Nelson Mandela’s BMW.
The longest test drive in history.

The Bullet resistant windows and bodywork of the E67 760Li finished in black sapphire metallic was equipped with Run-flats, its own oxygen supply and gun ports which could stick two machine guns

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The plan was to Gift Mandela with the 7 series, However upon phoning then advisor to the president Cyril Ramaphosa, the response was “Mr Mandela could not possibly accept the gift of a car”, rather would probably be bought for him once he was president”.

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Cyril was phoned again and it was suggested to him that if the government was to buy him an armored car when president, He should at least have a test drive.

Cyril was reluctant but agreed and the date was set up, about a year before elections

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For the next year it was the strategic plan to have the then head of strategic planning at BMW @chrismoerdyk out of office, unavailable or otherwise engaged every time someone from the ANC would phone and ask when BMW wanted the car back from the test drive.

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Now known as the longest test drive in history, the car was eventually returned to BMW with Less then 50 000km on the clock.

Madiba’s next BMW was a E38 7 series used from 2004 – 2009, built to order by BMW South Africa.

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Realised I incorrectly pictured and tweeted the wrong chassis code. E38 (750iL) is the first tweet and e67 was reference to last tweet. Apologies