Size Does Matter: The History of the Limousine

A classic car connaisseur talks about those long, luxurious limousines. What is the difference between limousines and stretched limousines? What was the first limousine? Why were limo's with their crazy custom interiors so popular during the 1980s? And what is the appeal of a pink stretched Hummer limousine on a drunken bachelor party?

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[erickohncke]

As a kid you thought stretch limousines were the epitome of luxury. As an adult, not so much 😂

[KoldingDenmark]

Thoughout the 1990's I chauffeured stretch Cadillacs and Lincolns, learning the pros and cons.
I never learned to love the J-seat limousines, but am very fond of the regular limousines with facing rear seats.
For a number of years I had a classic 1978 Cadillac limousine without partition and enjoyed it very much for going to the theatre, social events, meetings, and parties.
I have promissed myself to get one again.
Instead of fighting the fact, when my right to drive myself runs out, I will look forward to enjoying the comfort in the back seat with a handsome chauffeur in the drivers seat.
My ultimate dream limousine is the 1966 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson or the 1973 Cadillac Fleetwood factory limousine with keyhole in the right rear passenger door.

[carguy]

Great video. Though I was under the impression that "The Beast" (The current presidential Limo) was built on a GMC Top-Kick 5500 chassis (Think "Iron Hide" from Transformers).

[mikedrop]

I just wanted to say that when you were talking about "The American Dream" you said it was full of "comfort creatures" and while you got the words in that phrase backwards I think it makes even more sense that way. 😂

[crustycurmudgeon]

LOL! Loved that stretched horse near the end! As usual, Ed, you put together a fabulous video! I'll never get tired of this...

[Donald_Shaw]

Ed, I love your videos and your excellent and spot-on commentary. Thank you for your hard work in producing these videos for our enjoyment.

[carrisasteveinnes]

I ran a Stretch Limo and Chaffeured Sedan business for over twenty years, and those were the most fun and profitable I ever had. We got to meet so many people of all walks of life, including many that would still surprise the reader. Only got out of it after I got sick, could no longer work sixty hours a week, drink and party with clients, and took a Civil Servant position that meant running a transport company would be seen as a conflict of interest. Getting sick sucks balls. God, I miss those days.

[Bryan_]

I was wondering if you can do an automotive history about car sound systems! It's a topic that no one else has talked about

[bobroberts]

In the 80's Chrysler made a factory limo from the K car using the rear of a 2 door and the front of a 4 door.

[AeroGuy]

The Beast presidential limo isn't built on an Escalade frame. It's built on a GMC Top Kick heavy duty truck frame. The only thing from a Cadillac on the Beast are the emblems, and even they are oversized.

[glennalderton]

Ahh Ed. You manage to bring out an honest appraisal of our human past in an entirely appropriate and humurous way. Thank you for another great vid!

[jamessowinski]

Hi Ed, Thanks for this wonderful video and all your past videos. For the last Seven years I have been driving for one of Western N.Y. largest Limousine companies. I've driven all our Limousines from Super Stretch Lincoln Town cars to our largest Chevy Tahoe and Infiniti QX80.
It has been a thrill and challenging time with them. I've driven for weddings to funerals to proms to bachelor/ bachelorette parties and anything in between. They all command a lot of respect weather there is someone in them or not. Unfortunately Due to a very unfortunate accident a few years ago. N.Y. D.O.T. has made it very hard to own and operate these vehicles. So my company has sold most of their stretches in favor of luxury vans and buses that have been manufactured by their original company of origin.

[DavidGossettMusic]

Another interesting detail, tour buses still carry on the separate driver quarters from those early big band limos.

[jons.]

The most ridiculous one I ever saw during the height of them in the suburbs of the late 80s was a "cowboy limousine", which was a stretched out truck that had seating in it for many and a covered "truck bed" in the back of it where the large boomerang ornament was mounted! Haha!

[saltycreole]

I watch Engels Coach Shop located in Joliet Montana. He used an entire segment to explain coach types, models and configurations of horse drawn wagons. Explains why the first motor driven or "Horseless Carriages" shape and function came from. You're segment drives home the point that we've come a long long way from the horseless carriage. I on the other hand am partial to hearses. I find their shape and style quite fascinating. I hope to ride in one when the time comes, hopefully not too soon. 😂

[AeroGuy]

In the late 90s and early 2000's I drove limos and airport cars part time. They are not fun to drive.

One of my dad's friends worked for Hess and Eisenhart and worked on a couple of the presidential limos in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

A guy that lived in my old neighborhood has two of the Oldsmobile airport cars. He has been restoring them for a few years.

[yepthatsme]

YOU NEED TO MAKE A “HISTORY OF THE SUV” VIDEO! IT WOULD BE SO GOOD!

[caseyswife]

I found it fascinating to learn about the various modifications made to the limousine over time, from its initial use as a chauffeured car to its modern-day role as a luxury vehicle.

[kenik]

Only true gearheads would love this stuff❤️❤️❤️
Thank God we're still here and you are serving up masterpiece after masterpiece 👍🏿

[albertadams]

It’s such a treat to enjoy a new video of yours with lunch (or any meal or time for that matter) 😀

Keep up the great work 👍✅❤️