Lincoln L Series
In 1924, two years after Ford Motor Company purchased Lincoln, the Lincoln Model L had the distinction of being the first car that was used by—and was a favorite of—a U.S. president: Calvin Coolidge.
The “Sunshine Special”The "Sunshine Special," an armor-plated Lincoln custom-built in 1939 for President Franklin Roosevelt, traveled around the world—as far as Yalta, Casablanca, Tehran and Malta—and was retired in 1950, still in full working order.
Another Lincoln soon found its way to the White House following the retirement of the "Sunshine Special." The 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan was the first all-new Lincoln to be produced after World War II. It featured a modernized independent front suspension and a new V-8 engine that reinforced its appeal to customers. The White House ordered a customized fleet of limousines of this reliable luxury vehicle in February 1950.
Lincoln Continental
The 1961 Lincoln Continental was one of the most enduring Lincoln designs of all time. It had clean, classic, sharp-edged styling that remained a Lincoln look for two decades. The 1961 model was one of the few automobiles ever awarded a medal for excellence by the Industrial Design Institute. The Continental’s doors had a famous and distinctive "center opening" design.
A stretch version of the 1961 Lincoln Continental, complete with retractable footstands for the Secret service, was developed and delivered to the White House for use by President John F. Kennedy. Following President Kennedy’s assassination, the vehicle was retrofitted for greater security and used until 1977.
A 1968 Lincoln Continental, with 1969 trim, was used by President Richard Nixon, and a 1972 stretch Lincoln Continental was used by Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. Later, a 1989 Lincoln Town Car was ordered and modified under President Reagan and was used by President George H.W. Bush.
Throughout history the Presidential limousine has been uniform black with a US flag on the right of the bonnet. This is Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1942 Lincoln V-12 Presidential Limousine with 1946 updates.
President Truman in the Lincoln made for President Roosevelt 
Nicknamed the "Sunshine Special," this 1939 Lincoln served both presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.The '39 Lincoln "Sunshine Special" presidential limousine was created shortly before World War II for use by Franklin D. Roosevelt and was also used by Harry S Truman. It is powered by a 414-cubic-inch 150-hp V-12 engine.
If the massive V-12 engine and 160-inch wheelbase weren't enough, the New York Times said Ford later added inch-thick windows, .50 caliber-resistant armor and self-sealing tire tubes, the predecessor to today's run-flats.
1950 Lincoln with first bubble top - Eisenhower's idea Dwight Eisenhower didn't like the convertible roof of the 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan that had served Harry Truman, and according to Ford the president complained that people lining a parade route in Richmond, Va., couldn't see him.
In 1954, a clear "bubble roof" was fitted, well before the days of the Porsche Targa.
The 1950 Lincoln "Bubble-Top" presidential limousine was used by presidents Harry S Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy The 1950 Lincoln "Bubble-Top" presidential limousine was associated most with President Dwight D. Eisenhower, but was actually built for use by Harry S Truman. It was still in service into the John F. Kennedy administration.
Most notorious of the limos is the '61 Lincoln "Kennedy Car" in which President Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas. Apparently presidents are not superstitious, as the limo continued in service and was used by Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. After the assassination, the car was rebuilt with titanium armor, bulletproof glass and a permanent hard top.
This '61 Lincoln is the car in which President Kennedy was riding when he was assassinated in 1963 in Dallas. Apparently presidents are not superstitious, as the limo continued in service and was used by Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. 
1961 Continental X100 - Kennedy was shot in this vehicle 
President John F. Kennedy slumps down in the back seat of the presidential limousine after being fatally shot in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy leans over the president while a Secret Service agent stands on the bumper.
Perhaps the most infamous presidential limo is this 1961 Lincoln X-100 Continental, in which John Kennedy was shot and killed. After his assassination, the $200,000 Lincoln was promptly altered with a fixed roof reinforced with several layers of bullet-resistant polycarbonate glass.
John Lawlor, a longtime adviser to NPR's "Car Talk" show, didn't think much when he purchased this 1965 Lincoln Continental limo two years ago. But when he found the White House phone inside, Lawlor knew this had belonged to none other than Lyndon B. Johnson. The car, now garaged in Middleborough, has an estimated value of more than $100,000.
1965 Lincoln Continental Executive limousine is one of 15 "Government Special" Lincolns leased to the White House that year and used exclusively by US Defence Secretary until 1968. It is the only Presidential limousine in a British collection.
This 1967 Stretch Lincoln was built for President Lyndon B. Johnson, a notorious car lover. This huge gas-guzzler was typical of the era. 
The modified Lincoln Continental was used by U.S. presidents, including Nixon, until it was retired in 1978.
Ford's "Vista Roof" on its new Ford Flex had its start on Richard Nixon's 1969 Lincoln Continental, except that these windows can be opened. 
