United States presidents embraced automotive technology in the early 20th century with President William Howard Taft's purchase of four cars and the conversion of the White House stables into a garage. Presidents rode in stock, unmodified cars until President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration bought the Sunshine Special, the first presidential state car to be built to United States Secret Service standards. Until the assassination of John F. Kennedy, presidential state cars frequently allowed the president to ride uncovered and exposed to the public. President Kennedy's assassination began a progression of increasingly armored and sealed cars; the 2009–2018 state car had five-inch (130mm)bulletproof glass and was hermetically sealed with its own environmental system. The current model of presidential state car is a unique Cadillac that debuted in September 2018.
Decommissioned presidential state cars are dismantled and destroyed with the assistance of the Secret Service to prevent their secrets from being known to outside parties. Late 20th-century and 21st-century presidential motorcades have consisted of 24–45 vehicles other than the presidential state car, including vehicles for security, healthcare, the press, and route-clearing, among others.
History
The first serving president to ride in a car was President William McKinley, who briefly rode in a Stanley Motor Carriage Companysteam car on July 13, 1901.[9] According to the United States Secret Service, it was customary for them to follow the presidential horse-and-buggy on foot, but that with the popularization of the automobile, the Secret Service purchased a 1907 White Motor Company steam car to follow President Theodore Roosevelt's horse-drawn carriage.[10] Roosevelt eschewed riding in the vehicle due to his "image as a rough-riding horseman".[9]
William H. Taft
Taft's 1911 White steamer
President William Howard Taft changed things at the White House, converting the stables there to a garage and purchasing a four-car fleet[9] on a budget of $12,000(equivalent to about $407,000 in 2023):[11] two "luxurious" Pierce-Arrow cars, a Baker Motor Vehicleelectric car, and a $4,000(equivalent to about $136,000 in 2023) 1911 White Motor Company steam car. President Taft became a fan of the steam car when he discovered he could conceal himself from press photographers with a "carefully timed burst of steam."[9]
Woodrow Wilson
One of three Pierce-Arrow cars purchased by the Wilson administration
President Woodrow Wilson was such a fan of the three Pierce-Arrow cars purchased by his administration that he bought one of them from the government for US$3,000(equivalent to $51,246 in 2023) when he left office in 1921. President Warren G. Harding was the first president to use a car to drive to his inauguration, and was the first qualified driver to be elected president.[9] President Herbert Hoover had a Cadillac V-16.[11]
Franklin Roosevelt
In 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt bought a Ford V8Phaetoncoupe and had it equipped with hand controls in direct contravention of a Secret Service directive prohibiting sitting presidents from getting behind the wheel of a car.[9]
In December 1939, President Roosevelt received a 1939 Lincoln Motor CompanyV12convertible—the Sunshine Special.[9] The Sunshine Special (so named because the top was frequently open)[12] became the president's best-known automobile, the very first to be built to Secret Service specifications, and the first to be leased rather than bought.[9] Built on the chassis of the Lincoln K series,[12] the Sunshine Special has a 160-inch (4,100mm)wheelbase, room for 10 passengers, rear suicide doors, heavy-duty suspension, two side-mounted spare tires, and standing platforms attached to the exterior to accommodate Secret Service agents.[9]
The Sunshine Special underwent two sets of modifications. In 1941 the car's top was lowered three inches (76mm) out of aesthetic concerns. In 1942, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the car underwent the addition of armor, one-inch (25mm)bulletproof glass, "metal-clad flat-proof inner tubes, a radio transceiver, a siren, red warning lights, and a compartment for submachine guns." After the second set of modifications, the car weighed 9,300 pounds (4,200kg) and was six feet (1.8m) longer.[9]
Truman/Eisenhower Lincoln Cosmopolitans
Front and rear views of the Eisenhower "Bubble-top" at The Henry Ford, 2013 & 2016, respectively
