William McKinley

In 1899, McKinley was the first president to take a ride in a car, a steam-powered “Locomobile.”

William Howard Taft

In 1909 Taft became the first president to ride in an official presidential limousine. There were four official presidential limos: a White Steamer, a Baker Electric, and two Pierce-Arrows.  Taft was an early proponent of no-fossil fuel vehicles.

Warren Harding

Harding was the first president who already knew how to drive an automobile before taking the office.
Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge rented his limousines to save money.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential limo was fitted with hand controls so he could continue his love of driving despite his polio.

On December 8, 1941, the day following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, president Roosevelt rode to Congress to deliver his declaration of war in the infamous gangster Al Capone’s armor-plated limo. The car was officially owned by the Department of Treasury as a result of Capone’s tax evasion conviction.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower was the first president to have a Plexiglass bubble installed on the roof of his limousine so that he could be seen by crowds even in bad weather.

John F. Kennedy

JFK’s Lincoln Continental was filled with interesting gadgets for the time. It was fitted with removable roof panels that could be configured in various ways for varying occasions,  the back seat could be raised more than 10 inches, and the car also sported a two-way radio and a telephone system.  This James Bond like car was leased to the White House for $500.

Lyndon Johnson

After the Kennedy assassination, Lyndon Johnson had the presidential Lincoln redesigned, and  added almost one ton of steel plating and bullet-proof glass.

Discuss This In The Forum

Bookmark It

So its not the kind of solar power that comes from panels, this is just the warm sun shining on you from your new open roof Prius.  Now you can get a better look at nature while helping to protect it.  This is not an upcoming offering from Toyota, but a design by Newport Convertible Engineering.  The group has removed the standard hardtop and replaced it with an electric canvas top.  The topless Prius still sports roof supports to help with sealing, and a rear window from an Audi TT to keep tabs on whats behind you.  The new roof maintains the same factory lines very well.  There is no doubt this is a Prius.  This isnt NCE’s first attempt at a drop top conversion, they have been doing it for a long time.  Some of their most notable work was a convertible NSX that would leave onlookers begging Acura for a production version, and this NCE Prius could be no different.  Its a new take on a growing favorite, and why not enjoy the fresh air while helping to keep it that way?

Discuss This In The Forum

Bookmark It

Electric cars are certainly the latest buzz at car shows and when discussions turn towards the potential future of motoring. However Rinspeed decided to step it up just a but with its latest concept car, the sQuba. Cleverly named because it is an amphibious car. Not only will the vehicle put along the water’s surface at around 2 knots, it can also sink below the waves to a depth of up to 33 feet. The cockpit is an open design to keep from having to add extra wait to allow the car to descend. Have no fear though, the sQuba has an on board air tank for its driver and passenger to keep the adventure level high, without the need for holding your breath. So its fully electric, with zero emissions, and its amphibious… anything else? You bet, the sQuba actually looks great no matter the terrain (or lack there of) do to its Lotus Elise inspired body. 0-62mph times are just a tick over seven seconds, but were else can you have this much fun? Underwater the car is propelled by two side control thrusters. Although there are no plans to put the car into production, and this one off is certainly not for sale, its good to see that there are companies still out there dedicated to dreaming big and are working towards the cars of tomorrow (remember those hover cars we were all promised years ago)? With great looks, and a lot of imagination in the mix, who says water and electricity don’t mix?

Discuss This In The Forum

Bookmark It

Yes its true, a group piloting a Scion covered many miles while visiting 48 states all across the US. The group started out in Vermont and ended their long journey in Four Corners. This could be the last chance for many to get in that last “All American Roadtrip” (Pay no attention to the fact the car is Japanese…). An online blog was kept so readers could follow up on the adventure as each state was crossed off the list one by one. If nothing else it was a fun experience coving 48 states, 7000 miles all in just 106 hours and forty something minutes. However, I am going for all 50! “FIRE UP THE PONTOONS LADIES NEXT STOP HAWAII!!!”

Their Blog: greatamericanroadtrip.us

Bookmark It