Presidential cars are usually associated with enormous black limousines, bulletproof glass and enough armour to survive considerably more than the average motorway journey. But throughout automotive history, world leaders have travelled in some much stranger machines.
From amphibious cars to extravagant custom limousines, here are some of the strangest presidential vehicles ever to carry a head of state.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s Amphicar
Few presidential vehicles have a better story than Lyndon B. Johnson’s Amphicar.
The Amphicar was designed to operate both on the road and in water, and Johnson reportedly enjoyed using his at his Texas ranch to terrify unsuspecting passengers. He would drive towards a lake while pretending the brakes had failed, before entering the water and revealing that the car could float.
It wasn’t an official presidential limousine, but it’s difficult to imagine many stranger vehicles being driven by a sitting US president.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Sunshine Special
The Sunshine Special might look relatively conventional today, but this enormous Lincoln was extraordinary for its time.
Built for Franklin D. Roosevelt, the car was based on a Lincoln K-Series and stretched to accommodate the president, Secret Service personnel and additional equipment.
Its name came from Roosevelt’s preference for travelling with the roof open during public appearances. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, the vehicle received major security upgrades, including armour plating and bullet-resistant glass.
It became an early example of the heavily modified presidential cars that would follow.
Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Bubbletop
President Eisenhower’s Bubbletop Cadillac was designed to solve a very specific problem: how do you keep the president visible during a parade when the weather is terrible?
The answer was a transparent removable roof.
The clear canopy allowed crowds to see Eisenhower while providing protection from rain and wind. It gave the huge Cadillac a distinctive appearance and earned it the nickname Bubbletop.
Interestingly, the transparent roof wasn’t bulletproof. Presidential security was very different in the 1950s.
Richard Nixon’s Enormous Lincoln Continental
Presidential limousines became increasingly specialised during the second half of the 20th century, and Richard Nixon’s 1969 Lincoln Continental was a perfect example.
The heavily modified limousine was stretched, armoured and fitted with a range of security equipment. It also featured an unusual ventilation system and retractable platforms that allowed Secret Service agents to ride alongside the vehicle.
At more than six metres long and weighing considerably more than a standard Continental, it was less a luxury car and more a rolling command centre.
Ronald Reagan’s Cadillac Fleetwood
By the 1980s, presidential cars were beginning to look increasingly different from anything available in a dealership.
Ronald Reagan’s Cadillac Fleetwood limousine looked like an oversized luxury saloon, but underneath it was extensively modified for presidential duties.
Armour, communications equipment and security systems added significant weight, requiring major changes to the chassis and drivetrain.
The result was a vehicle that looked vaguely familiar from a distance but was effectively a bespoke machine wearing Cadillac bodywork.
George W. Bush’s Cadillac That Wasn’t Really a Cadillac
By the time George W. Bush entered the White House, the connection between presidential limousines and ordinary production cars was becoming increasingly tenuous.
His Cadillac presidential limousine carried styling cues from contemporary Cadillac models, but underneath it was a purpose-built, heavily armoured vehicle.
The proportions gave the game away. The body sat unusually high, the doors were exceptionally thick and the entire vehicle was far larger than the road-going Cadillacs it resembled.
Presidential cars had officially entered the era of the luxury-car-shaped armoured truck.
The Beast
The modern American presidential limousine takes that concept even further.
Known as The Beast, the Cadillac-branded state car used by US presidents bears little mechanical resemblance to a conventional luxury saloon. Its huge body, extremely thick doors, reinforced structure and extensive security equipment make it one of the most recognisable state vehicles in the world.
Despite its limousine styling, its sheer size and weight mean it has far more in common with heavy-duty commercial vehicles than the Cadillac saloons you might see on the road.
It may not be elegant, but when you’re transporting one of the world’s most heavily protected people, elegance isn’t exactly the top priority.
When Cars Become Part of the Presidency
Presidential vehicles have evolved from modified luxury cars into highly specialised machines designed around security, communications and public visibility.
Some have been beautiful, others imposing and a few downright strange. From Johnson driving an Amphicar into a lake to today’s enormous armoured limousines, presidential motoring has produced some unforgettable vehicles.