During the early years of the automotive age, presidents got around in standard production cars. Then, in 1939, the specially built “Sunshine Special” entered the Secret Service’s fleet.
Based on a Lincoln K-Series chassis with power from a V-12 engine, the Sunshine Special (so named because its top was virtually always open) was built with both security and convenience in mind. Security was paramount because Franklin Roosevelt had already survived an assassination attempt in 1933 while giving a speech from the back of an open production Buick convertible. Convenience was important in order to get the wheelchair-bound Roosevelt in and out of the car while maintaining presidential dignity.More..