Legend has it that Harry S. Truman held a grudge against General Motors because they would not give him use of their cars during his run for the 1948 presidential election; and, so, in 1950 he chose Lincoln to make the presidential state car.[12] The White House leased ten Lincoln Cosmopolitans.[9] The cars were modified by coachbuilders Henney Motor Company and Hess and Eisenhardt to provide extra security features[13] and extra headroom to accommodate the tall silk hats popular at the time, and were painted black. Nine of the automobiles had enclosed bodies, while the tenth was an armored convertible especially for President Truman. The tenth Cosmopolitan was 20 feet (6.1m) long, 6.5 feet (2.0m) wide, and weighed 6,500 pounds (2,900kg), 1,700 pounds (770kg) heavier than a stock Cosmopolitan.[9] All ten cars were outfitted with 152-horsepower (113kW)V8 engines "with heavy-duty Hydra-Matictransmissions."[14] In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower had the Cosmopolitan convertible fitted with a Plexiglas roof that became known as the "Bubble-top"; it remained in presidential service until 1965,[9] and has approximately 105,942 miles (170,497km) on the odometer.[15]
President John F. Kennedy's 1961 Lincoln Continental was originally a stock car, built in Wixom, Michigan, and retailing for $7,347(equivalent to $74,910 in 2023). The federal government leased it from the Ford Motor Company for $500(equivalent to $5,098 in 2023) annually, and then commissioned Hess and Eisenhardt to modify it for presidential use—with a pricetag of $200,000(equivalent to $2,039,198 in 2023). The convertible was painted "Presidential Blue Metallic", with silver metal flakes embedded within it; it was given the Secret Service code names of SS-100-X and X-100.[16]
The dark-blue car included a "heavy-duty heater and air conditioner, a pair of radiotelephones, a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, and a siren."[9] The car was 3.5 feet (1.1m) longer than Lincoln's because Hess and Eisenhardt had added a "middle row of forward-facing jump seats that folded away when not in use."[16] The exterior featured improved, retractable standing platforms and handles for Secret Service agents, and flashing red lights recessed into the bumper. Unique to the X-100 were three sets of removable roofs (a standard soft top, a lightweight metal one, and a transparent plastic one) and a hydraulic lift that raised the rear cushion 10+1⁄2 inches (270mm) off the floor. Both of these feature sets were designed to make the president more visible to the public, but they also increased the president's vulnerability—a factor in the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy.[9]
After the assassination, the "Death Car" (as named by the Associated Press), was redesigned in an operation named "The Quick Fix". Hess and Eisenhardt, the Secret Service, the United States Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, PPG Industries, and Ford engineers all collaborated to strip the limousine and improve everything. In an effort to prevent "ghoulish collectors" from obtaining the discarded car parts, they were destroyed.[16] For an estimated cost of $500,000, the car was painted black and featured "improved telecommunications gear, a more powerful engine and flat-proof tires made of rubber-coated aluminum." The fuel tank was protected against explosion by a "porous foam matrix" that minimized spillage in the event of a puncture. The passenger compartment was protected by 1,600 pounds (730kg) of armor, and the three removable roofs were replaced by a fixed glass enclosure that cost more than $125,000. The glass enclosure was made of 13 different pieces of bulletproof glass ranging in thickness from 1 to 1+13⁄16 inches (25 to 46mm), and was then the largest piece of curved bulletproof glass ever made.[9]Titanium armor was added to the body of the car, the standard windows were made bullet-resistant with sandwiched layers of glass and polycarbonate vinyl, and prototype aluminum run-flat tires were added.[16] Due to an increase of 25 percent more weight—to 9,800 pounds (4,400kg)—the upgraded car received a hand-built V8 engine that provided a 17% increase in power, to 350 horsepower (260kW).[15]
In 1967, the convertible was modified again with an upgraded air conditioning system, an openable rear-door window, and structural enhancement to the rear deck.[9] Despite successive presidential state cars being built and delivered to the White House, the X-100 continued to be occasionally used by Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter until it was retired from service in early 1977. As of March2021[update], it was publicly exhibited at The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Michigan.[17]
The license plates (DC plates, "GG-300") were removed from the X-100 when the vehicle was upgraded after the Kennedy shooting; when they were auctioned in 2015, they sold for $100,000(equivalent to $128,541 in 2023).[18]
1967 Lincoln Continental
