[EHjEjdqe]

US Presidential Limos: The History of the Power Parade


In 1906 Woodrow Wilson, an understated cars and horses man, said that cars were "a picture of the arrogance of wealth". He and King George drove through London in a carriage cavalcade in 1918.
Picture: Graphic Photo Union


These days when President George Bush visits London, he brings The Cadillac One with him. His 2006 Cadillac DTS is hand-crafted, plated with five inches of ballistic armour panelling, and withstands anti-tank grenade launchers, and chemical attacks.


Extravagant Herbert Hoover was ridiculed for purchasing a grandiose 1932 Cadillac 452B V-16 Fleetwood Imperial, in the midst of depression. Months later he was voted out of office.


Throughout history the Presidential limousine has been uniform black with a US flag on the right of the bonnet. This is Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1942 Lincoln V-12 Presidential Limousine with 1946 updates.


Franklin D. Roosevelt, however, had the most peculiar Presidential limousine. His first armour-plated car was siezed from gangster Al Capone by the US Treasury


Roosevelt's Capone Cadillac was a 1928 V-16 model, similar to this 1928 V-16 Madam X. The limo was unpopular in Washington, for obvious reasons. Later on the President was very attached to his 1939 Lincoln "Sunshine Special".


President John F. Kennedy slumps down in the back seat of the presidential limousine after being fatally shot in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy leans over the president while a Secret Service agent stands on the bumper.
Picture: AP


Of all the tasteless tourist traps...


Kennedy's death cemented the Lincoln Continental as one of the most iconic and recognisable automobiles in history. It was the last Convertible Presidential Limousine


The X-100 was re-vamped and remained at the White House until 1977. It was used by Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. Kennedy's personal car, also a Lincoln Continental was made a museum piece


1965 Lincoln Continental Executive limousine is one of 15 "Government Special" Lincolns leased to the White House that year and used exclusively by US Defence Secretary until 1968. It is the only Presidential limousine in a British collection


This 1967 Stretch Lincoln was built for President Lyndon B. Johnson, a notorious car lover. This huge gas-guzzler was typical of the era


The modified Lincoln Continental was used by U.S. presidents, including Nixon, until it was retired in 1978.


Bill Clinton's 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was the first Presidential Limousine to be designed by General Motors with maximum protection features


George Bush rides the Presidential version of the 2006 Stretch Cadillac DTS. Inside it is illuminated entirely by artificial naturalistic lighting. Luxury accoutrements include a leather executive interior, seat massager, automatic doors...


...not to mention the personal polishers...


...who apparently don't accompany him on his cross-country escapades. We wonder what Bush's future set of wheels look like...


We think he might go for a vintage Russian Zaporozhets. He looked like a schoolboy at Christmas when Putin showed him his first car.


Suggestions for the next President? We rather liked this Vintage Pininfarina Limousine originally commissioned for Benito Mussolini. According to a recent survey, these "muscle" bonnets are percieved by people to be the car equivalent of a friendly face.


Of course, if Palin ever had a cavalcade...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...er-Parade.html

© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2008

[Plokiikmol]

So will Obama or McCain get a new limo?

[eXC3Kvnn]

If Mr. Obama gets in, he should be afforded a Prius fitted with a speed governor limiting it to 55 mph.

[Depolit]

.......so the roof top wind turbine won't blow off?

[Fluivelip]

Oh no... better an American SUV that nobody wants any more. And hey, after all of the billions in welfare to the American auto industry (thrown down the toilet) let's at least hope the SUV is for free.

[SHaEFU0i]

Becker Automotive Design Partners with STRUT
to create Custom Escalade Limousine

San Clemente & Oxnard, CA—July 2, 2008—Becker Automotive Design, Inc., known globally for their unique custom limousine and coach conversion vehicles, has partnered with bespoke custom automotive designer STRUT to create a special-edition Cadillac Escalade ESV for Becker’s exclusive global clientele.

The new Becker/STRUT Cadillac Escalade ESV combines an unmatched blend of privacy and European luxury interior craftsmanship with cutting-edge mobile office capabilities in a floor-to-ceiling custom-leather interior designed for comfort, convenience, and ergonomic utility. Integrated into the vehicle is an impressive Apple iPod® ready audio-video system featuring satellite HDTV, DVD, and digital surround sound that yields picture and sound quality rivaling those of any high-end home audio or theater system. Becker has chosen only the finest high-end components from Alpine, JL Audio, LG, Dynaudio, and other manufacturers, all controlled by a custom Crestron touchscreen using proprietary Becker Automotive Design software.

