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Presidential state car (United States)

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Thecurrent modelof United States presidential state car, which debuted in September 2018

TheUnited States presidential state car(nicknamed"the Beast",[1][2][3]"Cadillac One",[4][5]"First Car";[6]code named"Stagecoach"[7][8]) is theofficial state carof thepresident of the United States.

United States presidents embraced automotive technology in the early 20th century with PresidentWilliam Howard Taft's purchase of four cars and the conversion of the White House stables into a garage. Presidents rode in stock, unmodified cars until PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt's administration bought theSunshine Special,the first presidential state car to be built toUnited States Secret Servicestandards. Until theassassination of John F. Kennedy,presidential state cars frequently allowed the president to ride uncovered and exposed to the public. President Kennedy's assassination began a progression of increasingly armored and sealed cars; the 2009–2018 state car had five-inch (130 mm)bulletproof glassand washermetically sealedwith its own environmental system. The current model of presidential state car is a uniqueCadillacthat debuted in September 2018.

Decommissioned presidential state cars are dismantled and destroyed with the assistance of the Secret Service to prevent their secrets from being known to outside parties. Late 20th-century and 21st-century presidentialmotorcadeshave consisted of 24–45 vehicles other than the presidential state car, including vehicles for security, healthcare, the press, and route-clearing, among others.

History

[edit]

The first serving president to ride in a car was PresidentWilliam McKinley,who briefly rode in aStanley Motor Carriage Companysteam caron July 13, 1901.[9]According to theUnited States Secret Service,it was customary for them to follow the presidential horse-and-buggy on foot, but that with the popularization of the automobile, the Secret Service purchased a 1907White Motor Companysteam car to follow PresidentTheodore Roosevelt's horse-drawncarriage.[10]Roosevelt eschewed riding in the vehicle due to his "image as a rough-riding horseman".[9]

William H. Taft

[edit]
Taft's 1911 White steamer

PresidentWilliam Howard Taftchanged things at theWhite House,converting thestablesthere to agarageand purchasing a four-car fleet[9]on a budget of$12,000(equivalent to about $407,000 in 2023):[11]two "luxurious"Pierce-Arrowcars, aBaker Motor Vehicleelectric car,and a$4,000(equivalent to about $136,000 in 2023) 1911White Motor Companysteam car. President Taft became a fan of the steam car when he discovered he could conceal himself from press photographers with a "carefully timed burst of steam."[9]

Woodrow Wilson

[edit]
One of three Pierce-Arrow cars purchased by the Wilson administration

PresidentWoodrow Wilsonwas such a fan of the three Pierce-Arrow cars purchased by his administration that he bought one of them from the government forUS$3,000(equivalent to $51,246 in 2023) when he left office in 1921. PresidentWarren G. Hardingwas the first president to use a car to drive tohis inauguration,and was the firstqualifieddriver to be elected president.[9]PresidentHerbert Hooverhad aCadillac V-16.[11]

Franklin Roosevelt

[edit]

In 1936, PresidentFranklin D. Rooseveltbought aFord V8Phaetoncoupeand had it equipped with hand controls in direct contravention of a Secret Service directive prohibiting sitting presidents from getting behind the wheel of a car.[9]

Sunshine Special
December 2013 atThe Henry Ford
Overview
ManufacturerLincoln Motor Company
Body and chassis
ClassLimousine
PlatformLincoln K-series
Dimensions
Wheelbase160 inches (4,100 mm)
Curb weight9,300 pounds (4,200 kg)

In December 1939, President Roosevelt received a 1939Lincoln Motor CompanyV12convertible—theSunshine Special.[9]The Sunshine Special (so named because the top was frequently open)[12]became the president's best-known automobile, the very first to be built to Secret Service specifications, and the first to beleasedrather than bought.[9]Built on thechassisof theLincoln K series,[12]theSunshine Specialhas a 160-inch (4,100 mm)wheelbase,room for 10 passengers, rearsuicide doors,heavy-duty suspension, two side-mounted spare tires, and standing platforms attached to the exterior to accommodate Secret Service agents.[9]

