I feel like we’ve had a lot of papal content here on the site lately, but I’m not sure there’s a way around that? A new pope was just chosen, and that’s big news, and popes have special cars and even right before that we were talking about building cars in the Vatican – it’s just been shockingly pope-heavy around here lately. And as much as I’d like to escape this ecclesiastical hole, it keeps pulling me back in, automotively. You know why? Because this new pope looks a lot like Lee Iacocca, godfather of the Ford Mustang (and, I guess, the Pinto, too), and the man who saved Chrysler from the brink with the K-Cars and rebirth of the minivan.
I can’t help it. He just looks like Lee Iacocca.
Are you skeptical? I understand if you are; lots of people don’t want to believe that the current Vicar of Christ bears a strong resemblance to the man who once challenged people to buy a better car, if they could find one:
I mean, around 1982, I suspect a lot of Honda Accord buyers did just what Iacocca there suggested.
Anyway, back to Pope Leo XIV and Lee Iacocca; just look for yourself:
I mean, they have pretty different senses of personal style, sure; I think Leo there must be a lot more confident in his appearance, and willing to take much bolder choices, clothing-wise. He’s not afraid of color or pattern, that’s for sure, while Lee was almost always seen in a gray flannel suit.
Just for fun, let’s do a face-swap, and see how different they feel:
Hm. Okay, maybe it doesn’t hold up quite as well, but, look, when it comes to popes and CEOs of major automotive companies, I think this may be the point of greatest similarity in all of recorded history.
Seriously, just look at how things have usually been; take the last Pope Leo, Leo XIII, from the turn of the 20th century, and William Crapo Durant, who took over Buick in 1904 and then started GM:
These guys don’t look anything alike, right? This is how it’s always been – popes and carmaker CEOs are as different as pickles and Pericles. But now, finally, we may actually have a pope that strongly resembles a former CEO of a major American carmaker.
I just think that’s worth noting, is all. Feels important.
For me, when Pope Leo smiles I see Jon Davis of Motorweek. Something about the eyes and nose.
My Great Grandfather was born in Ireland, full blood Catholic. He was a Plymouth man, no better car out there than a Plymouth was his belief. I’m sure he had a picture of the Pope and Lee Iacocca up in his home after he bailed out Chrysler