.jpg)
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 car of 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 Service standards. 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 glass and washermetically sealed with its own environmental system. Since 2018 the presidential state car has been a custom-builtCadillac.
Decommissioned presidential state cars are destroyed by the Secret Service for training and to protect their secrets. Late 20th-century and 21st-century presidentialmotorcades have consisted of 24–45 vehicles other than the presidential state car, including those for security, healthcare, the press, and route-clearing, among others.
The first president to ride in a car was PresidentWilliam McKinley, who briefly rode in aStanley Motor Carriage Companysteam car on 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 Company steam car to follow PresidentTheodore Roosevelt's horse-drawncarriage.[10] Roosevelt avoided riding in the vehicle due to his "image as a rough-riding horseman".[9]
.jpg)
PresidentWilliam Howard Taft changed things at theWhite House, converting thestables there to agarage and purchasing a four-car fleet[9] on a budget of$12,000 (equivalent to about $420,000 in 2024):[11] two "luxurious"Pierce-Arrow cars, aBaker Motor Vehicleelectric car, and a$4,000 (equivalent to about $140,000 in 2024) 1911White Motor Company steam 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]
PresidentWoodrow Wilson was 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 $52,886 in 2024) when he left office in 1921. PresidentWarren G. Harding was the first president to use a car to drive tohis inauguration, and was the firstqualified driver to be elected president.[9] PresidentHerbert Hoover had aCadillac V-16.[11]
In 1936, PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt bought aFord V8Phaetoncoupe and 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 | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) December 2013 atThe Henry Ford | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lincoln Motor Company |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Limousine |
| Platform | Lincoln K-series |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 160 inches (4,100 mm) |
| Curb weight | 9,300 pounds (4,200 kg) |
In December 1939, President Roosevelt received a 1939Lincoln Motor CompanyV12convertible—theSunshine Special.[9] TheSunshine 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 beleased rather than bought.[9] Built on thechassis of theLincoln K series,[12] theSunshine Special has 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 Special underwent 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]
_(cropped).jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
Legend has it thatHarry S. Truman held a grudge againstGeneral Motors because 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 Company andHess and Eisenhardt to 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. Eisenhower had the Cosmopolitan convertible fitted with aPlexiglas roof that became known as the "Bubble-top"; it remained in presidential service until 1965,[9] and had approximately 105,942 miles (170,497 km) on theodometer as of May 2008[update].[15]
| X-100 | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) The X-100 atThe Henry Ford in 2016 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Lincoln Motor Company |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Limousine |
| Platform | Lincoln Continental |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 9,800 pounds (4,400 kg) |
_(cropped).jpg)
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy's 1961Lincoln Continental was originally a stock car, built inWixom, Michigan, and retailing for$7,347 (equivalent to $77,307 in 2024). The federal government leased it from theFord Motor Company for$500 (equivalent to $5,261 in 2024) annually, and then commissionedHess and Eisenhardt to modify it for presidential use—with a pricetag of$200,000 (equivalent to $2,104,454 in 2024). 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 stock car was stretched 3.5 feet (1.1 m) to accommodate a foldable center row of forward-facingjump seats.[16] The exterior featured retractable standing platforms and handles for Secret Service agents, and flashing red lights recessed into thebumper. Unique to the X-100 were three removable roofs (made of fabric, lightweight metal, and transparent plastic) and a hydraulic lift that could raise the rear cushion10+1⁄2 inches (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]
After the assassination, the "Death Car" (as named by theAssociated Press), was rebuilt 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 make substantial improvements. In an effort to prevent "ghoulish collectors" from obtaining discarded car parts, they were destroyed.[16] For an estimated cost of $500,000, the car was painted black; received improved telecommunications gear; its fuel tank was protected against explosion by a "porous foam matrix" that minimized spillage in the event of a puncture; and the passenger compartment was protected by 1,600 pounds (730 kg) of armor. 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+13⁄16 inches (25 to 46 mm), and was then the largest piece of curved bulletproof glass ever made.[9]Titanium armor 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] To compensate for the 25 percent increase in weight—to 9,800 pounds (4,400 kg)—the upgraded car received a hand-built 350-horsepower (260 kW)V8 engine, providing 17 percent more power.[15]