TheSunshine Specialunderwent two sets of modifications. In 1941 the car's top was lowered three inches (76 mm) out of aesthetic concerns. In 1942, after theattack on Pearl Harbor,the car underwent the addition of armor, one-inch (25 mm)bulletproof glass,"metal-clad flat-proofinner tubes,a radiotransceiver,asiren,red warning lights, and a compartment forsubmachine guns."After the second set of modifications, the car weighed 9,300 pounds (4,200 kg) and was six feet (1.8 m) longer.[9]

Truman/Eisenhower Lincoln Cosmopolitans

[edit]
Front and rear views of the Eisenhower "Bubble-top" atThe Henry Ford,2013 & 2016, respectively

Legend has it thatHarry S. Trumanheld a grudge againstGeneral Motorsbecause they would not give him use of their cars during his run for the1948 presidential election;and, so, in 1950 he chose Lincoln to make the presidential state car.[12]The White House leased tenLincoln Cosmopolitans.[9]The cars were modified by coachbuildersHenney Motor CompanyandHess and Eisenhardtto provide extra security features[13]and extra headroom to accommodate the tall silk hats popular at the time, and were painted black. Nine of the automobiles had enclosed bodies, while the tenth was an armored convertible especially for President Truman. The tenth Cosmopolitan was 20 feet (6.1 m) long, 6.5 feet (2.0 m) wide, and weighed 6,500 pounds (2,900 kg), 1,700 pounds (770 kg) heavier than a stock Cosmopolitan.[9]All ten cars were outfitted with 152-horsepower (113 kW)V8 engines"with heavy-dutyHydra-Matictransmissions."[14]In 1954, PresidentDwight D. Eisenhowerhad the Cosmopolitan convertible fitted with aPlexiglasroof that became known as the "Bubble-top"; it remained in presidential service until 1965,[9]and has approximately 105,942 miles (170,497 km) on theodometer.[15]

Kennedy Lincoln Continental

[edit]
X-100
The X-100 atThe Henry Fordin 2016
Overview
ManufacturerLincoln Motor Company
Body and chassis
ClassLimousine
PlatformLincoln Continental
Dimensions
Curb weight9,800 pounds (4,400 kg)
PresidentsRadhakrishnanand Kennedy in June 1963

PresidentJohn F. Kennedy's 1961Lincoln Continentalwas originally a stock car, built inWixom, Michigan,and retailing for$7,347(equivalent to $74,910 in 2023). The federal government leased it from theFord Motor Companyfor$500(equivalent to $5,098 in 2023) annually, and then commissionedHess and Eisenhardtto modify it for presidential use—with a pricetag of$200,000(equivalent to $2,039,198 in 2023). The convertible was painted "Presidential Blue Metallic", with silver metal flakes embedded within it; it was given the Secret Service code names of SS-100-X and X-100.[16]

The dark-blue car included a "heavy-duty heater and air conditioner, a pair ofradiotelephones,afire extinguisher,a first-aid kit, and a siren. "[9]The car was 3.5 feet (1.1 m) longer than Lincoln's because Hess and Eisenhardt had added a "middle row of forward-facing jump seats that folded away when not in use."[16]The exterior featured improved, retractable standing platforms and handles for Secret Service agents, and flashing red lights recessed into thebumper.Unique to the X-100 were three sets of removable roofs (a standard soft top, a lightweight metal one, and a transparent plastic one) and a hydraulic lift that raised the rear cushion10+12inches (270 mm) off the floor. Both of these feature sets were designed to make the president more visible to the public, but they also increased the president's vulnerability—a factor in the 1963assassination of John F. Kennedy.[9]

