| Discovered: Longbridge Popemobile that never was.
posted 03 Feb 2006 20:32
(Source: Reuters)
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| Unearthed after almost 38 years, a farmer from Ipswich has discovered an abandoned commercial vehicle on his own land believed to be a prototype popemobile. The vehicle, resembling a great green ancient "jumbulance", is thought to be that built by the former manufacturere BMC at Longbridge in the West Midlands around the time of it's change of identity into BLMC. | |
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| The vehicle was never commissioned into service and was shelved after completion because the vatican lost interest in the project as the result of an aborted papal visit to the UK.
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| | "I literally came across it by accident" claimed farmer Giles Ferguson (78) speaking from the scene this morning. "It's right down the far end of one of my fields I never go in. I was walking my cat and she just took off, so I chased her for about 2 hours and eventually ended up right here where she's standing. I'd not been this way for a good 25 years probably, and suddenly thought "Oh, that"." |  |
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| The HCVCGB (Historical Commercial Vehicle Clubbers of Great Britain) has admitted it is impossible to put a value on the old popemobile, but it is definitely not for sale.
"Now I've found her again after all this time I would never part with her" exclaimed Mt. Ferguson. "Not even if you offered me some pigs".
The vehicle has since been impounded by the local council and Mr. Ferguson taken away for interrogation The case continues. | |
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