1981 Citroen CX 2400 Pallas

This 1981 model year Citroen CX 2400 Pallas was purchased in 2012 at an Artcurial auction held at the Palace in Monaco. The CX was originally purchased in 1980 at a Citroen dealer in Monte Carlo by Prince Rainier as his personal car. The car was registered in France with diplomatic plates (79 CMD 1) and used by Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly (Princess Grace of Monaco) for their visits to Paris. There are several pictures of Grace Kelly using the car in Paris with her daughters. The CX later returned to Monaco as part of the palace fleet. Prince Rainier had a large collection of cars in the Palace Museum so eventually it was retired and placed next to his Traction and DS. In an article written in a Southern French newspaper after the auction, the article referred to the CX as being known as the “chouchou” (meaning favorite or sweetheart) of Rainier. When purchased in 2012 from the museum, the car was registered to Rainier’s son, Prince Albert, with the registration number PM 01. After arriving in Washington, DC, Les Woods brought the car back to its original mechanical condition and named it (her) The Princess.