Two of the celebrated vehicles, complete with bullet-proof glass enclosures, were due to be shipped into Britain early, for use in Edinburgh, London and Birmingham. The vehicle, with the registration plate SCV 1, or SCV, standing for Stato della Citta del Vaticano, the Italian name for Vatican City, is driven at low speed to allow crowds a chance to view the Pope.
The Popemobile most often used by Pope Benedict XVI when travelling abroad is a modified Mercedes-Benz M-Class sport utility vehicle with room for one passenger, usually a security agent, in the front of the vehicle.
There is also room for two papal aides who can sit in the area in front of the Pope's elevated chair.
The Vatican abandoned the use of an open-topped vehicle and introduced the bullet-proof enclosure after the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981.