PARIS — The Mercedes-Benz S-Class involved in a deadly crash that killed Princess Diana, her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul, could soon be put up for sale. The Paris-based limousine company that owns the car has asked for it back, and plans to sell the car to the highest bidder.
A story in the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday reports that the manager of Etoile Limousine, Jean-Francois Musa, wants the car back due to its potential to fetch a seven-figure price. "It's worth a great deal of money," the The Mail quoted Mr. Musa as saying.
Adding to the ghoulishness of the story is that the limo company will reportedly offer first bidding rights on the car to Mohamed Al Fayed, the millionaire father of the late Dodi. The Egyptian-born Al Fayed is the owner of the famed Harrods department store in central London, as well as a British soccer team. "If I ever finally get the car back the first thing I'll do is ask Mr. Al Fayed if he wants to keep it because of its sentimental value," Mr. Musa was quoted as telling reporters.
Not surprisingly, Al Fayed is said to have called the idea of purchasing the totaled Mercedes-Benz S280 "disgusting." Blood stains from the accident are said to still be on the crumpled remains of the vehicle.
The car itself has been in the custody of London's Metropolitan Police since mid-2005. It had been shipped from France for an examination related to a lengthy inquest into the circumstances of the crash and Diana's death. On August 31, 1997, the driver, Henri Paul, hit a pillar in the middle of the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris. He is said to have been trying to avoid paparazzi, which were aggressively chasing the car on scooters and motorcycles.
Crash analysis suggests that Paul was traveling more than 60 mph at the time of the accident. The posted speed limit in the tunnel is only 50 km/h (30 mph).
An investigation recently ruled that the crash was indeed accidental. Mohamed Al Fayed has routinely accused a variety of individuals and organizations — including Prince Charles, Diana's ex-husband, and various intelligence services in England and France — as being behind an elaborate plot to kill Diana.
Spokespeople for the British Royal family have said that Diana's two sons, William and Harry, want the Mercedes disposed of "privately and discreetly." However, that might prove difficult, considering that the totaled car (which was sawn in half at the conclusion of the investigation) could fetch a price in excess of $1 million.
What this means to you: The law might be on the side of the limousine company, but that still doesn't make auctioning off Princess Diana's so-called "death car" any less despicable. — Nick Kurczewski, Correspondent
A story in the British newspaper The Mail on Sunday reports that the manager of Etoile Limousine, Jean-Francois Musa, wants the car back due to its potential to fetch a seven-figure price. "It's worth a great deal of money," the The Mail quoted Mr. Musa as saying.
Adding to the ghoulishness of the story is that the limo company will reportedly offer first bidding rights on the car to Mohamed Al Fayed, the millionaire father of the late Dodi. The Egyptian-born Al Fayed is the owner of the famed Harrods department store in central London, as well as a British soccer team. "If I ever finally get the car back the first thing I'll do is ask Mr. Al Fayed if he wants to keep it because of its sentimental value," Mr. Musa was quoted as telling reporters.
Not surprisingly, Al Fayed is said to have called the idea of purchasing the totaled Mercedes-Benz S280 "disgusting." Blood stains from the accident are said to still be on the crumpled remains of the vehicle.
The car itself has been in the custody of London's Metropolitan Police since mid-2005. It had been shipped from France for an examination related to a lengthy inquest into the circumstances of the crash and Diana's death. On August 31, 1997, the driver, Henri Paul, hit a pillar in the middle of the Pont d'Alma tunnel in Paris. He is said to have been trying to avoid paparazzi, which were aggressively chasing the car on scooters and motorcycles.
Crash analysis suggests that Paul was traveling more than 60 mph at the time of the accident. The posted speed limit in the tunnel is only 50 km/h (30 mph).
An investigation recently ruled that the crash was indeed accidental. Mohamed Al Fayed has routinely accused a variety of individuals and organizations — including Prince Charles, Diana's ex-husband, and various intelligence services in England and France — as being behind an elaborate plot to kill Diana.
Spokespeople for the British Royal family have said that Diana's two sons, William and Harry, want the Mercedes disposed of "privately and discreetly." However, that might prove difficult, considering that the totaled car (which was sawn in half at the conclusion of the investigation) could fetch a price in excess of $1 million.
What this means to you: The law might be on the side of the limousine company, but that still doesn't make auctioning off Princess Diana's so-called "death car" any less despicable. — Nick Kurczewski, Correspondent
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