The Sunshine Special is a modified 1939 Lincoln Model K limousine that was used as the official state car by United States presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman. Said to have been the "First Presidential car to acquire its own personality", and most closely associated with FDR,[1] the V12 powered four-door convertible was specifically modified for the president by coachbuilder Brunn & Company at a cost of $4,950, $0 in dollars (the original cost of the car, before any modifications, was $8,348.74, $0 in dollars .[2]
Initially called "Old 99," in reference to a number on its first license plate, it was later nicknamed the "Sunshine Special"[3] for its convertible roof. In spite of a previous assassination attempt on Roosevelt while riding in a Buick convertible, the president still famously enjoyed appearing in the Lincoln as an open car in parades and public gatherings.
History
Original specifications
The Sunshine Special was originally a Lincoln K-series built by the Lincoln division of Ford, and modified by Brunn & Company to U.S. government specifications. It was powered by a 150hp, 414 cubic inch V12 L-head engine. The limousine was originally equipped with a siren, running lights, and a 2-way radio, as well as extra-wide running boards and grab handles for Secret Service agents. The vehicle had a convertible roof, which gave the car its nickname.
It quickly became known as a favorite of the president, who sometimes appeared before crowds without actually leaving the vehicle, allowing him to conceal that he was a polio survivor forced to use crutches and a wheelchair. There are newsreels of the time showing the car being driven on stage, such as at the podium constructed for a campaign appearance at Ebbets Field in New York in 1944, documenting the gambit.
Following Pearl Harbor
After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Secret Service began to express concern over potential assassination attempts on the president, as his limousine was not armored and had no protective features. The Secret Service did not use Al Capone's car for his visit to Congress at the United States Capitol on 8 December, in spite of the myth even being featured in the History Channel documentary Pearl Harbor: 24 Hours After.
See also
- Official state car
- Presidential State Car (United States)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- President of the United States
References
- Siuru, William D. and Stewart, Andrea. Presidential Cars and Transportation. Krause Publications, 1995, p. 36.^
- Siuru, William D. and Stewart, Andrea. Presidential Cars and Transportation. Krause Publications, 1995, p. 37.^
- Siuru, William D. and Stewart, Andrea. Presidential Cars and Transportation. Krause Publications, 1995, p. 36. The first use of the nickname is unknown, but it was most likely in a photo caption.^