Princess Diana’s Paris crash car was reportedly a ‘rebuilt wreck’ at the time of the accident that killed her

A FRENCH TV documentary has claimed the car which Princess Diana died in was a “dangerous, rebuilt wreck.”

THE car which Princess Diana died in was reportedly a dangerous “rebuilt wreck” but concerns about its safety were ignored, a program on French television reported.

The program, M6 called Death Of Diana: The Incredible Revelation, aired claims that just two months before Princess Diana’s death on August 31, 1997, there was reportedly a warning that the car was not roadworthy.

Princess Diana, at the Ritz Hotel in Paris shortly before she was killed in a car crash. Picture: Supplied

The black Mercedes-Benz S280 was used by guests at the Ritz, which was owned by businessman Mohamed Fayed, whose son was Princess Diana’s boyfriend Dodi Fayed. The car was said to be owned by Etoile Limousines, which provided chauffeurs and cars to the Ritz.

Pascal Rostain, a Paris photographer, said that the “hugely dangerous” car had been stolen and driven into the ground earlier in the year before the accident which killed Princess Diana.

“This Ritz car was a wreck. It had crashed before, and been rolled over several times,” he said.

The car was ready to be broken up, but permission was then given to ‘remake’ it,” the photographer claimed.

Mr Rostain said one of his friends at the Ritz drove the Mercedes in 1997 and warned senior staff about it.

CCTV video surveillance footage shows Princess Diana with partner Dodi Al Fayed at the Ritz Hotel just prior to the accident. Picture: Supplied

Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayed waiting for their car just prior to the accident. Picture: Supplied

“Two months before the accident, [my friend] ... said to [management at the Ritz] ... that it was necessary to get rid of this wagon. At more than 60 kilometres-an-hour it didn’t hold.”

The driver had said the car “was not reliable on the road, we were afraid to use it at any speed. I told my manager that we had to sell this vehicle.”

The car was reportedly bought by advertising executive Eric Bousquet in 1994.

In January of 1995 it was stolen by a prisoner out on remand who crashed the car.

The car was considered to be a write-off, and according to Mr Bousquet “the insurance refunded me the price I paid for it, because it was pretty much new, considering it was a destroyed car, non repairable.

Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997. Picture: AFP/Jeff J Mitchell

It was considered a dangerous car. I would have liked to take it back, but I was told no, it was not possible,” Mr Bouquet told the program.

The car was repaired and then resold it to Etoile Limousines.

Those appearing on the progamme in connection with the Mercedes all said they were surprised that British and French investigators never showed any interest in the car’s history.

There have long been conspiracy theories related to the beloved royal’s death; some of the more outlandish claimed the car may have been tampered with by those who may have wanted her dead.

Such theories were finally debunked in 2008 when a British jury delivered an inquest verdict of unlawful killing caused by the Princess’ “grossly negligent” chauffeur Henri Paul, who lost control as he raced at up to 190km through the Alma Tunnel in Paris while drunk and on antidepressants, and trying to get away from pursuing media.

A 2008 inquest found the accident was caused by Princess Diana’s “grossly negligent” chauffeur Henri Paul who lost control of the car after travelling at speeds of up to 190km. Picture: Supplied

Additional factors in the accident were the facts that Princess Diana not wearing a seat belt, and that the Mercedes struck the pillar of the Alma Tunnel rather than colliding with something else, the inquest concluded.

The car was shipped to Britain for police forensics experts to examine in the early 2000s, and is now believed to be in a compound in the UK.

Princess Diana pictured during her final trip top Australia in 1996. Picture: Supplied

A Scotland Yard investigation into conspiracy theories about Princess Diana’s death, led by former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens, reported that experts found no problems with the car

His report, published in 2006, concluded: “Both the French and British examinations of the Mercedes have shown that there were no mechanical issues with the car that could have in any way caused or contributed to the crash.”