The Complete History of the Presidential State Car

The Sunshine Special

The Sunshine Special is the nickname of a 1939 Ford Lincoln that was used for Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman’s terms. The auto was massive and had a V12 engine to propel it. To give a feel of its breadth, its wheelbase spanned 160 inches. It also featured 0.50-caliber-resistant armor and inch-thick windows for protection. Ford also added self-sealing tire tubes, which were the earlier version of the run-flat tires we have today. The Sunshine Special had several firsts, including being the first auto built to the specifications of the Secret Service and the first that was leased instead of purchased.