President Johnson preferred white convertibles, but "concerns for protocol and safety" had him receiving a black 1967 Lincoln Continental as his state car. The hardtop cost the Ford Motor Company about $500,000(equivalent to about $4,570,000 in 2023). They leased it to the federal government for an annual cost of $1(equivalent to $9.14 in 2023). With 4,000 pounds (1,800kg) of armor, "a bubble top thicker than the protective cockpit of an F-16 fighter", and a 340-horsepower (250kW)V8 engine, the 11,000-pound (5,000kg) car could still reach speeds of 100 miles per hour (160km/h)— or 50 miles per hour (80km/h) with four flat tires.[19] According to White House spokespeople, President Johnson's car was not equipped with a television, though several of his cabinet members' were.[20] This car also served Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter, and traveled to 32 nations before it was retired in the mid-to-late 1970s. In 1996, the Ford Motor Company restored the car to its original state and donated it to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum; the manufacturer chose Nixon's library because he took the car on several of his most-significant presidential trips.[19]
1972 Lincoln Continental
The 1972-model car, with Secret Service escorting
A modified, 22-foot (6.7m),[9]13,000-pound (5,900kg)[12] 1972 Lincoln Continental was delivered to the White House in 1974. The six-passenger limousine was leased from the Ford Motor Company for US$5,000(equivalent to $30,891 in 2023) per year and featured a 460-cubic-inch (7.5L), 214-horsepower (160kW)V8 engine. The fully loaded automobile also had external microphones to allow occupants to hear outside noises, full armor plate, bulletproof glass, and racks for the Secret Service to store submachine guns.[9]
The car was used by Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.[21] By 1974, the car was typically transported by the United States Air Force in a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter cargo plane at an hourly jet fuel cost of 1,800 US gallons (6,800L; 1,500impgal). Because security concerns legally-mandated its use by the president, political parties were not required to reimburse the government for its use during political campaigns.[22] It was the vehicle in which Ford was shot at by Sara Jane Moore in 1975.[9] During the March 1981 attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan, the car was hit by the last two of six gunshots: the penultimate damaged the bulletproof window of the right rear passenger's door, while the last ricocheted off the back-right quarter panel and struck the president. The car then transported Reagan to George Washington University Hospital.[23] After the 1981 shooting, the car was returned to Ford to receive a new interior,[24] front sheet metal, and 1979 Lincoln grille.[21]
The 1972 car left service in 1992 with 40,617 miles (65,367km) on its odometer.[15] After maintenance and care in 2008, The Henry Ford measured the car at 259 inches (6,600mm) long, 79.6 inches (2,020mm) wide, 61.1 inches (1,550mm) tall, at 10,440 pounds (4,740kg), with a wheelbase of 161 inches (4,100mm).[21]
1983 Cadillac Fleetwood
The 1983 Cadillac Fleetwood presidential state car
The next presidential state car was a 1983 Cadillac that was delivered on January 30, 1984.[9] This Cadillac Fleetwood is 17 inches (430mm) longer and 3 inches (76mm) taller than the stock Fleetwood. It featured armor and bulletproof glass (2+3⁄8 inches [60mm] thick),[12] and was described as "distinctively styled, with a raised roof and a large rear greenhouse." To deal with the added weight of the armor, the car had oversized wheels and tires, heavy-duty brakes, and an automatic leveling system.[9]
1989 Lincoln Town Car
The 1989 Lincoln Town Car presidential state car
The 1989 presidential state car that was delivered to the White House was a modified 1989 Lincoln Town Car that was 22 feet (6.7m) long and more than 5 feet (1.5m) tall.[9]
Clinton Cadillac Fleetwood
The 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood presidential state car
President Bill Clinton used a 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood as his presidential state car. It is currently on display at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, where it sits with all its doors closed to the public. Museum curator Christine Mouw noted that they can "dust the outside of the car, but if we needed to get inside it, we would have to contact the regional Secret Service office".[6]
CNN interviewed Joe Funk, a former Secret Service agent and driver of Clinton's presidential state car during part of his tenure. Funk described a dichotomy of the car: while the president is wholly cut off from the outside world by the armor and bulletproof glass of the vehicle, he has at his fingertips communication capabilities including phones, satellite communications, and the Internet.[10]
2001–2009 custom Cadillac
President George W. Bush's presidential limousine in Zagreb
In 2001, for the first inauguration of George W. Bush, Cadillac no longer produced a car suitable for conversion into a presidential limousine.[12] The additional armor and amenities that were added to the state car by the Secret Service taxed previous presidential limousines beyond their limits, resulting in failing transmissions and short-lived brakes. The George W. Bush state car was instead designed from the ground-up by "an R&D arm of General Motors in Detroit" to meet Secret Service specifications.[25]