The modified X-100 atThe Henry Fordin 2013

After the assassination, the "Death Car" (as named by theAssociated Press), was redesigned in an operation named "The Quick Fix". Hess and Eisenhardt, the Secret Service, theUnited States Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center,PPG Industries,and Ford engineers all collaborated to strip the limousine and improve everything. In an effort to prevent "ghoulish collectors" from obtaining the discarded car parts, they were destroyed.[16]For an estimated cost of $500,000, the car was painted black and featured "improved telecommunications gear, a more powerful engine and flat-proof tires made of rubber-coatedaluminum."Thefuel tankwas protected against explosion by a "porous foam matrix" that minimized spillage in the event of a puncture. The passenger compartment was protected by 1,600 pounds (730 kg) of armor, and the three removable roofs were replaced by a fixed glass enclosure that cost more than $125,000. The glass enclosure was made of 13 different pieces of bulletproof glass ranging in thickness from1 to1+1316inches (25 to 46 mm), and was then the largest piece of curved bulletproof glass ever made.[9]Titaniumarmor was added to the body of the car, the standard windows were made bullet-resistant with sandwiched layers of glass and polycarbonate vinyl, and prototype aluminum run-flat tires were added.[16]Due to an increase of 25 percent more weight—to 9,800 pounds (4,400 kg)—the upgraded car received a hand-builtV8 enginethat provided a 17% increase in power, to 350 horsepower (260 kW).[15]

In 1967, the convertible was modified again with an upgradedair conditioningsystem, an openable rear-door window, and structural enhancement to the rear deck.[9]Despite successive presidential state cars being built and delivered to theWhite House,the X-100 continued to be occasionally used by PresidentsLyndon B. Johnson,Richard Nixon,Gerald Ford,andJimmy Carteruntil it was retired from service in early 1977. As of March 2021,it was publicly exhibited atThe Henry Fordmuseum inDearborn, Michigan.[17]

Thelicense plates(DC plates,"GG-300" ) were removed from the X-100 when the vehicle was upgraded after the Kennedy shooting; when they were auctioned in 2015, they sold for$100,000(equivalent to $128,541 in 2023).[18]

1967 Lincoln Continental

[edit]

President Johnson preferred white convertibles, but "concerns for protocol and safety" had him receiving a black1967 Lincoln Continentalas his state car. Thehardtopcost theFord Motor Companyabout$500,000(equivalent to about $4,570,000 in 2023). They leased it to the federal government for an annual cost of$1(equivalent to $9.14 in 2023). With 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of armor, "a bubble top thicker than the protective cockpit of anF-16 fighter",and a 340-horsepower (250 kW)V8 engine,the 11,000-pound (5,000 kg) car could still reach speeds of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) — or 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) with fourflat tires.[19]According to White House spokespeople, President Johnson's car was not equipped with a television, though several ofhis cabinet members' were.[20]This car also served Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter, and traveled to 32 nations before it was retired in the mid-to-late 1970s. In 1996, the Ford Motor Company restored the car to its original state and donated it to theRichard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum;the manufacturer chose Nixon's library because he took the car on several of his most-significant presidential trips.[19]

1972 Lincoln Continental

[edit]
The 1972-model car, with Secret Service escorting

A modified, 22-foot (6.7 m),[9]13,000-pound (5,900 kg)[12]1972Lincoln Continentalwas delivered to the White House in 1974. The six-passengerlimousinewas leased from theFord Motor CompanyforUS$5,000(equivalent to $30,891 in 2023) per year and featured a 460-cubic-inch (7.5 L), 214-horsepower (160 kW)V8 engine.The fully loaded automobile also had external microphones to allow occupants to hear outside noises, full armor plate,bulletproof glass,and racks for the Secret Service to storesubmachine guns.[9]

The 1972 Lincoln limousine atThe Henry Ford(2016)

The car was used by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter,Ronald Reagan,andGeorge H. W. Bush.[21]By 1974, the car was typically transported by theUnited States Air Forcein aLockheed C-141 Starliftercargo plane at an hourlyjet fuelcost of 1,800 US gallons (6,800 L; 1,500 imp gal). Because security concerns legally-mandated its use by the president, political parties were not required to reimburse the government for its use during political campaigns.[22]It was the vehicle in whichFord was shot atbySara Jane Moorein 1975.[9]During the March 1981attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan,the car was hit by the last two of six gunshots: the penultimate damaged the bulletproof window of the right rear passenger's door, while the last ricocheted off the back-rightquarter paneland struck the president. The car then transported Reagan toGeorge Washington University Hospital.[23]After the 1981 shooting, the car was returned to Ford to receive a new interior,[24]frontsheet metal,and 1979 Lincolngrille.[21]

The 1972 car left service in 1992 with 40,617 miles (65,367 km) on its odometer.[15]After maintenance and care in 2008,The Henry Fordmeasured the car at 259 inches (6,600 mm) long, 79.6 inches (2,020 mm) wide, 61.1 inches (1,550 mm) tall, at 10,440 pounds (4,740 kg), with awheelbaseof 161 inches (4,100 mm).[21]

