AUTOMOTIVE BRIEF
Presidential Cars
PRESIDENTIAL CARS
U. S. Presidential Limousines
by Walter E. Johnson
February 2018
As a freshman in college, I remember returning home for Winter Break and reading an article about President Clinton's new limousine. I remember 3 points. The vehicle was built under Secret Service's surveillance. Also, the vehicle's specifications were classified information. At the conclusion of President Clinton's term, the vehicle would be destroyed by Secret Service at an undisclosed location.
According to the article, the vehicle had new armor and it was going to be tested after the term. I know this is a contradiction. If the specifications are classified, why would Secret Service disclose that the armor was new? I remember thinking, "I can't believe they are going to blow it up."
From childhood through young adulthood, I kept a scrapbook of pictures and articles highlighting Cadillac. To this day, I am unable to find this article or a similar article that mentions the major points that I remember. Recently, I purchased a book entitled, "Presidential Cars & Transportation" by William D. Sluru, Jr. and Andrea Stewart. It provides detailed information about presidential limousines, personal vehicles, campaign vehicles, airplanes, helicopters and trains.
Below is vehicle list by order of U. S. Presidents:
Year: TBD
Make: Cadillac
Model: TBD
Quantity: TBD
MSRP: TBD for limousine fleet
Photo Credit: Automotive News
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Trump's Cadillac: Quantity >2
- President Obama's Ground Force One: Quantity: 1 (Active)
Year: 2018
Make: Cadillac
Model: Varies (Escalade, XT6, Escala)
Quantity: 2
MSRP: $15.8M for limousine fleet
Photo Credit:Automotive News
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Obama's Cadillac DTS: Quantity >2 (Retired)
- President Obama's Ground Force One: Quantity: 1 (Active)
Donald J. Trump
45th U.S. President
Term: 2017 - 2021
Photo Credit: White House
Year: 2008
Make: Cadillac
Model: DTS
Quantity: >2
MSRP: $35M for limousine fleet
Photo Credit:NBC News
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Bush's Cadillac DTS: Quantity >2 (Retired)
- Ground Force One: Quantity: 1
Year: 2001
Make: Cadillac
Model: Deville
Quantity: >2
MSRP: >$500k
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Clinton's Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham: Quantity >2 (Retired)
Year: 1993
Make: Cadillac
Model: Fleetwood
Quantity: >2
MSRP: >$500k
Photo Credit: Cadillac Forum
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Bush's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1
Year: 1989
Make: Lincoln
Model: Town Car
Quantity: 1
MSRP: >$500k
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Reagan's Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham: Quantity 1
Year: 1983
Make: Cadillac
Model: Fleetwood Brougham
Quantity: 1
MSRP: >$500k
Photo Credit: CBS News
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Carter's Cadillac Fleetwood: Quantity 1 (Retired)
- President Nixon's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1 (Retired)
Year: 1979
Make: Cadillac
Model: Fleetwood
Quantity: 1
MSRP: >$500k
Photo Credit: Larry Ferlazzo
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Nixon's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1 (Retired)
Year:
Make:
Model:
Quantity:
MSRP:
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Nixon's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1 (Retired)
Year: 1972
Make: Lincoln
Model: Continental
Quantity: 1
MSRP: >$500k
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Kennedy's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1
Year: 1968
Make: Lincoln
Model: Continental
Quantity: 1
MSRP:
Photo Credit:Weta
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Kennedy's Lincoln Continental: Quantity 1
Year: 1961
Make: Lincoln
Model: Continental
Quantity: 1
MSRP:
Photo Credit: Hemmings
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Truman's Lincoln Cosmopolitan: Quantity: 1
Year: 1952
Make: Chrylser
Model: Imperial
Quantity: 1
MSRP:
Photo Credit: Car and Driver
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Truman's Lincoln Cosmopolitan: Quantity: 1
- President Roosevelt's Lincoln Sunshine Special: Quantity: 1
- President Hoover's Packard Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Year: 1950
Make: Lincoln
Make: Cosmopolitan
Quantity: 1
MSRP:
Photo Credit: Dyler and
Ford Archives
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Roosevelt's Lincoln Sunshine Special: Quantity: 1
- President Hoover's Packard Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Year: 1939
Make: Lincoln
Model: K
Nickname: Sunshine Special
Quantity: 1
MSRP: $30K
Photo Credit: Hagerty
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Hoover's Packard Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Make: Packard
Model: 443 Limousine
Type: 315 - 7 Passenger
Quantity: 1
Photo Credit: Detroit Public Library
Make: Packard
Model: 645 Limousine
Type: 375 - 7 Passenger
Quantity: 1
Year: 1928
Make: Cadillac
Model: Limousine
Quantity: 1 - Hoover purchased the Cadillac from the government when he left office.
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Photo Credit: Cars.com
and Flickr user OZinOH under Creative Commons license.
Year: 1924
Make: Lincoln
Model: L
Quantity: 1
MSRP: $4900
Photo Credit: Historic Auto Attractions
Make: Pierce-Arrow
Model: 7 Passenger Limousine
Quantity: 1
MSRP: $9000 - First President to lease
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
President Harding used the existing Presidential fleet.
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Year: 1921
Make: Packard
Model: Twin Six
Quantity: 1
MSRP:
Photo Credit: Ebay Seller Chickadeepick
Additional Presidential Vehicles include:
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Limousines: Quantity: 2
- President Taft's Pierce-Arrow Touring Cars: Quantity: 2
Year: 1910
Make: White
Model: "M" Touring - The 1st presidential car assigned to the White House fleet.
MSRP: $5000
Photo Credit: School 4 Schools
Make: Pierce-Arrow
Model: Limousine
Quantity: 2
Photo Credit: Library of Congress
Make: Baker
Model: Victoria Phaeton (Electric Runabout)
Photo Credit: Drivetribe
Photo Credit: Brooks Kraft
Photo Credit: UPI
Photo Credit: Hampton University
Here are articles and additional sites focusing on presidential vehicles. Enjoy!
December 4, 2018
MSN
September 25, 2018
Automotive News
July 22, 2016
The Drive
February 15, 2017
www.leesframeandaxle.com
Dave Kunz
ABC7.com
January 20, 2017
Patrick Kiger
Weta
November 22, 2013
March 21, 2013
Washington Post
January 26, 2005
UPI
October 6, 2009
Auction Central News
April 22, 1994
Washington Post
April 22, 1994
Knight-Ridder Newspapers
Baltimore Sun
United States Presidential Libraries and Museums