"[I]nformed speculation" had President George W. Bush's Cadillac Deville actually based on the chassis of General Motors' line of full-size sport utility vehicles such as the "Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon[,] and Cadillac Escalade." This "Deville" featured five-inch (130mm) armored doors, and "bulletproof glass so thick it blocks out parts of the light spectrum." Rumored components of the car were sealed passenger compartments with their own air supply, run-flat tires, and a 454-cubic-inch (7.44L) engine.[12] Confirmed accessories include "an integrated 10-disc CD changer, a foldaway desktop[,] and reclining rear seats with massaging, adaptive cushions."[4] This presidential state car was estimated to weigh approximately 14,000 pounds (6,400kg).[12]
Bush's presidential state car was nicknamed "The Beast", a name that persisted through the first presidency of Donald Trump. When traveling, President Bush took along two of the armored limousines (flown by either C-5 or C-17), one for use and one for backup. This proved fortuitous during a 2007 trip to Rome where one of the presidential state cars stalled for five minutes on a street; the car was restarted, but was replaced with the backup limousine after President Bush reached his destination.[2] Sometimes, President Bush would instead use vehicles already present at his destination such as embassy motor pool cars or military assets, rather than transporting the presidential state car. The president never used non-American-governmental vehicles when overseas.[26]
2009–2018 custom Cadillac
Front and rear views of the 2009–2018 United States presidential state car
The 2009–2018 presidential state car went into service on January 20, 2009, and drove President Obama the two miles (3.2km) down Pennsylvania Avenue from his first inauguration to the inaugural parade. A Cadillac, the presidential state car was not based on any single model of car,[10] though it had the "dual-textured grille and the dinner plate-sized Cadillac coat-of-arms badge" emblematic of the Cadillac CTS and the Cadillac Escalade. The headlights and taillights were identical to those used on other Cadillac production models. Anton Goodwin of CNET's Road/Show blog noted that speculation was that the presidential state car was based on the GMC Topkick platform. If that is to be the case, then Goodwin assumed the car would feature either a gasoline-powered 8.1-liter (490cuin)V8General Motors Vortec engine or a diesel-powered Duramax6.6-liter (400cuin)turbo V8 engine.[5]
Autoweek magazine asserted that the car ran on a gasoline-fueled engine.[25] This presidential state car was speculated to be much heavier than its predecessor as it is equipped with Goodyear Regional RHS tires that are usually reserved for medium- and heavy-duty trucks; speculated weights range from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds (6,800 to 9,100kg).[12] Due to the weight of the car, it could only reach about 60mph (97km/h), and only achieved 3.7 to 8 miles per US gallon (64 to 29L/100km; 4.4 to 9.6mpg‑imp).[3][25] The limousine was reported to cost between $300,000 and $1,500,000 (equivalent to about $400,000–2,000,000 in 2023).[1][25] The presidential state car was maintained by the United States Secret Service.[27]
General Motors spokeswoman Joanne K. Krell said of the presidential state car, "The presidential vehicle is built to precise and special specifications, undergoes extreme testing and development, and also incorporates many of the top aspects of Cadillac's 'regular' cars—such as signature design, hand-cut-and-sewn interiors, etc."[10] The curator of The Henry Ford told The Dallas Morning News that President Obama's state car was "a tank with a Cadillac badge."[16]
When first commissioned by the Secret Service in 2014,[31]General Motors (GM) was awarded three contracts for the new limousine. Each state car was expected to cost US$1–1.5 million, and by January 2016, GM had been paid $15,800,765(equivalent to $20,059,873 in 2023) for its work on the new model.[32]
After prototypes of the new model were seen driven on public roads wrapped in monochromatic multi-scale camouflage, Cadillac confirmed to Fox News that "We've completed our task and we've handed over the vehicle to the customer". The Secret Service confirmed that the program to replace the presidential car was "on track and on schedule" and should be in service by late summer 2018. Fox News' Gary Gastelu opined that the camouflaged prototype looked similar to the Cadillac CT6.[33]