1983 Cadillac Fleetwood

[edit]
The 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood presidential state car

The next presidential state car was a 1983Cadillacthat was delivered on January 30, 1984.[9]ThisCadillac Fleetwoodis 17 inches (430 mm) longer and 3 inches (76 mm) taller than the stock Fleetwood. It featured armor andbulletproof glass(2+38inches [60 mm] thick),[12]and was described as "distinctively styled, with a raised roof and a large reargreenhouse."To deal with the added weight of the armor, the car had oversized wheels and tires, heavy-dutybrakes,and an automatic leveling system.[9]

1989 Lincoln Town Car

[edit]
The 1989 Lincoln Town Car presidential state car

The 1989 presidential state car that was delivered to the White House was a modified 1989Lincoln Town Carthat was 22 feet (6.7 m) long and more than 5 feet (1.5 m) tall.[9]

Clinton Cadillac Fleetwood

[edit]
The 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood presidential state car

PresidentBill Clintonused a 1993Cadillac Fleetwoodas his presidential state car. It is currently on display at theClinton Presidential CenterinLittle Rock, Arkansas,where it sits with all its doors closed to the public. Museum curator Christine Mouw noted that they can "dust the outside of the car, but if we needed to get inside it, we would have to contact the regional Secret Service office".[6]

CNNinterviewed Joe Funk, a formerSecret Serviceagent and driver of Clinton's presidential state car during part of his tenure. Funk described a dichotomy of the car: while the president is wholly cut off from the outside world by the armor and bulletproof glass of the vehicle, he has at his fingertips communication capabilities including phones,satellite communications,and theInternet.[10]

2001–2009 custom Cadillac

[edit]
President George W. Bush's presidential limousine inZagreb

In 2001, for thefirst inauguration of George W. Bush,Cadillacno longer produced a car suitable for conversion into a presidential limousine.[12]The additional armor and amenities that were added to the state car by the Secret Service taxed previous presidential limousines beyond their limits, resulting in failing transmissions and short-lived brakes. The George W. Bush state car was instead designed from the ground-up by "anR&Darm ofGeneral MotorsinDetroit"to meet Secret Service specifications.[25]

"[I]nformedspeculation "had PresidentGeorge W. Bush'sCadillac Devilleactually based on the chassis of General Motors' line of full-sizesport utility vehiclessuch as the "Chevrolet Suburban,GMC Yukon[,] andCadillac Escalade."This" Deville "featured five-inch (130 mm) armored doors, and" bulletproof glass so thick it blocks out parts of thelight spectrum."Rumored components of the car were sealed passenger compartments with their own air supply,run-flat tires,and a 454-cubic-inch (7.44 L) engine.[12]Confirmed accessories include "an integrated 10-discCD changer,a foldaway desktop[,] and reclining rear seats with massaging, adaptive cushions. "[4]This presidential state car was estimated to weigh approximately 14,000 pounds (6,400 kg).[12]

Bush's presidential state car wasnicknamed"The Beast", a name that persisted through thepresidency of Donald Trump.When traveling, President Bush took along two of the armored limousines (flown by eitherC-5orC-17), one for use and one for backup. This proved fortuitous during a 2007 trip toRomewhere one of the presidential state carsstalledfor five minutes on a street; the car was restarted, but was replaced with the backup limousine after President Bush reached his destination.[2]Sometimes, President Bush would instead use vehicles already present at his destination such as embassymotor poolcars or military assets, rather than transporting the presidential state car. The president never used non-American-governmental vehicles when overseas.[26]

2009–2018 custom Cadillac

[edit]
A black Cadillac limousine is at a 45-degree angle, showing to the camera its front and starboard sides. Two small flagpoles are mounted to the front fenders, one flying a US flag with gold fringe.
A black Cadillac limousine is at a 45-degree angle, showing to the camera its rear and starboard sides. The trunk sports two antennae, there is a presidential seal on the rear passenger door, and the license plate is numbered "800 002".
Front and rear views of the 2009–2018 United States presidential state car