While the Becker/STRUT Escalade ESV offers luxurious accoutrements, it’s as ready for work as it is for play, with a sophisticated onboard computer system, broadband Internet connection, and full printer/scanner functions. Better still, whenever the ignition key is engaged, this superb mobile office automatically “smart boots,” and elegantly shuts down when the key is removed before exiting the vehicle.

The exterior of the Escalade ESV features a custom-crafted, and meticulously tooled jewelry collection from STRUT featuring a woven, diamond-mesh front grille and surround with matching side vents, all created from the finest stainless steel available and highly polished for style and durability that will withstand all weather conditions. Each piece in the collection bears the distinctive STRUT shield announcing to all that this vehicle stands apart from the crowd. Completing the Becker/STRUT Escalade ESV signature collection is a set of Icon Wheels, also by STRUT.

For additional information or digital images, please contact STRUT’s global PR agency, Nicoll Public Relations, at 781-762-9300 or lucette@nicollpr.com.

About Becker Automotive Designs, Inc. (www.beckerautodesign.com)
Becker Automotive Design has produced specialty vehicles for heads of state, royalty, celebrities, prominent families, business leaders and 5 star properties in over 15 countries around the world. Becker is the innovator of the exclusive Mercedes-Benz JetVan™ Luxury Coach, as well as the Cadillac Escalade ESV Limo. Sensitivities to top-flight comfort and quality, security needs, electronic entertainment systems, advanced mobile office productivity, and style have all culminated in Becker's creation of the Becker/STRUT Cadillac Escalade ESV. Becker vehicles have consistently been awarded “Best of the Best" designations by The Robb Report magazine, including in 2008. Costing between $125,000 and $225,000, each Becker/STRUTCadillac Escalade ESV contains specific design input from the commissioning customer. Exclusive, custom-tailored, and cutting-edge all comprise the Becker/STRUT Cadillac Escalade ESV experience.

About STRUT (www.strutwear.com)
Located in San Clemente, California, STRUT has achieved benchmark status throughout the world for their trendsetting and distinctive jewelry collections, wheels, and accessories designed for connoisseurs of luxury automobiles. Created like fine jewelry, each handcrafted collection is personally signed by the artisan, further reflecting the passion and pride they take in their work. The 2002–2008 STRUT Collections are available for Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Hummer, Cadillac, Lamborghini, and other high-end vehicles and can be viewed at www.strutwear.com.

[gogona]

The interior of that vehicle hurts my teeth to just look at.

Very nice job. Completely over the top, but you stll have to admire what they were able to do for only a quarter of a million dollars!

(Hell, for that price, your car could practically go Nuclear......)

[TeNuaTe]

They can call it a Caddy and swathe it in yards of leather and wood.... but at the end of the day? It's still a Chevy Tahoe.

[ENGINESSQ]

A Chevy Ta-Call Girl maybe?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[AccusaJalsBub]

Obama’s new limo - ugly but it can fend off asteroids


(US Secret Service)

By Jimmy Orr | 01.15.09

You know that Cadillac commercial that says, “When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

Well, you might have to be a masochist then to enjoy Barack Obama’s new caddy.

It’s got auto enthusiasts singing Daphne and Celeste’s song “U.G.L.Y.” You remember the lyrics: “U.G.L.Y., You ain’t got no alibi, You ugly! You ugly! Yo mama says you ugly!”

New wheels

He’s getting a new presidential limo. It’s a tradition. The new president gets a new car.

The First Limo - the 2009 Cadillac Presidential Limousine - will replace President Bush’s 2006 model. As you can imagine, it is completely custom built - not something you can buy in your local showroom (if it hasn’t closed down yet).

“The presidential vehicle is built to precise and special specifications, undergoes extreme testing and development, and also incorporates many of the top aspects of Cadillac’s ‘regular’ cars — such as signature design, hand-cut-and-sewn interiors, etc.,” GM spokesman Joanne Krell told CNN.