Still nicknamed "the Beast",[31] as established with the 2001–2009 model,[2] the current model debuted with a trip by President Trump to New York City on September 24, 2018. Road & Track reported that "the design appears to be a simple evolution of the old model with more current Cadillac design cues, like an Escalade sedan." Road & Track described the state car as "massive and tall", and weighing 15,000–20,000 pounds (6,800–9,100kg).[34]
In addition to defensive measures designed to protect the president, this state car has stores of blood in the president's type for medical emergencies. The car is hermetically sealed against chemical attacks, and features run-flat tires, night-vision devices, smoke screens, and oil slicks as defensive measures against attackers. NBC reported that the car features armor made of aluminum, ceramic, and steel; the exterior walls have a thickness of eight inches (200mm), the windows are multi-layered and five inches (130mm) thick, and each door[31]—believed to be one foot (0.30m) thick[36] and weigh as much as those on a Boeing 757—can electrify its handles to deter entry.[31]
In the late 20th century, it was customary for the United States Secret Service to participate in the destruction of the presidential state car after it had run its course. The federal agents use bullets and explosive rounds for two purposes. The first is to demonstrate the automobile's effectiveness against such weaponry, while the second is to shred the vehicle and destroy the secrets of its manufacture, armoring, and defensive abilities.[9]
Official state car– Secured vehicles used to transport heads of state or government
Related Research Articles
Lincoln Motor Company, or simply Lincoln, is the luxury vehicle division of American automobile manufacturer Ford Motor Company. Marketed among the top luxury vehicle brands in the United States, Lincoln is positioned closely against its General Motors counterpart Cadillac. However, beginning with the 2021 model year, they only offer SUV and Crossover vehicles.
The Lincoln Town Car is a model line of full-size luxury sedans that was marketed by the Lincoln division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. Deriving its name from a limousine body style, Lincoln marketed the Town Car from 1981 to 2011, with the nameplate previously serving as the flagship trim of the Lincoln Continental. Produced across three generations for thirty model years, the Town Car was marketed directly against luxury sedans from Cadillac and Chrysler.
The Lincoln Continental is a series of mid-sized and full-sized luxury cars produced between 1939 and 2020 by Lincoln, a division of the American automaker Ford Motor Company. The model line was introduced following the construction of a personal vehicle for Edsel Ford, who commissioned a coachbuilt 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr convertible, developed as a vacation vehicle to attract potential Lincoln buyers. In what would give the model line its name, the exterior was given European "continental" styling elements, including a rear-mounted spare tire.
The Ford Panther platform was an automobile platform that was used by Ford Motor Company from the 1979 to 2012 model years. Following the downsizing of the General Motors B-bodies and C-bodies by two years, the Panther platform marked the end of production of sedans unencumbered by downsizing. Originally slated for discontinuation during the early 1980s, the Panther architecture was used for 33 model years, making it one of the longest-produced platforms in North American automotive history.
The Cadillac Fleetwood is a full-size luxury sedan marketed by Cadillac from the 1976 through 1996 model years. Taking its nameplate from a coachbuilder historically associated with the General Motors division, the Cadillac Fleetwood became a stand-alone model line in 1985.
The Hyundai Equus was manufactured and marketed by Hyundai Motor Company from 1999 to 2016 over two generations, as a full-size car, four-door, five passenger luxury sedan with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The nameplate derives from the Latin equus, meaning "horse."
A motorcade, or autocade, is a procession of motor vehicles. Uses can include ceremonial processions for funerals or demonstrations, but can also be used to provide security while transporting a very important person. The American presidential motorcade is an example of both and is a staple of public appearances by the president of the United States.
The Chevrolet Kodiak and GMC TopKick are a range of medium-duty trucks that were produced by the Chevrolet and GMC divisions of General Motors from 1980 to 2009. Introduced as a variant of the medium-duty C/K truck line, three generations were produced. Slotted between the C/K trucks and the GMC Brigadier Class 8 conventional, the Kodiak/TopKick were developed as a basis for vocationally oriented trucks, including cargo haulers, dump trucks, and similar vehicles; on later generations, both cutaway and cowled-chassis variants were produced for bus use.
