![]() ![]() Unfortunately some of the most unlikely things are the ones that actually happen.Īfter the assassination, conspiracy theories emerged surrounding the event. The midnight blue Continental was built during a time when something like the president getting shot in his car seemed unlikely. What wasn’t included in the car were extensive safety upgrades. Hess & Eisenhardt added several modifications to the vehicle, such as extending its length by 3.5 feet to allow for more passengers and inserting a hydraulic rear seat that could be raised by 10.5 inches, which allowed for the beloved president and his wife to wave at the audience. Enter Hess & Eisenhardt, a coachbuilder located in Cincinnati. However, additional features and customizations were requested for the vehicle. The 1961 Lincoln, codenamed the SS-100-X, was assembled at the Wixom, Michigan, Ford plant in January of 1961. In fact, he loved it so much that his inaugural parade featured 50 identical Thunderbirds all lined up in a row. This beauty caught the eye of Kennedy, who purchased a Thunderbird for himself. Its V8 engine thundered with the energy of 300 horsepower. The 1961 Thunderbird was larger and heavier than previous models. Due to this sleek design, the styling was nicknamed the “Bullet Bird.” It is speculated that Ford chose this unique design to resemble popular depictions of a spaceship.Ī new style wasn’t the only thing that made this Thunderbird unique. The new vehicle was designed with a unique spear-like styling throughout the body of the vehicle. The first entry in the generation was the 1961 Ford Thunderbird Convertible. In 1961, Ford was developing the third generation of its Thunderbird line of vehicles. However, that wasn’t the only car Kennedy drove in, and to save this entry of “The West Wing Wheels” from becoming too macabre or depressing, I think it’s important to talk about some personal vehicles that Kennedy owned and cherished. I would be remiss if I did not mention the car that JFK was assassinated in. Kennedy and cars in the same sentence, I’m certain images of a 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible and a horrific scene in Dallas come to mind. Kennedy: 35th President of the United States (1961-1963) So let’s explore the personal cars of the Commander in Chief with “The West Wing Wheels.” ![]() In this installment of The News Wheel, I will examine the presidential vehicles of 10 of our country’s most famous and infamous leaders. From a 20 th century electric car, to a car that drove on water, presidential cars are among the most cool and quirky in our country’s extensive history. Over the years, the United States Presidents have owned some very interesting automobiles.
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