Limousine Company in Richardson
While you are talking to a limousine company in Richardson, it may interest you to take a quick look at some of the top presidential limousines ridden by presidents of the United States in the past. The Secret Service did not really get serious about presidential limousines until 1939 when they acquired the 1939 Lincoln "Sunshine Special" which was the first specially built vehicle for their fleet. It was based on a Lincoln K-series chassis with power from a V 12 engine and derives its name because the top was almost always open. It was built with both security and convenience in mind and security was critical because Franklin Roosevelt had already survived an assassination attempt in 1933. Convenience was important because Roosevelt was wheelchair-bound and had to get in and out of the car while preserving his dignity. The car was stretched over a huge 160 inch wheelbase and the armoured body had oversized rear hinged rear doors. In 1942 the car was updated a new front-end and improved bullet-proof glass.
The 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan has an interesting story because President Harry Truman was said to have a strong dislike for General Motors because he was denied use of their vehicles during his 1948 presidential campaign. When it came to the time to replace the Sunshine Special, the job was given to the Lincoln division of Ford. The limousine was stretched 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan which are wheelbase of 145 inches was ordered from Ford and provide to the Secret Service for a nominal lease rent. It was still a convertible for parades and was modified in 1954 with the addition of a large "bubble top" after President Eisenhower realised that nobody could see him during a rainstorm when the top was up. It remained in service through 1965 when it was retired to the Henry Ford Museum.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X is for ever associated with tragedy because this was the car in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. The starting point was the stunning new for 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible and the car was stretched a total of 33 inches both between the front and rear doors and behind the rear doors to add space to the passenger compartment. The metal hoop just behind the driver and over his head gave the president something to hold while standing up during parades. In addition, the rear seat could be raised to give crowds a better view of the President. The power was provided by a standard 430 in.³ Lincoln V8. After the assassination, the vehicle was rebuilt and armoured and fitted with a permanent bullet-proof hard top and returned to service.
Both presidents Johnson and Nixon used the vehicle before it was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in 1977.
The 1972 Lincoln Continental was built for three years by Ford and this is the limousine which protected both Presidents Ford and Reagan from assassins. It was powered by a 460 in.³ V-8 engine and was last presidential limousines in which the president could stand. Finally there was the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood which only stretched 17 inches with the roof raised by 3 inches. The power came from the massive Cadillac 500 in.³ V-8 engine.
The 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan has an interesting story because President Harry Truman was said to have a strong dislike for General Motors because he was denied use of their vehicles during his 1948 presidential campaign. When it came to the time to replace the Sunshine Special, the job was given to the Lincoln division of Ford. The limousine was stretched 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan which are wheelbase of 145 inches was ordered from Ford and provide to the Secret Service for a nominal lease rent. It was still a convertible for parades and was modified in 1954 with the addition of a large "bubble top" after President Eisenhower realised that nobody could see him during a rainstorm when the top was up. It remained in service through 1965 when it was retired to the Henry Ford Museum.
The 1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X is for ever associated with tragedy because this was the car in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. The starting point was the stunning new for 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible and the car was stretched a total of 33 inches both between the front and rear doors and behind the rear doors to add space to the passenger compartment. The metal hoop just behind the driver and over his head gave the president something to hold while standing up during parades. In addition, the rear seat could be raised to give crowds a better view of the President. The power was provided by a standard 430 in.³ Lincoln V8. After the assassination, the vehicle was rebuilt and armoured and fitted with a permanent bullet-proof hard top and returned to service.
Both presidents Johnson and Nixon used the vehicle before it was retired to the Henry Ford Museum in 1977.
The 1972 Lincoln Continental was built for three years by Ford and this is the limousine which protected both Presidents Ford and Reagan from assassins. It was powered by a 460 in.³ V-8 engine and was last presidential limousines in which the president could stand. Finally there was the 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood which only stretched 17 inches with the roof raised by 3 inches. The power came from the massive Cadillac 500 in.³ V-8 engine.