The 2009–2018 presidential state car went into service on January 20, 2009, and drovePresident Obamathe two miles (3.2 km) downPennsylvania Avenuefromhis inaugurationto the inaugural parade. ACadillac,the presidential state car was not based on any single model of car,[10]though it had the "dual-textured grille and the dinner plate-sized Cadillac coat-of-arms badge" emblematic of theCadillac CTSand theCadillac Escalade.The headlights and taillights were identical to those used on other Cadillac production models. Anton Goodwin ofCNET'sRoad/Showblog noted that speculation was that the presidential state car was based on theGMC Topkickplatform. If that is to be the case, then Goodwin assumed the car would feature either agasoline-powered 8.1-liter (490 cu in)V8General Motors Vortec engineor adiesel-poweredDuramax6.6-liter (400 cu in)turboV8 engine.[5]

Autoweekmagazine asserted that the car ran on a gasoline-fueled engine.[25]This presidential state car was speculated to be much heavier than its predecessor as it is equipped withGoodyearRegional RHS tires that are usually reserved for medium- and heavy-duty trucks; speculated weights range from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds (6,800 to 9,100 kg).[12]Due to the weight of the car, it could only reach about 60 mph (97 km/h), and only achieved 3.7 to 8 miles per US gallon (64 to 29 L/100 km; 4.4 to 9.6 mpg‑imp).[3][25]The limousine was reported to cost between$300,000and$1,500,000(equivalent to about $400,000–2,000,000 in 2023).[1][25]The presidential state car was maintained by theUnited States Secret Service.[27]

President Barack Obama and then-Vice PresidentJoe Bidenriding in a presidential state car

The car had more five-inch (130 mm)[28]bulletproof glassthan the previous model. It also hadrun-flat tiresand an interior that was completely sealed to protect the occupants in the event of achemical attack.[29]The 2009 presidential state car model hadnight visionoptics, atear gascannon, onboardoxygentanks, an armoredfuel tankfilled with foam to prevent explosion, andpump-actionshotguns.[1][25]Whether it was[28]or was not armed withrocket-propelled grenades,[25]the car featured eight-inch (200 mm) doors.[10]

General Motorsspokeswoman Joanne K. Krell said of the presidential state car, "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."[10]The curator ofThe Henry FordtoldThe Dallas Morning Newsthat President Obama's state car was "a tank with a Cadillac badge."[16]

Washington, D.C. license plate

In 2013, the presidential state car was outfitted with standardWashington, D.C.license plates that read"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"in reference to thedistrict's lack of representationin theUnited States Congress.The switch came after the D.C.city councilpetitioned the president to use the plates on his motorcade, which would be seen by millions of people as the president headed downPennsylvania Avenueforhis second inauguration.[30]

Current model

[edit]
"The Beast"
A current-model state car in January 2021
Overview
ManufacturerCadillac
Body and chassis
ClassLimousine
PlatformGMC TopKick
Dimensions
Curb weight15,000–20,000 lb (6,800–9,100 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor2009–2018 version

Development

[edit]

When first commissioned by the Secret Service in 2014,[31]General Motors(GM) was awarded three contracts for the new limousine. Each state car was expected to costUS$1–1.5 million,and by January 2016, GM had been paid$15,800,765(equivalent to $20,059,873 in 2023) for its work on the new model.[32]

After prototypes of the new model were seen driven on public roads wrapped in monochromaticmulti-scale camouflage,Cadillacconfirmed toFox Newsthat "We've completed our task and we've handed over the vehicle to the customer". The Secret Service confirmed that the program to replace the presidential car was "on track and on schedule" and should be in service by late summer 2018. Fox News' Gary Gastelu opined that the camouflaged prototype looked similar to theCadillac CT6.[33]

Realization

[edit]
JoeandJill Bidenin 2021

Stillnicknamed"the Beast",[31]as established withthe 2001–2009 model,[2]the current model debuted with a trip byPresident TrumptoNew York Cityon September 24, 2018.Road & Trackreported that "the design appears to be a simple evolution of the old model with more current Cadillac design cues, like anEscaladesedan. "Road & Trackdescribed the state car as "massive and tall", and weighing 15,000–20,000 pounds (6,800–9,100 kg).[34]

