A 1930 Mercedes-Benz 770K that was ordered new by King Faisal I, the founder of modern Iraq who reigned from 1921 to 1933, sold in an online auction on Monday for $2,555,555.
For decades, the black car was an Iraqi state vehicle during the reign of his son King Ghazi (1933-1939) and his grandson King Faisal (1939-1958).
With the help of Mercedes-Benz, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation bought the car in 1967 and a refurbishment was completed in the 1970s.
It has since been displayed in vintage car parades in the US. Last month, the museum put it up for sale at the automotive auction platform Bring a Trailer.
Bring a Trailer said the royal car was one of just 117 W07 examples built between 1930 and 1938. Its chassis bears the plate Baghdad – 83807.
It was fitted with a four-door, three-position cabriolet bodywork by Voll and Ruhrbeck of Berlin, and a liftable triple roof.
Finished in black with red upholstery, its power comes from a 7.7-litre, inline-eight engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission.
King Faisal I was installed as king of Iraq by the British after the First World War – a reward for the help that his father, Sherif Hussein of Makkah, offered during the conflict.
In July, 1958, the monarchy was overthrown in a military coup led by the Free Officers Movement. King Faisal II, his uncle and other family members were killed.
The group had been inspired by the 1952 Egyptian Revolution that saw its monarchy abolished in favour of a more secular and nationalist state.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday
AC Milan v Sampdoria (2.30pm kick-off UAE)
Atalanta v Udinese (5pm)
Benevento v Parma (5pm)
Cagliari v Hellas Verona (5pm)
Genoa v Fiorentina (5pm)
Lazio v Spezia (5pm)
Napoli v Crotone (5pm)
Sassuolo v Roma (5pm)
Torino v Juventus (8pm)
Bologna v Inter Milan (10.45pm)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Mountain%20Boy
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The years Ramadan fell in May
