Arrival of the new Presidential limousine (Lincoln-Mercury Continental convertible with a bubble-top), built by the Ford Motor Company and customized by Hess & Eisenhardt. Director of the United States Secret Service, U. E. Baughman, and LOOK Magazine photographer, Stanley Tretick, stand at left. Ford Motor Company liaison officer to the White House, Vaughn Ferguson, stands on driver's side foot stand of car; others standing on the sides and back bumper of the automobile are unidentified. North Portico, White House, Washington,
X-100 was the code name given to the car by the Secret Service. Ford Motor Company assembled the car at its Lincoln plant in Wixom, Michigan in January 1961. Hess & Eisenhardt of Cincinnati, Ohio was responsible for customizing the car to function as a presidential parade limousine, literally cutting it in half, reinforcing it, extending it 3 ½feet in length, and making numerous other modifications. Ford Motor Company and Hess & Eisenhardt collaborated on engineering and styling. It debuted at the White House in June 1961. The car remained the property of the Ford Motor Company, which leased it to the Secret Service for the nominal price of $500 per year. Following the assassination of President Kennedy, a committee was formed (originally comprised of thirty people) of six people representing the Secret Service, Army Materials Research Center, Hess & Eisenhardt and Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. The White House approved a plan for a revamp of the X-100 around December 12, 1963. Work was completed May 1, 1964 and extensive testing was performed in Cincinnati, Ohio and Dearborn, Michigan before the car was delivered to the White House in June. Costs have been estimated to exceed $500,000 and were shared by Ford Motor Company, some Ford suppliers and the federal government. Basic elements of the revamp included: Complete re-armoring of rear passenger compartment Addition of permanent non-removable top ("greenhouse") to accommodate transparent armor Replacement of engine with hand-built, high compression unit, providing approximately 17 percent more power Addition of second air conditioning unit in trunk Addition of certain electronic communication devices Reinforcement of some mechanical and structural components, front wheel spindles and door hinges, to accommodate additional weight Complete re-trimming of rear compartment, eliminating damage resulting from the assassination New paint treatment, "regal Presidential Blue Metallic with silver metallic flakes.
Size: 3920px × 3960px
Location: The White House, Washington, DC
Photo credit: © American Photo Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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