Prince Charles

Prince Charles toured Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK, where the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is produced.

While it isn't that uncommon to see cars belonging to celebrities and dignitaries roll across the auction block these days, this car is a little extra special. This particular 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was the car that Prince Charles and Princess Diana arrived at the White House in during a visit in 1985. As some added trivia, this was also the visit where Princess Di cut a rug with none other than John Travolta.

While fire-breathing performance cars and hot rods are car-show fixtures, there aren't many environmentally friendly car shows out there, so Prince Charles is having one in his front yard. The Prince of Wales will open his gardens at Clarence House to the public from September 8–19 (neighboring gardens at Lancaster House and Marlborough House will also open their respective gardens) for what's being dubbed "The Garden Party to Make a Difference." Proceeds from the event will support the Pr

Prince Charles is not new to the environmental debate. His blue, 38-year-old Aston Martin, however, has had nothing to do with being environmentally friendly. Until now. The car, a gift from the Queen on Charles' 21st birthday, has joined the growing fleet of cars that run on bioethanol, having been converted to run on surplus British wine.

The man who may or may not ever step up to the British throne has been keeping busy while his mother keeps his new seat warm. As wealthy people are wont to do, Britain's Prince Charles has a number of vehicles at his disposal. As a very public person, he has been trying to set an example by reducing the carbon footprint of his transportation fleet. Last year he had his Range Rover and Jaguar converted

The Prince of Wales visited the Ford UK facility at Dunton for its 40th anniversary which showcased the marque's projects in green developments and fuel-efficient prototypes, such as a 70 MPG (Imperial, 58 US MPG) Ford Focus with emissions lower than 100 CO2 g/km that Prince Charles could test drive.

Click on the photo for high-res images of Prince Charles checking out the new Saab

Traditionally, before Colin Chapman introduced a Lotus 49 in colors of Gold Leaf Tobacco, racing cars were painted in colors based on the home country of the team running them. German racers were silver, Italian red, French blue and of course cars from the British Isles were always the legendary British Racing Green. Now the Jaguars and Land Rovers that ferry the future king of England (if he manages to out-live his mother, that is) will represent a new breed of green.