Presidents And The Cars They Drove — Part II
Greg Treadway | Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-68 • 1934 Ford Phaeton
President Johnson used his 1934 Ford Phaeton touring car for hunting. It’s equipped with a V8 Lincoln Zepher engine and a steel plate underneath to prevent damage when going over rough terrain. It was a maroon color with tan upholstery until 1962 when it was repainted red. A bar with running water is mounted on back of the front seat. V.I.P.’s to ride in this car include Hubert Humphrey, Dean Rusk, and Robert McNamara. The car is believed to have been given to the President by Wesly West. This is the first time we start to see presidents have any sort of collectible autos. Johnson owned several cars including a 1915 Fire Truck.
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Richard M. Nixon 1969-1974 • 1950 Oldsmobile 98
Along with his wife’s “respectable Republican cloth coat,” Nixon referred to his trusty 1950 Oldsmobile 98 in the infamous “Checkers” speech, which was made to refute his acceptance of illegal campaign contributions to help obtain the nomination for vice-president in 1952. One wonders if those contributions included a car of any sort. The 88 Olds was the flagship model for Olds, a division of GM.
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Gerald R. Ford 1974-75 • 1975 Lincoln Continental Limousine
In September of 1975 Sara Jane Moore tried to assassinate Gerald Ford outside the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. This photo was taken at almost the same time the shot rang out. Ford was very near his 1975 Lincoln Continental Limousine. Gerald Ford was not really a car person though he lived in Michigan.
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Jimmy Carter 1976-1980 • 1976 Chevy Redneck Power Pick-Up
President Jimmy Carter was plagued by his brother the entire time he was in office. The most famous embarassment was from brother Billy’s licensing of Billy Beer. Nothing really says it better than Billy’s Redneck Power Pick-Up. This isn’t exactly Jimmy’s car, but certainly he went driving in it at least once. These are actual pick up trucks used by Billy’s Service Station. They can still be seen today in Plains, GA; the trucks are worth the trip to Plains.
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Ronald Reagan 1980-1988 • Jeep Scrambler
While as president Ronald Reagan was known as “the great communicator” and he usually traveled in a limo. His most prized personal car was a 1952 U.S. Army Jeep. It was given to him as a gift by his wife, Nancy, in the late 1970’s for use at his California ranch. This was the version of the iconic military vehicle that would ultimately be built and sold for civilian use. What Ronny drove on the ranch mostly was his Jeep Scrambler. He had a blue one and this red one which he drove Barbara Walters around in during an interview.
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George Bush 1989-1992 • Golf Cart
This choice of vehicle for G.H.W. Bush will probably be looked at as a political statement, but who cares. This 1st George Bush was in public life for more time and lifespan than he wasn’t in office. Who know when the last time George Bush was behind the wheel and actually drove himself in a real car. But talk about golf cart driving? Bush Sr. has driven himself in a golf cart for a lot more years than he has a car and even those years in a car he had a driver, or was it a five iron? The statement can be taken as one of privilege after all Bush Sr. was one of the richest men to be elected into the presidency. With that type of wealth comes the privilege of not having to drive yourself.
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Bill Clinton 1993-2000 • 1967 Mustang Convertible
When Bill Clinton was just 4 years old his mother married Roger Clinton Sr., the owner of a Buick car dealership in Hope, Arkansas. As fate would also have it, Bill’s biological father William Jefferson Blythe Jr died from an automobile accident when he lost control of his 1942 Buick. He died by drowning in a drainage ditch trying to make his way to the highway for help, the year was 1946. The months later Bill was born. Hillary’s husband owned a 1967 Mustang Convertible — ice blue with a white interior — as a collector’s car when Clinton was Governor of Arkansas. He has been quoted as saying that it was the hardest thing he had to leave behind when he moved into the White House. The 1967 has proven to be the most collectible year of the Mustang.
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George W. Bush 2001-2008 • 2001 Cadillac Special Custom Limousine
Bush has arguably been our richest president when he took the office in 2001. It is quite safe to say that W. has been traveling in limos long before he had even the drunkest notion of holding the highest office in the land. The presidential limo hasn’t seen this many updates since Reagan ordered the last real version back in the 1980s. This latest incarnation of the armored presidential chariot was actually one of the first decisions the new president Bush made.
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Barack Obama 2009-???? • 2005 Chrysler 300C
While not Obama’s first automobile it might just be the most famous. About the same time Obama tossed his name into the hat to run for president, he traded in his 2005 Chrysler 300C sedan for a fuel-efficient Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. Obama leased the car in Illinois proving that leasing can be a good decision. The car is to go on Ebay with a starting bid of $100,000 when the blue book value only comes in at $15,700. There is even an entire website devoted to the car. Nearly a century after the country’s first automobile-owning president drove an electric car, the cycle comes full circle. Our 44th president is about to take the oath of office and another electric vehicle comes into the White House garage.
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