_(cropped).jpg)
In 1967, the car was modified again with an upgradedair conditioning system, 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 Carter until it was retired from service in early 1977. As of March 2021[update], it was publicly exhibited atthe Henry Ford museum 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 $132,655 in 2024).[18]
President Johnson preferred white convertibles, but "concerns for protocol and safety" had him receiving a black1967 Lincoln Continental as his state car. Thehardtop cost theFord Motor Company about$500,000 (equivalent to about $4,720,000 in 2024), which leased it to the federal government for an annual cost of$1 (equivalent to $9.43 in 2024). 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 in recognition of its use during several of his most-significant presidential trips.[19]
.jpg)
A modified, 22-foot (6.7 m),[9] 13,000-pound (5,900 kg)[12] 1972Lincoln Continental was delivered to the White House in 1974. The six-passengerlimousine was leased from theFord Motor Company forUS$5,000 (equivalent to $31,879 in 2024) per year. The fully loaded automobile had a 460-cubic-inch (7.5 L), 214-horsepower (160 kW)V8 engine; external microphones to allow occupants to hear outside noises; full armor plate;bulletproof glass; and racks for the Secret Service to storesubmachine guns.[9]
_(cropped).jpg)
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 Force in aLockheed C-141 Starlifter cargo plane at an hourlyjet fuel cost 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 at bySara Jane Moore in 1975.[9] During the March 1981attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, the car was hit by the last two of six gunshots, which respectively damaged the bulletproof window of the right rear passenger's door, and ricocheted off the back-rightquarter panel before striking 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 Ford measured 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 awheelbase of 161 inches (4,100 mm).[21]
.jpg)
The next presidential state car was a 1983Cadillac that was delivered on January 30, 1984.[9] ThisCadillac Fleetwood is 17 inches (430 mm) longer and 3 inches (76 mm) taller than the stock Fleetwood. It featured armor andbulletproof glass (2+3⁄8 inches [60 mm] thick),[12] and was described as "distinctively styled, with a raised roof and a large reargreenhouse." To compensate for the weight of the armor, the car had oversized wheels and tires, heavy-dutybrakes, and an automatic leveling system.[9]
.jpg)
A1989 Lincoln Town Car, 22 feet (6.7 m) long and more than 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, was delivered to the White House on request of theGeorge H.W. Bush administration. It featured an extra section behind theB pillar, containing rear facing seats, a redesigned E-pillar with forward facing seats, as well as a raised roof.[25][9]
PresidentBill Clinton used a 1993Cadillac Fleetwood as his presidential state car. It is currently on display at theClinton Presidential Center inLittle 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]
CNN interviewed Joe Funk, a formerSecret Service agent 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]
.jpg)
In 2001, for thefirst inauguration of George W. Bush,Cadillac no 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&D arm ofGeneral Motors inDetroit" to meet Secret Service specifications.[26]
"[I]nformed speculation" had PresidentGeorge W. Bush'sCadillac Deville actually based on the chassis of General Motors' line of full-sizesport utility vehicles such 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 thefirst presidency of Donald Trump. When traveling, President Bush took along two of the armored limousines (flown by eitherC-5 orC-17), one for use and one for backup. This proved fortuitous during a 2007 trip toRome where one of the presidential state carsstalled for 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 pool cars or military assets, rather than transporting the presidential state car. The president never used non-American-governmental vehicles when overseas.[27]
.jpg)
.jpg)
The 2009–2018 presidential state car went into service on January 20, 2009, and drovePresident Obama the two miles (3.2 km) downPennsylvania Avenue fromhis first inauguration to theinaugural 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 CTS and theCadillac Escalade. The headlights and taillights were identical to those used on other Cadillac production models. Anton Goodwin ofCNET'sRoad/Show blog noted that speculation was that the presidential state car was based on theGMC Topkick platform.[5]
In 2009, Goodwin assumed the car would feature either agasoline-powered 8.1-liter (490 cu in)V8General Motors Vortec engine or adiesel-poweredDuramax 6.6-liter (400 cu in)turbo V8 engine.[5]Autoweek magazine asserted in 2013 that the car ran on a gasoline-fueled engine.[26]
This presidential state car was also believed to be much heavier than its predecessor as it is equipped withGoodyear Regional 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][26] The limousine was reported to cost between$300,000 and$1,500,000 (equivalent to about $400,000–2,000,000 in 2024).[1][26] The presidential state car was maintained by theUnited States Secret Service.[28]
.jpg)