The Lincoln Cosmopolitan is a full-size luxury car that was sold by Lincoln from the 1949 through the 1954 model year. All Lincolns were manufactured at Lincoln Assembly, Dearborn, Michigan, while some were sent in "knock-down kits" to regional factories at Maywood Assembly, Maywood, California or St. Louis Assembly, St.Louis, Missouri, and assembled locally.
The Lincoln Custom is a custom limousine and long-wheelbase touring sedan that was built by Lincoln in 1941 and 1942 and the lower level series Lincoln produced in 1955. Initially it was a replacement for the previous Model K Lincolns and earlier luxury cars of the 1920s and 1930s. The body work for the Custom was provided by the factory and came in one appearance and abandoned the previous Model L and Model K of years past of manufacturing only the chassis then a long list of coachbuilders would provide coachwork to the customer's preference. In later years it was simply the base model series.
An official state car is a automobile used by a government to transport its head of state or head of government in an official capacity, which may also be used occasionally to transport other members of the government or visiting dignitaries from other countries. A few countries bring their own official state car for state visits to other countries, for instance, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Germany and Japan. It also may serve as an automotive symbol of the head of state and their country. An official state car must have adequate security, capability and stateliness for its duty. A limousine or other high-end vehicle is usually selected.
A VIP armored car is a civilian vehicle with a reinforced structure that is designed to protect its occupants from assaults, bullets and blasts. Armored cars are typically manufactured with bulletproof glass and layers of armor plating, often with a variety of other defensive mechanisms and features to aid the individuals inside. Unlike military armored vehicles, a civilian armored car is designed to be inconspicuous and similar to its factory version.
A limousine, or limo for short, is a large, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle with a partition between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment which can be operated mechanically by hand or by a button electronically. A luxury sedan with a very long wheelbase and driven by a professional driver is called a stretch limousine.
The Sunshine Special is a modified 1939 Lincoln Model K limousine that was used as the official state car by United States presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Said to have been the "First Presidential car to acquire its own personality", and most closely associated with FDR, the V12 powered four-door convertible was specifically modified for the president by coachbuilder Brunn & Company at a cost of $4,950, $108,426 in 2023 dollars (the original cost of the car, before any modifications, was $8,348.74, $182,879 in 2023 dollars.
The United States government has maintained a variety of vehicles for the president. Because of the president's role as commander-in-chief, military transports are exclusively used for international travel; however, the civilian Secret Service operates the president's motorcade.
Until 2023, British manufactured cars had always been used as prime ministerial cars by the prime ministers of the United Kingdom. The cars currently used are armoured, custom built Range Rover Sentinel supercharged 5.0 litre V8 models and armoured Audi A8L models.
The Russian presidential state car is the official state car of the President of Russia.
The former President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, used a highly modified Hyundai Nexo SUV, a Genesis EQ900, and a Mercedes-Maybach W222 S600 Guard as his official state cars.
Aurus Motors is a Russian luxury car company founded in 2018, originally strictly as a Russian motorcade vehicle brand until 2021 when the company's first civilian model, the Aurus Senat, began production in May. The automaker claims to have sold 115 cars in 2023. Facelifts are planned for 2026 and 2030. President Putin had a facelifted Aurus in 2024.
References
1 2 3 4 Harris, Paul; McKie, Robin (March 28, 2009). "Prospect of Barack Obama show causes UK to clear its decks". The Guardian. ISSN1756-3224. OCLC60623878. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2023. With an entourage of 500 staff, an armour-plated limousine and a fleet of decoy helicopters, America's new president will arrive for his first visit to Britain amid huge razzmatazz on Tuesday for the G20 summit. But it will be his closed-door meetings with world leaders that are likely to prove the most significant of the trip
1 2 Goodwin, Antuan (January 15, 2009). "Cadillac One: Obama's new wheels". ROAD/SHOW. CNET. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2019. At next week's inauguration, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will not only have a new resident, but also a new set of wheels in the driveway.
↑ "JFK licence plates sell for $100,000 at auction". BBC News. November 8, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021. A pair of licence plates from the car that drove John F Kennedy when he was killed have sold at auction for $100,000 (£66,000).
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