NBC Newsreported a weight of 20,000 pounds and the capacity to seat seven, and speculated that the limousine was intended to evoke the aesthetic of theCadillac XT6.[31]Car and Driversaid that the car was built on theGMC TopKickplatform, weighs as much as 15,000 pounds, has theheadlampsfrom theCadillac Escalade,and thegrilleemblematic of theCadillac Escalaconcept car.[35]

In addition to defensive measures designed to protect the president, this state car has stores of blood in the president'stypefor medical emergencies. The car ishermetically sealedagainst chemical attacks, and featuresrun-flat tires,night-vision devices,smoke screens,and oil slicks as defensive measures against attackers.NBCreported that the car features armor made ofaluminum,ceramic,andsteel;the exterior walls have a thickness of eight inches (200 mm), the windows are multi-layered and five inches (130 mm) thick, and each door—believed to weigh as much as those on aBoeing 757—can electrify its handles to deter entry.[31]

As of May 2019,the current model was used alongsidethe previous model.[36]

Destruction

[edit]

In the late 20th century, it was customary for theUnited States Secret Serviceto participate in the destruction of the presidential state car after it had run its course. The federal agents usebulletsandexplosive roundsfor two purposes. The first is to demonstrate the automobile's effectiveness against such weaponry, while the second is to shred the vehicle and destroy the secrets of its manufacture, armoring, and defensive abilities.[9]

Presidential motorcades

[edit]
Biden's motorcade crossing theEdmund Pettus Bridge(March 5, 2023)

Motorcadesinvolving the presidential state car are detailed, involved operations.[3]

Upon theassassination of John F. Kennedy,the motorcade consisted of four motorcycle escorts, three buses, and over 17 cars (including the presidential state car).[37]Motorcades under PresidentGeorge W. Bushinvolved up to two dozen cars.[2]Under President Obama they constituted 30 other vehicles,[3]includingpolice carsto lead the motorcade and clear the streets;sport utility vehiclesto carry theUnited States Secret Servicedetail, electronic countermeasures, key staff, aSecret Service Counter Assault Team,"hazardous-materials-mitigation" personnel and equipment, andWhite House Communications Agencypersonnel; press vans; anambulance;and more.[7]