The car had more five-inch (130 mm)[29]bulletproof glass than the previous model. It also hadrun-flat tires and an interior that was completely sealed to protect the occupants in the event of achemical attack.[30] The 2009 presidential state car model hadnight vision optics, atear gas cannon, onboardoxygen tanks, an armoredfuel tank filled with foam to prevent explosion, andpump-actionshotguns.[1][26] Whether it was[29] or was not armed withrocket-propelled grenades,[26] the car featured eight-inch (200 mm) doors.[10]
General Motors spokeswoman 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 Ford toldThe Dallas Morning News that President Obama's state car was "a tank with a Cadillac badge."[16]
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 representation in theUnited States Congress. The switch came after the D.C.city council petitioned President Obama to use the plates on his motorcade, which would be seen by millions of people as he headed down Pennsylvania Avenue forhis second inauguration.[31]
| "The Beast" | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) A current-model state car in January 2021 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | General Motors |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Limousine |
| Platform | GMC TopKick |
| Dimensions | |
| Curb weight | 15,000–20,000 pounds (6,800–9,100 kilograms) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | 2009–2018 version |
When first commissioned by the Secret Service in 2014,[32]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 $20,701,807 in 2024) for its work on the new model.[33]
After prototypes of the new model were seen driven on public roads wrapped in monochromaticmulti-scale camouflage,Cadillac confirmed toFox News that "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.[34]
.jpg)
Stillnicknamed "the Beast",[32] as established withthe 2001–2009 model,[2] the current model debuted with a trip byPresident Trump toNew York City on September 24, 2018.Road & Track reported that "the design appears to be a simple evolution of the old model with more current Cadillac design cues, like anEscalade sedan."Road & Track described the state car as "massive and tall", and weighing 15,000–20,000 pounds (6,800–9,100 kg).[35]
NBC News reported 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.[32]Car and Driver said that the car was built on theGMC TopKick platform, weighs as much as 15,000 pounds, has theheadlamps from theCadillac Escalade, and thegrille emblematic of theCadillac Escalaconcept car.[36] The car is approximately six feet (1.8 m) tall.[37]
In addition to defensive measures designed to protect the president, this state car has stores ofblood in the president'stype for medical emergencies. The car ishermetically sealed against chemical attacks, and featuresrun-flat tires,night-vision devices,smoke screens, and oil slicks as defensive measures against attackers.NBC reported 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[32]—believed to be one foot (0.30 m) thick[37] and weigh as much as those on aBoeing 757—can electrify its handles to deter entry.[32]
As of May 2019[update], the current model was used alongsidethe previous model.[38]
In the late 20th century, it was customary for theUnited States Secret Service to participate in the destruction of the presidential state car after it had run its course. The federal agents usebullets andexplosive rounds for 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]
_(cropped).jpg)
Motorcades involving 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).[39] Motorcades under PresidentGeorge W. Bush involved up to two dozen cars.[2] Under President Obama they constituted 30 other vehicles,[3] includingpolice cars to lead the motorcade and clear the streets;sport utility vehicles to carry theUnited States Secret Service detail, electronic countermeasures, key staff, aSecret Service Counter Assault Team, "hazardous-materials-mitigation" personnel and equipment, andWhite House Communications Agency personnel; 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.[28] Due to difficulty in organizing motorcades,helicopters (Marine One) are preferred.[1]
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
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.
President Obama's new beast of a Cadillac was the latest in a long line of rides stretching back to 1899.
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.
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).
Trump's new Cadillac limo cost $1.5M, weighs 20,000 lbs, and comes equipped with a fridge full of the president's own blood type.
Meet the new armored Cadillac limousine that just debuted during Trump's visit to New York.
The Beast has officially made its first public appearance.
The safest vehicle on the planet—the presidential limo—makes its way into Jay Leno's garage for an up-close look.
Media related topresidential automobiles of the United States at Wikimedia CommonsEstablished in 1902, aGeneral Motors division since 1908 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current models |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former models (by year of introduction) |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Concept | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related topics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Established 1917, a division ofFord Motor Company since 1922 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current |
|  | |||||||||||||||||
| Discontinued (by date of introduction) |
| ||||||||||||||||||
| Concept | |||||||||||||||||||
| Presidential | |||||||||||||||||||
