The Automobile industry and American history go hand in hand, and when it comes to presidents, the humble car also has a spot in culture and politics.
One of the most important car brands in the US is Ford. Having revolutionised the car industry at the start with the Model T, which is generally regarded as the first mass-affordable automobile that made car travel available to middle-class Americans, the brand also has its share of fans in the White House.
Every president has their own preference, and despite cultural and technological changes over the years, Ford has remained a stalwart.
Let’s have a look at five of the most legendary Ford classics that transported US presidents:
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Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine
Abraham Lincoln inspired the name of Ford’s luxury vehicle division, Lincoln Motors.
The brand became the first to provide cars exclusively for presidential use, which began with a modified V12-powered 1939 Model K Lincoln Limousine for President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The vehicle was nicknamed the ‘Sunshine Special’ because Roosevelt loved to ride in it with the top down.
Further adjustments were made for President Harry S. Truman and President Dwight D. Eisenhower that improved the limo’s protective and comfort features.
Massive protective changes were made to the Lincoln limo following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.
President Kennedy’s presidential state car was a Lincoln Continental with an open roof.
After Kennedy was assassinated, all presidential state cars were constructed as armoured vehicles.
Ford Super Deluxe
Presidents rarely drive themselves around, however President Harry S. Truman opted for a Ford Super Deluxe as his personal vehicle of choice.
The car was the first to roll off the production line after Ford halted production on cars for the public as it turned its attention to producing machines and equipment for the army during World War II.
President Truman’s car was a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe Tudor, which was a gift from Henry Ford II.
Ford Thunderbird
Known colloquially as the T-Bird, this sporty luxury car manufactured by Ford has a reputation for being hip, stylish and spritely.
John F. Kennedy made history as the youngest elected president in history, at 43 years old.
His favourite personal car was a 1961 third-generation Ford Thunderbird.
The car, with its spear-shaped silhouette and V8 engine, was featured prominently in Kennedy’s inauguration in January 1961.
Kennedy’s affinity with Ford went even further, as Robert McNamara, who served as Ford president, was appointed Kennedy Secretary of Defense.
He went on to make consequential decisions regarding the country’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Ford Mustang
This muscle car has been in continuous production across different generations since 1964.
As a result of its legacy, the Mustang has its own legion of fans.
One of the most prominent is President Bill Clinton, who owned an ice blue 1967 Ford Mustang before he moved into the White House.
The car has a white interior, and Clinton, who served as president between 1993 to 2001, acquired it as a collector’s item when he was Governor of Arkansas between 1983 and 1992. It had automatic transmission, and a six-cylinder, 120-horsepower engine.
Clinton sadly had to leave the car behind when he moved to the White House in 1993.
Today, the car can be found at the Museum of Automobiles in Morrilton, Arkansas.
Ford Escape Hybrid
Electric and hybrid cars are all the rage now as we are now more aware than ever before about the effects of climate change, pollution and sustainability.
One president who ensured his car was environmentally friendly was Barack Obama.
The 44th US president traded his Chrysler 300C for a second-generation Ford Escape Hybrid crossover SUV in 2007.
President Obama’s vehicle switch came about amid a recession, when Americans were more conscious than ever about rising gas prices.
Unfortunately, Obama did not get a lot of chances to drive the car himself because the Secret Service would soon become responsible for transporting him around.
He commented on the car’s ‘mint condition’ in 2013 during a visit to Ford assembly plant near Kansas City.
“It came right off these assembly lines.” Obama said, via People.
“Some of you might have been involved in building it. It was a great car.”
He added: “The problem is, I got Secret Service about a month after I bought the car, so I’ve only got 2,000 miles on it … It is in mint condition.
“So I want to say thank you for building my car.”
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