When you relax in the air-conditioned interiors of a modern-day limo that has comfortable seats, entertainment options on-board, and perhaps even ambient lighting and a mini-bar, you would hardly think about the vehicle’s origin. For someone who rents a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA, it would be hard to understand how the early predecessors of the limo were small-sized vehicles where the driver had to sit outside while the passengers sat inside a closed enclosure. In fact, the class and luxury associated with today’s limos are very different from their humble origins. Let’s delve deeper into the fascinating world of limos and see how it evolved into modern-day vehicles that have become synonymous with status and luxury.
1- The French origin of a limo
Since the 1700s, the idea of a chauffeured vehicle existed in some form or the other. Such vehicles were designed primarily for the affluent people of the society. Their journey began as horse-drawn carriages that were gilded in gold. Only the finest horses were chosen to pull these carriages.
When you consider how the word “limousine” came into existence, you’ll find it was derived from the French word “Limoges,” which refers to a province in France where it all started. The shepherds in this region wore cloaked hoods. This cloaked hood bore a resemblance to the closed compartment of the carriages where the passengers sat. The driver sat in the open though, thus battling the elements, while his passengers were protected against the harsh sun, rain, wind, snow, etc.
It was in 1902 when chauffeured rides were introduced for the first engine-powered limo. When you rent a private limousine service in San Francisco, CA today, you could hardly visualize how different the vehicles as well the experience of riding them were in those early days. The 1902 limo still retained the design of the earlier carriages with a separate seat for the driver though in it, the driver’s seat too came inside but had a partition to separate it from his passengers.
2- The stretch limo
The moment you hear about luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA, perhaps the image that crops up in your mind as well as in the minds of a majority is that of a stretch limo. But even after the first engine-powered limo came into existence, it took another twenty-six years to develop the first stretch limo. It was in 1928 when Armbruster – a coach company, created the first stretch limousine in Fort Smith (Arkansas). Interestingly, Armbruster Stageway is still in operation and takes pride in some of its most innovative designs in funeral coaches and limousines that it creates to handle all requirements of its customers elegantly.
Since the stretch limos were chiefly used to carry famous leaders of the big bands (such as Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller) as well as their instruments and orchestras to different parts of the U.S., they were often called the “big band buses”.
3- Limousines in the 1930s and onward
During this period, limos started being used for sightseeing tours as well as airport pick-ups and drop-offs. Eventually, they became the preferred choice of transportation for movie stars. Many Hollywood actors and actresses started using the limos to reach their sets. Even film directors used these vehicles to transport their film crew and equipment. Thanks to their use by the rich and famous, limos became a status symbol. Slowly, the perception of people grew to match this and it became the prevalent thought that limos were affordable and used only by crème de la crème of the society.
4- Presidential limos
Just like you prefer renting a private limousine service in San Francisco, CA, U.S. presidents too have their preference toward the limo. In fact, the history of armored presidential limousines can be traced back to the 1930s. Though standard production cars were used for presidents during the early years of the automotive era, change came in 1939 when “Sunshine Special” (which was a specially built limo that had its top virtually always open and thus, got the name) made its entry into the Secret Service’s fleet. The vehicle had a Lincoln K-Series chassis and was powered by a V-12 engine. Both convenience and security were considered while designing this limo. Security was especially extremely crucial as in 1933, there had already been an assassination attempt on Franklin Roosevelt (which he thankfully survived) while he was giving a speech from the back of his open Buick convertible. At the same time, focus on convenience was vital to get President Roosevelt, who was bound to a wheelchair, in and out of the car easily while upholding presidential dignity.
The Sunshine Special had its body stretched out over a huge wheelbase measuring 160 inches and came equipped with oversized rear doors that were rear-hinged. The vehicle’s armored body was crafted by a Buffalo-based coachbuilder called Brunn. The car got some new armor-plated elements added to it and an updated and new front end in 1942. The installation of bulletproof glass was also done at this time. In 1945, after Roosevelt’s death, the Sunshine Special was retained in presidential service until 1950. At present, you can find among the collection of the Henry Ford Museum located in Dearborn (Michigan).
The 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan was another presidential limo that’s famous. According to legend, President Harry S. Truman strongly disliked the products of General Motors because the company denied him their use during his presidential campaign in 1948. When it was time to replace the Sunshine Special, President Truman trusted Ford’s Lincoln division with the job. An order was placed with Ford to build a stretched 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan (equipped with a wheelbase measuring 145 inches). Against a nominal lease fee, Ford provided the Secret Service with this car. In 1954, a huge “bubbletop” canopy was added to the vehicle as part of its modification after President Dwight Eisenhower had to sit with the top up during a rainstorm and realized that no one would be able to see him. This modification made the limo famous as “The Bubbletop”. It served as the presidential limo till 1965, after which it too found a place in the Henry Ford Museum.
A tragic presidential limo is the 1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X. Despite its beauty, it came to be associated with John F. Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963, as the president at that moment was riding this car. Afterward, the limo was rebuilt and armored. It was fitted with a permanent bulletproof hardtop as well. After these modifications were completed, the SS-100-X was returned to the presidential fleet. Though another Lincoln took over the charge from it in 1967, the SS-100-X was used by both Presidents Johnson and Nixon before it got retired in 1977 and sent to the Henry Ford Museum.
Ford Motor Company’s 1972 Lincoln Continental protected both President Ford from Sara Jane Moore’s bullets in 1975 and President Reagan from John Hinckley’s attempt made in 1981. In the early 1980s, Cadillac got a chance to join the race of presidential limos (after decades of presidential Lincolns). Despite their somewhat awkward appearance, the Fleetwoods offered excellent visibility for the president with their large greenhouses that used 60 mm thick bulletproof glass. By using powerful air-conditioning systems, they ensured the cabin was kept cool and comfortable for the president to travel in.
A lot of changes have happened to the presidential limos over the years. The massive presidential limousine used by President Trump during 2017 was known as “The Beast.” You could call it a safe house on wheels as it came equipped with an 8-inch thick armament, was 18 feet long and weighed a massive 8,000 pounds. Unlike preceding presidential rides, this vehicle was taller and had been strengthened by making it even more bomb-proof, bulletproof, and even poison gas-proof. The latest version of Trump’s Cadillac limo is said to cost USD 1.5 million (as per a 2018 report) and has walls that are allegedly at least 8-inch thick with multilayer windows of 5-inch thickness. Together, they make the vehicle’s doors as heavy as those you’ll find on a Boeing 757 Jet.
In case you’re a car enthusiast and would love to see presidential limos from close quarters, you can’t do it for the modern vehicles as the Secret Service no longer releases them into the custody of museums. The reason is believed to be too much classified information associated with these cars, which make releasing them to the public risky as it could jeopardize the safety of the presidents.
5- Modern limousines
You can rent a luxury limo service in San Francisco, CA for your airport transfer, or to attend a business meeting, or to take a tour with your friends and/or family when traveling in style and amidst utmost luxury is high on your agenda. Apart from ample space to sit back and relax, no to mention entertainment and other facilities onboard, a limo would also offer you a safe ride as experienced and licensed drivers are at the wheels. So, book a private limousine service in San Francisco, CA today!