| Like a monarch's limousine, the automobile used by the president of the United States has a special meaning. An aura seems to surround it. Originally a simple mode of transport, the automobile quickly became a ceremonial vehicle. |
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| Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929) was nicknamed "Cautious Cal" because he never drove faster than 25 km/h! He also had a soft spot for the Pierce-Arrows. In fact, during his term he signed an agreement with the manufacturer in order to lease five new cars instead of buying them. The photo shows him in the middle Pierce-Arrow during a parade on March 4, 1925. |
Very early on in its history, the automobile insinuated itself into the stables of the White House, at the onset only occasionally replacing the carriages and other horse-driven vehicles. Presidents William McKinley (1897-1901) and Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) often used automobiles during their respective terms of office.
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| The "Sunshine Special" was the first White House car to be considerably modified for safety reasons. This 1939 Lincoln Special K was often used by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945) before World War II. Before being rebodied and serving the president of the United States, this was Al Capone's personal car! |
A Paradoxical Object
The ceremonial presidential state cars became ever more sophisticated over time in order to meet a constantly evolving paradox: the desire to present the head of government of the United States to his people while protecting him from possible attack. Modern presidential state cars have become true armoured safe houses complete with a largely independent command centre.
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| On January 20, 2005, president George W. Bush rode in this 2005 Cadillac DTS limousine down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, during his second inaugural parade. |
When his term begins in 2009, president-elect Barack Obama will ride in a new ceremonial car now known as "Cadillac One" (or Obama Mobile). The new limousine (of which we have pictures in its prototype phase) is the responsibility of the White House Transportation Agency.
This agency, part of the White House Military Office, ensures 24-hour maintenance of the ground vehicle fleet as well as the transportation of the First Family, White House staff, official visitors of the First Family and any other authorized personnel. The agency also provides technical support and vehicles for all presidential motorcades in the city of Washington and anywhere else in the world.
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| Barack Obama / Obama-Mobile |
As for the specs of the Obama Mobile here's what the spy photographer, Brenda Priddy, and General Motors as to say about it:
"The above picture was taken during some testing on public roads and highways, we think this behemoth might actually be more of a truck than a limo. With so much armor being added, it appears GM may have needed a medium-duty truck chassis like the Topkick platform. We observed the limo testing along with two regular Topkick trucks and the wheels and tires on the limo appeared to be the same size as the Topkick. The tires on the limo are Goodyear Regional RHS tires on 19.5-inch wheels.
As far as powertain, all we can say for sure is that it sounded like a very large diesel was under the hood. Possibly a V8 Duramax.
Style-wise, we can see bits and pieces from a few different Cadillac models. Xenon headlights from the Escalade adorn the front while the rear seems to have some STS parts. We can also see holders on the top of the front fenders where two small American flags would traditionally go. The doors on this limo are absolutely astounding. We'd guess they are at least 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick!" - Brenda Priddy
As far as powertain, all we can say for sure is that it sounded like a very large diesel was under the hood. Possibly a V8 Duramax.
Style-wise, we can see bits and pieces from a few different Cadillac models. Xenon headlights from the Escalade adorn the front while the rear seems to have some STS parts. We can also see holders on the top of the front fenders where two small American flags would traditionally go. The doors on this limo are absolutely astounding. We'd guess they are at least 20 centimeters (8 inches) thick!" - Brenda Priddy
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| Barack Obama / Obama-Mobile |
"Inside and out, the Cadillac Presidential Limousine includes many of the brand's signature design elements. Assertive, modern and elegant, the front of the car includes the intricate, dual-textured grille made famous by Cadillac's most popular current models, the CTS sport sedan and Escalade. Vertical design elements, such as the car's front and rear lighting, mirror those used on production models.
For largely functional reasons, such as optimal outward visibility, the car is slightly more upright than its predecessor. However, this new Cadillac Presidential Limousine occupies roughly the same overall footprint on the road as the previous model, with a similar size and proportion.
The side and rear profiles of the new Presidential Limousine are classic, elegant forms, evocative of Cadillac's STS and DTS luxury sedans. Inside the cabin, the car includes the finest examples of Cadillac's recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand, the same process used in popular Cadillac models such as the CTS sport sedan." - General Motors
For largely functional reasons, such as optimal outward visibility, the car is slightly more upright than its predecessor. However, this new Cadillac Presidential Limousine occupies roughly the same overall footprint on the road as the previous model, with a similar size and proportion.
The side and rear profiles of the new Presidential Limousine are classic, elegant forms, evocative of Cadillac's STS and DTS luxury sedans. Inside the cabin, the car includes the finest examples of Cadillac's recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand, the same process used in popular Cadillac models such as the CTS sport sedan." - General Motors
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| This is one of two four-door Lincoln Continental convertibles delivered to the United States Secret Service in 1968. The vehicle, used by president Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), was equipped with split rear doors to allow Secret Service agents to climb into the moving car by way of very wide step plates. |
Taft, the First
President William Taft (1909-1913) was the first to make the "horseless carriage" the president's official mode of transport. For his part, Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) understood the importance of this method of transportation. In order to quickly respond to any State emergency, he insisted that the official cars always be available in under three minutes. At that time, though, the White House cars were still nothing more than expensive standard models.
When in 1933 a man failed in his attempt to assassinate president Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945), the United States Secret Service realized the risks the president was exposed to in an automobile. The car he had ridden in was rebodied and put back into service in 1939, heavily armoured.
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| Instead of using the official White House car, the 1950 four-door Lincoln Cosmopolitan convertible, Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961) chose a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado for the parade following his presidential inauguration ceremony. It was one of 532 units of the new model produced that year. |
photo:Luc Gagné, Image Envision, Ford, General Motors, Brenda Priddy & Company
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