Former Egyptian president’s limo up for sale on Dubizzle - yours for Dh400,000

A limousine owned by the former Egypt president has been listed for sale on Dubizzle. The present owner fills us in on the specs.

Anwar Sadat, then Egyptian president, in a Cadillac in December 1978. His limited-edition limo is now for sale. Bill Foley / AP Photo

DUBAI // A limited-edition limousine owned by the former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is for sale – a snip at Dh400,000.

The car, a gift from the US president Jimmy Carter in the 1970s, has been used for the past 12 years as a weekend runabout, and has been listed on the classifieds website Dubizzle.

It is one of only 900 Cadillac S75 Fleetwood Limos made. Jimi Hendrix had one, as did the Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek.

The owner is Egyptian Hisham Refaat, 37, who bought it in 2002 at a Mubarak-era auction at the presidential palace in Cairo.

“The car has a lot of historical value,” Mr Refaat said.

“I’m surprised it didn’t end up in a museum but I guess in Egypt we have our share of old stuff so the museums are full.”

“I sometimes use it on a weekend to drive around,” Mr Refaat said. “It attracts a lot of attention. When there’s a wedding in the family I use it for the ceremony.”

He said the vehicle was in top condition, including the paintwork and upholstery.

The car, which is in Cairo, does not have bulletproof glass but it does have electric windows and an AM-FM radio.

Sadat was the third president of Egypt and a Nobel laureate. He was assassinated in 1981.

Dubizzle is no stranger to unusual advertisements. Last month a private jet was listed on the site. In the past it has been used to sell items including a private island and a somewhat dubious time machine.

“A car ad like this one is a testament to the mature level Dubizzle service has reached,” said Osman Bhurgri, marketing manager for vehicles in the UAE at the classifieds site.

“Besides being a market place for second-hand cars, our motors section is also the go-to place to discover some amazing used automotive gems.”