It’s essentially a modern carriage. Modern vehicles don’t really allow a passenger in the back to stand up and greet people it passes. You could modify a tall van to do it, but most of them aren’t even tall enough.
There’s really no reason we couldn’t just make a modern carriage, but we wouldn’t make enough of them to justify the cost. (And by we, I mean auto manufacturers.) Then again, limousines and hearses exist, and those are extremely niche use as well. (They also get paid way more to use them.) So as silly as the “Popemobile” looks, it’s the right design. Light duty truck, but instead of a truck bed, you put a carriage body on the back of the frame. Preferably with light materials so it doesn’t weigh down the back end too much. These carriages could also be used for public transportation as well.
It’s essentially a modern carriage. Modern vehicles don’t really allow a passenger in the back to stand up and greet people it passes. You could modify a tall van to do it, but most of them aren’t even tall enough.
There’s really no reason we couldn’t just make a modern carriage, but we wouldn’t make enough of them to justify the cost. (And by we, I mean auto manufacturers.) Then again, limousines and hearses exist, and those are extremely niche use as well. (They also get paid way more to use them.) So as silly as the “Popemobile” looks, it’s the right design. Light duty truck, but instead of a truck bed, you put a carriage body on the back of the frame. Preferably with light materials so it doesn’t weigh down the back end too much. These carriages could also be used for public transportation as well.
Carriages are still made. Royals around Europe use them for formal occasions and they are also common for tourists in some cities like Vienna.
The pope uses a simple car to appear more modest.