Presidential Limousines over Two Decades, Showing the New 1961 Lincoln Continental

01

Artifact Overview

Ford Motor Company's Lincoln-Mercury Division featured three different Lincoln presidential parade limousines in this 1968 press release. The 1939 Model K (bottom) transported Presidents Roosevelt and Truman from 1939-1950. The 1950 Cosmopolitan (middle) carried Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson from 1950-1967. The 1961 Continental (top) served Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter from 1961-1977.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

24 April 1961

Subject Date

24 April 1961

Creator Notes

Created by Ford Motor Company Photographic Department in Dearborn, Michigan

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.P.833.122900.180

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process
Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 10 in
Width: 8.125 in

Inscriptions

Printed on accompanying press release: WHITE HOUSE LIMOUSINES OF TWO DECADES -- The new Presidential Continental / (top) is shown with two of its predecessors. Four U.S. presidents rode in the / two older custom - built Lincolns in countless parades and official duties over / a span of 22 years. The "bubble - top" 1950 model Lincoln (center) was equipped / with a transparent roof at the suggestion of President Eisenhower four years / after the car originally was delivered. "Bubble - top" was used in President / Kennedy's inaugural parade. The car in the bottom view is the famous "Sunshine / Special" built in 1939 for President Roosevelt and later used by President / Truman. Now retired to a museum, the 9,300 - pound, six - foot - high "Sunshine" / probably carried more dignitaries than any other car in the world during its / 11 - year use. / Lincoln-Mercury Division / Ford Motor Company / 3000 Schaefer Road / Dearborn, Michigan / [written:] 1961
Presidential Limousines over Two Decades, Showing the New 1961 Lincoln Continental