car of King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia
The officer will still shoot the gunman.
Shooter on the running board of the car of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia
Before the policemen stop him.
Departure of the car of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia after the shooting
But
it was too late. Armed with a MAUSER semi-automatic pistol of 10 shots,
this one allowed the assailant to shoot in burst in the car...
King Alexander 1st of Yugoslavia in the foreground and the Minister Louis BARTHOU
At that time, there were important risks of attack against this King...
Several mistakes were made:
1- A convertible car was easier for a killer to aim at his target
2-
The windows of the car were lowered, which allowed the assailant to
climb on the running board of the car and to spray the back of the car
with his 10-shot pistol more easily...
3- Twelve police cyclists were supposed to surround the car and were replaced by two officers on horseback...
Here is a video of the time presenting this drama.
Presidential Citroën DS 21 during a July 14th, early 70's
The
principle of the motorized escort is to create a protective bubble
which allows to adapt the speed of the motorcycle of escort to avoid any
intrusion of a pedestrian in contact with the escorted car and thus to
make a rampart between the aggressor and the VIP. Here is more information on this principle:
The
threat can, for several years, arrive from the air with one or more
drones, as seen above in this video during a speech by a Venezuelan
president in 2018. For this measures are taken in advance with jammers and observers.
King of Saudi Arabia's visit to France in the 70s
However, the Elysée Palace was not very keen on them, and used them very little.
Here, President François MITTERRAND in the 80s, boarding a French presidential helicopter.
The 604 HLZ by coachbuilder HEULIEZ 
The 604 HLZ from coachbuilder HEULIEZ
Presidential Peugeot 5008 to drive up the Champs Elysées in 2020 
DS7 Crossback Elysée 2021 
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