Sunshine Special Presidential State Car (United States)

The Sunshine Special is preserved at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan

The Sunshine Special was the official state car used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States. It is said to have been the "First Presidential car to acquire its own personality" although the exact origin of its nickname is unknown. It was a 1939 twelve-cylinder engine, four-door convertible originally built by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company and was specifically modified for the President by a specialty coach builder, Brunn & Company, Inc. in Buffalo, New York, at a cost of $4,950 (the original cost of the car was $8,348.74).

Initially called "Old 99," in reference to a number on its first license plate, it was later nicknamed the "Sunshine Special" (the name was most likely first used in a photo caption) as a reference to its retractable roof, and was famously enjoyed by the president, who had its roof brought down during public gatherings. At other times, the car was used as traditional presidential transportation. This was in spite of a previous assassination attempt against Roosevelt as he was riding in a Buick convertible, prior to the creation of the Sunshine Special.

History

Original Specifications

The Sunshine Special was originally a Lincoln K-series built by the Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company, 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 convertible roof, hence the reasoning for the car's nickname. The car quickly became known as a favorite of the president who was a victim of polio and used a wheelchair. With the convertible top down Roosevelt sometimes appeared before crowds without actually leaving the vehicle. There are newsreels of the time showing the car being driven on stage, such as the podium constructed for a campaign appearance at Ebbets Field in New York in 1944.

Following Pearl Harbor

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Secret Service began to express concern in relation to potential assassination attempts against the president, as his limousine at that time was not armoured and had no protective features. The following day, December 8 1941, a heavily armored 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan, which had originally belonged to gangster Al Capone, was used to transport the president to the Capitol to deliver his "Infamy" speech. The car had been confiscated by the Treasury Department following Capone's arrest and stored in an impound lot until its ironic final duty. Roosevelt used the Capone car until his Sunshine Special was modified to be capable of protecting him, with armor plating for the doors, bullet-proof tires, inch-thick windows and storage compartments for pistols and sub-machine guns. All of the safety modifications increased the car's weight to 9,300 pounds(4,218 kg). Despite these precautions, Roosevelt preferred to ride with the top down during parades and at most public gatherings. The car was also fitted with the then-current 1942 Lincoln front end in 1942 from the Lincoln H-series.

Travels

When the president traveled, the Sunshine Special along with other Secret Service vehicles were either driven to the president's destination if the distance was short or were transported on a special rail car. One special rail car was equipped with equipment and supplies for the maintenance of the vehicles.

Although some sources allege the Sunshine Special was transported to Tehran, Casablanca, Malta, and Yalta, there appears to be no evidence to confirm this. Wartime censorship makes these claims difficult to disprove; but while there are many photographs and newsreels of President Roosevelt riding in standard military-issue Jeeps during the aforementioned overseas trips, there are no photographs of the Sunshine Special taken on these occasions. The need to maintain secrecy about the President's travel during wartime makes it highly unlikely his special limousine would have been used overseas. The practice of transporting presidential limousines overseas did not start until after the Roosevelt administration. In March 1947 Life Magazine featured a photograph of President Truman visiting the pyramids at Teotihuacan near Mexico City riding in the Sunshine Special or another nearly identical Lincoln.

Following Roosevelt's death

After Roosevelt’s death in 1945, the Sunshine Special remained in the White House fleet and was used by President Truman until a new fleet of Lincoln limousines was acquired after the 1948 election. The limousine is now on permanent display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.