Obama Presidential Limo by GM

Ever wonder where the President's limo comes from? Since 1983 General Motors has designed and built the presidential limo. Before that, the job belonged to Ford Motor Company, which started building presidential limos in 1938.

With the change in Presidents comes a change in limos. President Bush rides in a Cadillac 2006 model, customized especially for the president. The 2009 version, which Secret Service agents are training with right now, is even more highly customized.

Bloggers, with access to early photos, think that the vehicle is built on a medium truck chassis. That might be because of the tremendous weight. Reportedly the Obama limo will have 5 inch thick armor and bullet proof glass. Besides a few electronic gadgets, a completely sealable interior (in case of chemical attack) and flat-running tires (tires that can still carry the car even if they're flat), the Secret Service is remaining mum about the features of the car. Even the engine type and the curb weight of the car are secret.

Even though GM says that the Obama limo is totally customized and can't be tied to a particular model, it does look a lot like the Cadillac DTS, though it looks a bit beefier. The bullet proof glass is said to be a little less transparent than regular glass, but can withstand anything from an assault rifle to grenades and explosives.

You might be wondering what happens to the old presidential limo. The answers I've found are mostly speculative.

Some go on display at museums or libraries. The Henry Ford Museum holds the largest collection of Presidential vehicles, including the car JFK was shot in. Other places you'll find presidential cars on display are the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and the Clinton Presidential Center.

On the web people speculate that once each car is retired it is ceremonially exploded by the Secret Service and any car on display post President Reagan is only a replica.

In an Indian paper it was stated that some of the presidential vehicles are sold to foreigners in China and Arabic countries. This was, of course, before 9/11 and applied President Bush Sr.'s limo.

W.'s old limo might end up in the motorcade that follows the Presidential limo, as the Secret Service has said that it will keep the 2006 limos in the fleet. President W. Bush's current limo is a 2006, so it's possible that it will be used as part of that fleet.

Sources:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=535676

http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=65460

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090106/AUTO01/901060373/1148

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1832913-obamas-cadillac-lookalike-presidential-limo-with-mighty-built-of-a-tank