Richard Nixon's Lincoln Continental was redesigned for the 1972 model year prior to his reelection.Aside from concealed headlights and a squarer front end, the 22-foot limo didn't change much of its style.
The 1972 Lincoln limousine is known as the "Reagan Car" because it was the car used by Reagan when an attempt was made on his life. In fact it went into service under President Nixon. It is also the car in which President Ford was riding when an attempt was made on his life by a female member of the Charles Manson cult. Powered by a 460-cubic-inch V-8 rated at 214 hp, it was also used by President Carter.
Visitors will note that the windows in the '72 limo appear to be fogged. This is caused by a failure of the bulletproof glass which caused a polymer layer to become contaminated and change composition. Defense Department scientists are attempting to find a fix for the problem without disassembling the original glass.
Among the aftermarket features of Nixon's Lincoln: a removable roof section to allow the president to stand up during parades and quarter-inch armor that added 5,000 pounds to this black beast. 
The plush interior of Nixon's 21-foot Lincoln, with plenty of quilted leather and sunlight from the three large glass sections, looks like a fantastic place to sleep. Note the phone to the left of the door, and the torso-wrenching safety feature of the 1970s, lap belts. 
1972 Lincoln - Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan 
The X-100 was re-vamped and remained at the White House until 1977. It was used by Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. Kennedy's personal car, also a Lincoln Continental was made a museum piece.
This 1972 Lincoln limousine is known as the "Reagan Car" because it was the car used by Reagan when an attempt was made on his life. In fact it went into service under President Nixon. It is also the car in which President Ford was riding when an attempt was made on his life. 
1989 - Used by President George H. W. Bush
Like most of the presidential automobiles, this Lincoln Town Car used by the first President Bush is built on a truck frame for extra stiffness.
Thank you for mentioning the Ford Sunshine Limo that Roosevelt took to Casablanca. There seems to be some denial that the car was ever in Casablanca- I know for a fact it was there; my father guarded it! He didn't know who it was for, only that he was to guard it with his life. It was one of the proudest moments of his life when, after guarding it for hours, Roosevelt and Churchill both saluted him before driving off.
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ReplyDeleteFor the 1972 Lincoln Continental Limousine, it was refurbished in 1981-1982, by Ford, during which it seems Ford tried to divorce it from its recent history by essentially turning it into a clone of a 1979 Lincoln. As a divorcee, this revision is not much talked about or documented.
ReplyDeleteThe car also received two bullet strikes during the 1981 attempted assassination of Reagan. one two the passenger rear door's window while the door was fully opened (window fully closed, unknown if it is movable), and the following shot a ricochet that subsequently struck Reagan.
It would not be hard to make the Limo’s appearance change successful, as the Limousine’s square roofline and rear window are much closer (if not identical) to the 1975 to 1979 revised rear roof line and rear glass. This was an update to the smoother gentler rear slope on 1970-1974 cars, excluding the oval window that eventually gained prominence in the C-pillar. Everything else that is different is bolt on bolt off parts.
It is on direct record that the Limo received a new interior and a 1979 grill, but simple research, usually of the pictorial sort, shows that all exterior components distinct to the 1972 model year were removed and discarded in lieu of 1979 components. Many vehicle manufactures will make a body style that lasts several years with incremental changes to various visual components to keep a vehicles appearance refreshed, and therefore, marketable. This is no exception here, where this car was produced using essentially the same body and frame structure from 1970 to 1979, with it’s major refresh updates to the rear doors in 1972, rear facia and both bumpers in 1974, the roofline in 1975, vertical waterfall grill in 1977, rear skirt deletion and mercury style dash revision in 1978. 1979 is the final year for which this body type was produced, and hence all new 1979 components were installed rendering the appearance of what would still be a new late model car in 1982.
Verifiable changes just from image research shows that all exterior components forward of the firewall (the doghouse, i.e., fenders, hood, bumper, lenses, header panel, and grille) were changed, while at the rear the bumper and tail lights where changed, as well as the rear wheel skirts deleted in favor of the 1979 style wheel flares around the tire opening. While the interior was changed per records, as can be seen in changes in the texture of the interior seen in comparable picture, it is unclear if the 1972 forward interior, including the dash, was changed and upgraded to 1979 components. Remember that the car likely received damage in the rear from a distinguished gunshot victim, not so with the front.
Also a note, both the original 1972 and the 1979 rear bumpers fold down to create a riding platform, and it appears that the deployable grip handles that recess into the trunk lid remain consistent.
I have seen this car a few times, and much of my knowledge is from working on and with personal family and friend ownership of several of these Lincolns.
What matters most, that I do not yet know, is does this car have the original 1972 dash with 1972’s 120 mph linear speedometer, or did they stick a boring 1978-1979 only 85 mph instrument cluster in?
Allegedly the car had 40,617 miles on the odometer when retired in 1992, but is that on an original 1972 odometer, or 1979 odometer unit installed in 81-82 that had zero miles at installation?