Armour-plated Peugeot 205 formerly owned by France's richest man up for auction
Bernard Arnault, whose net worth is estimated at $177billion, was reportedly once denied entry to his office as the guard did not believe a man in his position would drive such a car
The vehicle carries an extra 500kg of bullet-resistant metal
Automobile Privée by Bordeaux / Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo
An armour-plated Peugeot 205 that used to belong to France’s richest man, Bernard Arnault, is on sale with a Bordeaux car dealer for €59,990.
The car, from 1990, was last sold in 2018 for €37,500.
It had belonged to Mr Arnault – owner of brands such as Hennessey, Moët & Chandon and Louis Vuitton – until he sold it in 2009.
Read more: $193bn: how did this French businessman get so rich?
“We have had a lot of calls,” said a spokesman for seller Automobile Privée by Bordeaux.
“Most are interested because it used to be owned by one of the world’s richest people, rather than because they necessarily want an armour-plated vehicle.”
Based on a ‘pocket rocket’ 1.9 litre GTi, it has driven less than 15,000km and carries an extra 500kg in armoured metal and bullet-resistant windows.
It has no extra power but has an uprated suspension and brakes.
It is rumoured that Mr Arnault, whose net worth is estimated at $177billion, was once denied entry to his office at the weekend as the guard did not believe an executive would drive such a car.
Armour-plating for cars of the rich became more in demand after the 1986 assassination of Renault head Georges Besse outside his Paris home.
