All The Presidents' Cars
Presidential cars are petty boring, right? They're big, they're boxy, they're almost always glossy black...you can spot one from a mile away. However, it may surprise you to learn that over the past century, presidents have had some pretty sick rides. For fun, this list will contain both personal and official cars used by various presidents.
1. William McKinley's Stanley Steam Car
Automotive technology wasn't quite where it is now when William McKinley's second term as president was brought to an abrupt end. However, McKinley did get to ride in a car, becoming the first prez to do so. About two months before his untimely demise, McKinley took a spin in a steam car from the Stanley Motor Carriage Co.
Stephen Foskett (Wikipedia User: sfoskett) on Wikimedia
2. Theodore Roosevelt's Brougham
After McKinley's unceremonious exit from office, Theodore Roosevelt assumed office. However, T.R. did not share McKinley's automotive interest. Roosevelt continued riding in a horse-drawn carriage, believing that cars would tarnish his image as a "rough-riding horseman".
3. William H. Taft's White Steamer
William Howard Taft was the first president to be a real car fanatic. Taft converted the White House stables into a garage for his four cars: two Pierce-Arrows, a Baker Electrics, and a 1911 White Motor Company steam car. Taft was a particular fan of the steamer because it allowed him to dodge paparazzi in a "carefully timed burst of steam".
Unnamed photographer in employ of Bain News Service on Wikimedia
4. Woodrow Wilson's Pierce-Arrow
Building off of his predecessor's love of cars, Woodrow Wilson added another Pierce-Arrow car to the official garage. Wilson first took a spin in this limousine after negotiating the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. In fact, he was such a fan, that his friends purchased the car for his personal use after leaving office!
Sheila Scarborough on Wikimedia
5. Warren G. Harding's Pierce Arrow
Along with golf and poker, Warren Harding considered driving one of his chief pastimes. Harding was the first president to arrive to his inauguration in an automobile (a Packard Twin 6) and the first president with a driver's license. Harding was also known for his speeding, which is probably why the Secret Service didn't let him drive the presidential limousine.
National Photo Company Collection on Wikimedia
6. Herbert Hoover's Cadillac V-16
Depression-era president Herbert Hoover had great taste in cars with the Cadillac V-16 Fleetwood. The Fleetwood was by the same designer who thought up the Corvette. Unfortunately, Hoover's "leaving office present" was poorly timed to coincide with some of the worst years of the Depression.
7. FDR's Packard 12
FDR's Packard 12 was certainly stylish, but it wasn't very practical. Roosevelt was discouraged from using his beloved Packard in office while an armored vehicle was built. In fact, FDR was such a fan of this model that he gifted an armored version to Joseph Stalin in 1935. It was Stalin's favorite for years.
8. FDR's Sunshine Special
For official use, FDR could be spotted cruising in a modified Lincoln Model K, nicknamed the Sunshine Special. Not only was the Sunshine Special equipped with protective features, it also allowed FDR to conceal his need for mobility aids. By descending from the car to a specially-constructed podium, FDR did not need to use crutches or a wheelchair.
9. Harry S. Truman's Ford Super Deluxe
Ford—the brand, not the president—is a longtime presidential fave, and Harry Truman was no exception. In addition to his 1942 Lincoln Custom and 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan, Truman also drove a Ford Super Deluxe. Not only was this sedan by an iconic American brand, it was also one of the first to roll off the line post-WWII.
Cody Logan from United States on Wikimedia
10. Dwight D. Eisenhower's Chrysler Imperial
Dwight D. Eisenhower spared no expense when it came to vehicles. His stunning 1952 Chrysler Imperial was one of only three made for high-profile public events. In addition to the sleek body and rear-entry doors, the Imperial also had a top-of-the-line all-transitor radio...we wonder what tunes he listened to.
11. JFK's Ford Thunderbird
Leave it to JFK to roll up in a T-bird. Kennedy liked this slick convertible so much that he had 50 models specially made for his inauguration parade. These specialty cars were (unsurprisingly) done up in a red, white, and blue color scheme for the big day.
12. JFK's Lincoln Continental
Unfortunately, we can't talk about presidential cars without mentioning JFK's Lincoln Continental. Painted in sharp "Presidential Blue Metallic" with sliver flakes with a series of tops for inclement weather, this car also saw one of the greatest political tragedies of the 20th century. The exact model is on display at the (excellent) Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.
The U.S. National Archives on Wikimedia
13. LBJ's Amphicar
To use modern lingo, LBJ was a Car Guy; specifically an Amphicar guy. Less than 4000 of these amphibious vehicles were ever made, and LBJ had one of them. He liked to prank passengers by pretending the brakes were shot and driving straight into a pond.
14. Richard Nixon's Oldsmobile 98
As he stated in his infamous Checkers speech, Richard Nixon was the proud owner of a 1950 Oldsmobile 98. Coming from a modest family, this solidly middle-class car cemented his status as an everyman. By the time he assumed the presidency, he'd upgraded to a 1958 Oldsmobile.
15. Gerald Ford's Lincoln Continental
Saying the presidential car was upgraded after the events in Dallas is a bit of an understatement. The Lincoln Continental that later presidents rode in featured external microphones, bulletproof glass, and submachine gun storage racks. These upgrades were definitely for the better, as this car saw an unsuccessful attempt on Gerald Ford's life.
16. Ronald Reagan's Subaru BRAT
Well-known Jeep enthusiast and former movie cowboy, Ronald Reagan was also a secret test driver for Subaru. In 1980, it was considered gauche for the president to be seen in a Japanese car, so Reagan test drove this model around his ranch. The BRAT was an odd sort of vehicle, halfway between an SUV and a truck; Reagan, of course, had his in red.
17. George H.W. Bush's Lincoln Town Car
George H.W. Bush's presidency was the end of an era: it was the last time a Lincoln vehicle served as Presidential State Car. Bush commissioned a 1989 Lincoln Town Car to chauffeur him around during his term. Given the presidential connections to the name Lincoln, we're surprised that he was the last.
18. Bill Clinton's Ford Mustang
While Bill Clinton used a 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood for use, he kept a 1967 Ford Mustang for personal use. With an ice-blue paint job and crisp white interior, this was one cool call. The cherry on top was the BILL CLINTON vanity plate.
Staffan Andersson on Wikimedia
19. George W. Bush's Cadillac DeVille
Rather than follow in his father's footsteps with a Lincoln, Bush Jr rode a Cadillac Deville. At the time of his inauguration, Cadillac was no longer producing cars which met the standards suitable for conversion into a presidential limousine. In response, Cadillac collaborated directly with the Secret Service to build a car from the ground up.
US Secret Service on Wikimedia
20. Barack Obama's Ground Force One
Is it a bus, a very rectangular tank, or something else that is big enough to require its own zipcode? Either way, Ground Force One was the first armored bus to be permanently included in the government fleet. When the president was actively onboard, the bus was code-named "Stagecoach."
(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) on Wikimedia