New design

EngineeringNews has the inside on some of the features.
For largely functional reasons, such as optimal outward visibility, the car is slightly more upright than its predecessor. However, it occupies roughly the same overall footprint on the road as the previous model, with a similar size and proportion.

The rear passenger area includes an extensive executive compartment with ample seating space, outward visibility and useful mobile office features. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand. An embroidered presidential seal is positioned in the center of the rear seat back panel, as well as on each rear door trim panel.But what about the cool stuff? Tom Clancy evasive action gear? Sidewinders? Chobham armor?



The Beast

Understandably, this is where the details are scarce.

It’s like a tank. Secret Service agents are calling it “The Beast.” Reportedly the armor surrounding the car is at least five inches thick making it, as some news outlets have put it, “rocket-resistant.” Others have joked it could withstand a collision with an asteroid.

Tangling with a Hummer or almost other macho vehicle on the road, the Beast would win.

The San Francisco Chronicle puts it in perspective noting, “a half-inch of transparent armor is enough to stop a .44 Magnum round at point-blank range; at a thickness of 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches, the same material can withstand higher-velocity bullets fired from military assault rifles.”

The windows, of course, are bulletproof. The tires reportedly can’t get a flat or if they do, it makes no difference, the car keeps rolling. And the interior is like a cocoon - a really safe cocoon reportedly impervious to chemical attacks.

Yuck

Auto buffs aren’t liking the looks of it though.

“Whoever came up with the exterior styling for this monstrosity should be barred permanently from ever working in the auto industry again,” laments Rex from RexWorld.com.

Hang on there…

Cadillac told Edmunds that the hysteria surrounding the looks of the car were due to unauthorized spy photos of the vehicle that circulated around the Internet.

The final product is much more attractive, they say.

Eh, give it to Joe

So what happens to the old limo, anyway?

Well, you can’t just offer it up on Craig’sList. And Joe Biden needs a car. So they’re giving it to him.

*****

Via PRNewswire-First-Call:
On the new presidential limousine, a heavily customized Cadillac DTS, a set of Goodyear tires -- Goodyear Regional RHS -- will be occupying the four corners of the car. These are actually truck tires in a 285/70R19.5 size, necessary due to the vehicle's extra load that includes a heavy-duty chassis, extended length and armored material.
*****

Gallery of "Presidential limos of the past" from Boston.com.

[Alina20100]

...hands down, has to be the early 1960's Lincolns. The cars LOOK presidential! Picture yourself in a black Lincoln Continental, circa 1961-1966, cruising down the street as police officers and military snap to attention. The car is an absolute classic.

[Ruilnasr]

Thankss for all of post and of all the pictures of the US presidential Limos. Ulysess Simpson Grant,Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Alan B. Shepard Jr. are very very distant cousins of my mine on my mom's side of the family.

[salomal-qask]

They should convert one of these into a limo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzi8c...eature=related

[diutuartina]

The front grill on the new POTUS limo is completely cheesy. Lacks strength. Those wheels look like something Diddy would go clubbing in.



The Secret Service might want to try one of these, which the NYPD had on the streets of NYC when the Pope paid a visit last year ...

With high gloss black paint and a few adjustments it would look great.

*

[N1bNXuDb]

He needs to prop up the rear and put some fatties on there. Make it look like the limo could do some genuine line-work if need be.....

[leoto5Fm]

U.S. Secret Service agents walk alongside the new presidential limousine as it
takes President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on the inaugural
parade route in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

[Edwardthe_third]

U.S. Secret Service agents walk alongside the new presidential limousine as it
takes President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on the inaugural
parade route in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Pardon thw quote, but that has to be one of the UGLIEST cars I have ever seen.

Phat = NOT!

Clunky Chunky Luxury Tank.

[olivelappers]

Nice grille. Fava Flav in the House?

[Abnorttrano]

There is a company in China (where else ? ) named Yat Ming that makes detailed 1/24th scale models of all the Presidential Limos.

My brother, who collects scale models, has gotten seven of them from me as Christmas presents. It's interesting to note the evolution of the President's cars as they changed from open models of the Roosevelt era to the Kennedy-era Lincolns and into the bank-vault, ten thousand pound armored Cadillacs of today.