Presidential Limo

The same ground was covered earlier in two articles I wrote for THE NEW YORK TIMES in November, 2008, found online at the following links ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/automobiles/collectibles/02PREZ.html?ref=automobiles

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/automobiles/02LIMO.html?ref=collectibles

POPULAR MECHANICS also tapped me to write a feature article on Bush 43's Cadillac way back in 2001, and it may still be archived out there somewhere online. It pays to have a niche, even within a niche like professional cars!
 
It's always nice to read about these special cars. One error though, the Limo Reagan was using at the time he was shot was the 1972 Lincoln made for Nixon. It wasn't restyled in 78 trim until after the asassination attempt. And by the time it was done Reagans new 1983 Cadillac Limousine soon replaced it.

Which always puzzled me. The 72 Nixon Limo should have been restyled in 75 after it was broadsided in Hartford Connecticut. That would have been the perfect opportunity to swap on a nice new 75 Lincoln front and rear end. But they just fixed it as a 72 and Reagan got stuck with it for his Inaugural parade in 1981.

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The White House even purchased this new 1975 Lincoln Limousine (Below) to use while the 72 Limo was being repaired. (Note this car uses front hinged rear doors, unlike the 72 which has suicide rear doors) This 75 was used off and on through the years. Regan even used it on his trip to Berlin Germany in 1982 as the 72 was not fixed yet and the 83 Cadillac was not ready.

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But it baffles me why the 72 was still the primary Limousine and used in the Inaugural parade. It seemed odd that they would even bother to restyle it after the Reagan asassination attempt. I'd rather it be on display in the Henry Ford Museum in it's original 72 sheetmetal. That's how people remember it.

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1972 Lincoln

Back in the day when I was a guard with the Ford Motor Company Security Department at the Research & Engineering Center in Dearborn, MI I had the chance to work guarding the car while it was in for repairs. I was able to sit in the car both in the front and rear and got a chance to checout the radio and emergency warning equipment. Also got a couple of photos of the car.
 
Back in the day when I was a guard with the Ford Motor Company Security Department at the Research & Engineering Center in Dearborn, MI I had the chance to work guarding the car while it was in for repairs. I was able to sit in the car both in the front and rear and got a chance to checout the radio and emergency warning equipment. Also got a couple of photos of the car.

Would love to see them if you still have them.
 
Photos

I have them, but they are not that great. However, as a security supervisor assigned to the Research & Engineering Center President Bush (senior) made a couple of trips to the Dearborn area and we were involved in helping out. In fact his helicopter landed on our test track. I was asked by the Secret Service to escort the motorcade back onto the test track after he got done with his function at an upscale hotel. Also I was involved with a couple more presdential trips. If you send me your email I will attempt to send you the photos that I have of those visits.
 
Anthony those are great photos! Do you want me to post them here if I can sharpen them up?

Do you remember the extent of the damage to the Limo after the Hartford accident in 75?

I also have an extensive series of Presidential photos on my Flickr photostream and would love to add them to it as well. With your photocredit of course. But if you'd rather keep them private I will not post them.

Link to photo site: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1848622@N23/pool/
 
Thanks Anthony!

Here you go guys! Never before seen photos taken by Anthony Rzucidlo of the 1972 Lincoln Presidential Limousine being repaired at the Dearborn facility after the collision in Hartford, CT. As well as photos of the 1989 Lincoln Presidential Limousine and one of the Cadillac White House Limousines leaving the Dearborn facility in 1992.

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With many thanks to Anthony for sharing these pics and permission to post them online.
:thankyou2:
 
The newer Lincoln limo in the above pics looks to be the same one used by President Clinton on a trip to the Prime-Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville, FL. in, oh, I want to say 1994. I have a Florida Times-Union newspaper article about his motorcade through town and his arrival and departure at the center. It has a pic with the article of that Lincoln limo still sitting at the P-O center after another limo had to be used because the battery died. In the pic, an SS agent has the hood up and is using jumper cables on it.
 
That is interesting Jay. I wonder where Clintons new Cadillac Fleetwood Limo was? Maybe it was still being outfitted? The old Bush Lincoln Limo would be going to the G.H.Bush Presidential Library soon.

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The newer Lincoln limo in the above pics looks to be the same one used by President Clinton on a trip to the Prime-Osborn Convention Center in Jacksonville, FL. in, oh, I want to say 1994. I have a Florida Times-Union newspaper article about his motorcade through town and his arrival and departure at the center. It has a pic with the article of that Lincoln limo still sitting at the P-O center after another limo had to be used because the battery died. In the pic, an SS agent has the hood up and is using jumper cables on it.

It is hard to believe that with all the money that is spent on maintaining those vehicles, that it would have a battery failure. What is even more incredulous, is that they don't have a back up electrical system with a simple Cole Hersee battery switch to use it when needed.
 
Click here for the rest of the Presidential Limousine crash story..

United States' President Gerald Ford came close to death for the third time in less than two months on Tuesday (14 October) when a private car crashed into his Presidential limousine in the centre of Hartford, Connecticut.

President Ford -- in the city to speak at a fund-raising Republican Party dinner -- was unharmed in the accident, which occurred at a major intersection along the main thoroughfare.

The incident occurred as the presidential motorcade was making its way to the airport for Mr. Ford's return to Washington. A sedan driven by 19-years-old James Salamites hit the specially-reinforced limousine at right-angles after passing through an unmanned crossing on a green "go" light.

Story continues on the page linked above...
 
Limos

That is interesting Jay. I wonder where Clintons new Cadillac Fleetwood Limo was? Maybe it was still being outfitted? The old Bush Lincoln Limo would be going to the G.H.Bush Presidential Library soon.

In the early eighty's we had a armored early 70,s Caddy Limo that we had stationed at our maintenance shop in 29 Palms at the MCAGCC , It was a backup Limo for Ford when he was at his house in Palm Springs. Never did get a pic but a few times we had to move it with a shop mule and this thing was one heavy sob. It was there about a year and was taken to one of the ranges and was destroyed by EOD and enough bomb material was used that there was not to much identifiable when done.
 
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