In May 20, 1961 out of the gates of the Hess & Eisenhardt bodywork company was carried very unusual car. Spectacular navy blue six-meter long convertible limousine, which got a tragic glory. The title photo shows us that Lincoln Continental SS-100-X and it was built without armor. Two year and a half later, this Lincoln will carry John Fitzgerald Kennedy through Dallas...
But before this a whole era passed by...
In the beginning of the XX century, only the rich and lucky people could afford custom made bodies for their automobiles. While the automotive industry was going through its childhood, U.S. presidents had to use stock cars. So global worldwide solutions could be taken after arriving in the car where the only the gramophone was leaner.
The first who appreciated the new kind of transport was William McKinley in the XIX century. As a passenger the 25th president of the U.S. took a ride on the steam-powered Locomobile. And it was driven by the designer of the machine — Stanley Friedland.
Automobile era began for American presidents in 1909. The newly elected William H. Taft, confirming his innovators behavior used few cars — 40hp White M, together with the electric-powered double-seated Baker and a couple of PierceArrows with petrol engines — now almost forgotten brand.
Cars belonging to the U.S. presidential administration.
In the beginning of his political career the 28th U.S. President Woodrow Wilson declared that automobiles cause socialistic opinions growth in the society. But as soon as he became a president, this statement did not prevent him from purchasing a 1919 PierceArrow limousine for the highest price in the market. Later a garage was fulfilled with phenomenally expensive Rolls-Royce 40/50 hp. And also he liked to remember Buick 24, equipped with radio to stay connected with the White House.
President Coolidge and a Buick 24 equipped with radio. Antennas and speaker are clearly visible.
Politicians considered automobiles as main symbols of class differentiation. The greatest example of “VIP” became the 31st U.S. President Herbert Hoover. Despite the Great Depression and terrible impoverishment of the people he was riding 16-cylindered Cadillac with a body made by Fleetwood bodyworks. Only Cadillac could win the tender for the White House during The Great Depression.
But there was a good competitor in the United States.
Lincoln Motor Company was destined to become the first among all VIP vehicles suppliers. The company was founded by Henry Leland in 1917. That year he voted for the sixteenth President of the United States. He decided to name his company accordingly — in honor of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln Motor Company fully exceeded competitors’ level and justified presidential name.
The first production model was the Lincoln L-Series, produced since 1920. It had a V8 engine and it was quite similar to Cadillac models and its cost was $ 5000.
But among all of the cars beloved by politicians, the most popular was Lincoln «Sunshine Special» according to the «Ranking of the best U.S. presidents limousine PopularMechanic». This model initiated a series of presidential Lincolns which lasted until Ronald Reagan.
The first car created by The President’s request was Lincoln Sunshine Special. In fact, it was a custom body from Brunn & Company with Lincoln Series K chassis.
Lincoln K-series with a V12 engine was taken as a basis, the company built a car with a focus on security and custom interior. The car was created and refined according to the government garage order taking in account the Secret Service wishes. Security was put to the first priority importance, because President Roosevelt had already survived an assassination attempt in 1933. So the dark blue limousine whose interior has been adapted for wheelchair appeared in the garage of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1939.
Note that in 1942 the car successfully reworked. New bulletproof glass and armor were added. After Roosevelt died in 1945, the «Sunshine Special» remained at presidents’ service until 1950.
It is interesting that “In December, 8th, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, Roosevelt was brought to the Capitol, where he read "The military message to the nation" in an armored 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan”. (From "The history of the armored Cadillac»).
Immediately right after the Pearl Harbor attack and the U.S. entry into World War II Secret Service, seriously worried about the security of the President and insisted that Roosevelt changed the car. The elegant Sunshine Special cabriolet was substituted by Cadillac 341A, which was famous for bulletproof glass of three and a half centimeters of thickness and armored plates in the doors. There is a rumor that there was a cache with automatic weapons. And before this car belonged to the famous Al Capone. This car was confiscated when a gangster was arrested.
Lincoln Motor Company revived and returned to the White House garage in 1961 when was built Lincoln Continental Convertible for John Kennedy, and in this car he was mortally wounded in Dallas in November 22nd, 1963.
Presidents liked Lincolns. Richard Nixon was fond of his 1969 model, and 1972 version was adored by Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. 1989 model remains the last presidential car of the brand. All latest White House limousines were supplied by Cadillac.
And the first Sunshine Special is now a part of the collection of Henry Ford Automobile Museum in Michigan. And you can always look at it and for even a second imagine yourself as a president.