The presidential state car is maintained by theUnited States Secret Service.Other support vehicles in the president's motorcade are maintained by theWhite House Military Office.[27]Due to difficulty in organizing motorcades,helicopters(Marine One) are preferred.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdHarris, Paul;McKie, Robin(March 28, 2009)."Prospect of Barack Obama show causes UK to clear its decks".The Guardian.ISSN1756-3224.OCLC60623878.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2015.RetrievedOctober 28,2023.With an entourage of 500 staff, an armour-plated limousine and a fleet of decoy helicopters, America's new president will arrive for his first visit to Britain amid huge razzmatazz on Tuesday for the G20 summit. But it will be his closed-door meetings with world leaders that are likely to prove the most significant of the trip
  2. ^abcdStolberg, Sheryl Gay (June 11, 2007)."Bush in Europe was a man on the run".International Herald Tribune.Sofia.ISSN0294-8052.OCLC185273721.Archived fromthe originalon June 13, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.
  3. ^abcdChurchill, Allison; Johnson, Robert (December 4, 2012)."Obama's Cadillac Is Basically A Tank".Business Insider.OCLC1076392313.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2015.RetrievedJune 6,2022.
  4. ^abGoodwin, Antuan (January 15, 2009)."Cadillac One: Obama's new wheels".ROAD/SHOW.CNET.Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 20,2019.At next week's inauguration, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will not only have a new resident, but also a new set of wheels in the driveway.
  5. ^abMerksamer, Gregg D. (November 6, 2008)."Cadillac testing new Obama limo".The Boston Globe.P. Steven Ainsley.New York Times News Service.ISSN0743-1791.OCLC66652431.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2016.RetrievedMay 30,2019.
  6. ^abAmbinder, Marc (February 8, 2011)."The Presidential Motorcade".The Atlantic.ISSN1072-7825.Archivedfrom the original on May 11, 2015.RetrievedAugust 22,2019.
  7. ^Mack, Ben (January 20, 2009)."Obama Rolls in an Armored Cadillac Stagecoach".Wired.Condé Nast.ISSN1059-1028.OCLC24479723.Archivedfrom the original on July 20, 2017.RetrievedMay 30,2019.
  8. ^abcdeAhlers, Mike M.; Marrapodi, Eric (January 6, 2009)."Obama's wheels: Secret Service to unveil new presidential limo".Washington, D.C.:CNN.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 3,2020.
  9. ^abRamey, Jay; Vaughn, Mark; Woodard, Justine (February 14, 2016)."See the secrets behind these presidential limos".Autoweek.ISSN0192-9674.Archivedfrom the original on July 30, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 3,2020.
  10. ^Theobald, Mark (2004)."Henney".Coachbuilt.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2023.RetrievedOctober 28,2023.[unreliable source?]
  11. ^abcMigliore, Greg (May 28, 2008)."Limousine liberals (and conservatives): A look at five presidential rides".Autoweek.ISSN0192-9674.Archivedfrom the original on November 11, 2022.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  12. ^abcdeWynn, Christopher (May 5, 2013)."Would a bubble-top have saved Kennedy? More answers from the strange story of JFK's Lincoln limo".The Dallas Morning News.A. H. Belo.ISSN1553-846X.Archivedfrom the original on November 22, 2020.RetrievedApril 9,2021.The Continental's low-slung, angular lines and rear-hinged 'suicide' doors were a bold departure at the time for Lincoln styling and seemed to personify the fresh-faced Kennedy and the new frontiers he espoused for the country.
  13. ^"Kennedy Presidential Limousine: A tragic day in American history remembered".The Henry Ford.Archivedfrom the original on June 3, 2021.RetrievedJune 3,2021.
  14. ^"JFK licence plates sell for $100,000 at auction".BBC News.November 8, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 30,2021.A pair of licence plates from the car that drove John F Kennedy when he was killed have sold at auction for $100,000 (£66,000).
  15. ^abHamashige, Hope (August 27, 1996)."Nixon's Limo Makes Its Final Stop at Museum".Los Angeles Times.Yorba Linda, California.ISSN0458-3035.OCLC3638237.Archivedfrom the original on June 17, 2019.RetrievedJune 16,2019.
  16. ^Macfarlan, W. Joynes (March 11, 1967). "Cabinet Members Sport TV Aboard Limousines".Stevens Point Journal.Vol. 72.Washington, D.C.Associated Press.p. 5.ISSN0748-6332.
  17. ^abc"1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine Used by Ronald Reagan".The Henry Ford.Archivedfrom the original on August 14, 2022.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
  18. ^Lewine, Frances(November 6, 1974). "Ford's campaign swing cost untold thousands".St. Petersburg Times.Vol. 91, no. 105.Washington, D.C.Associated Press.p. 9-A.ISSN2327-9052.OCLC5920090.
  19. ^American Artifacts: Reagan Assassination Attempt - 'Rawhide Down',C-SPAN,March 24, 2011,archivedfrom the original on June 19, 2022 – viaYouTube
  20. ^"A Chronicle of Carriages".United States Secret Service.Archivedfrom the original on September 14, 2022.RetrievedNovember 4,2022.
  21. ^abcdefGreenberg, Peter (October 17, 2013)."Inside the President's armored limo".Autoweek.Crain Communications.ISSN0192-9674.Archivedfrom the original on October 16, 2015.RetrievedMarch 17,2021.
  22. ^Ensenat, Donald(January 18, 2007)."Ask the White House".White House.Archivedfrom the original on September 8, 2015.RetrievedJune 6,2022.
  23. ^ab"The President's Motorcade".Washington, D.C.:White House.Archivedfrom the original on October 30, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 7,2016.
  24. ^abPearse, Damien (March 31, 2009)."Obama In UK With Limo Dubbed 'The Beast'".Sky News.Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 7,2016.
  25. ^Montopoli, Brian (January 6, 2009)."Obama To Ride In Armored Cadillac Limo On Inauguration Day".CBS News.Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2016.RetrievedMay 5,2023.
  26. ^Brittain, Becky (January 15, 2013)."The 'Beast' gets new license plates".CNN.Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2016.RetrievedMarch 15,2021.
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