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September 1961 Radio-Electronics
 [Table of Contents]
Wax nostalgic about and learn from the history of early electronics.
See articles from Radio-Electronics,
published 1930-1988. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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Did you know the 1961 Lincoln Continental that President John F. Kennedy was shot
while riding in had a transparent Plexiglas roof available? If it had been installed
that fateful day in November of 1963, would the bullet have missed the president
or maybe the shooter (Oswald, ostensibly, but questionable these days) would not have
even tried for the shot. You might think the car would be referred to as
Presidential Limo One or some code name similar to
Air Force One (airplane), or
Marine One (helicopter), but the best they could come up with was X-100.
There was also an official
presidential yacht (Sequoia) up until 1973. I highlight this feature from a
1961 issue of Popular Science magazine primarily because it mentions a
pair of radiotelephones - one with a scrambler for super-secret communications.
The car, by the way, was a rental ($500/year), and was actually owned by Ford
Motor Company.
The President Gets a New Car
Top - Two-Piece Metal Top for formal polished black rear section,
brushed front. Exterior and interior are navy blue that looks black at night. The
trim is light blue.
Bottom - Plastic Top is transparent so President can be seen
in parades but keep dry in rain. Third interchangeable roof is convertible fabric.
They are stored in trunk when not in use.
Retractable Foot-Stands and recessed handholds
in body (two on each side) are for Secret Service men. Two more built into rear
bumper have grips that can be mounted on trunk.
The new Lincoln Continental delivered to President Kennedy this summer has so
many pushbuttons that it takes a special panel on the dash for them all. The car
took four years to design and build by Ford in cooperation with the Secret Service.
It will be used for parades and other official purposes.
Two Radio Telephones keep President in touch
with country's business. One has a scrambler for confidential calls. Above, Secret
Service chief U. E. Baughman checks phone.
View of Interior shows rear seat wide enough
for three adults. Control panel at left contains reading lamp, radio, and seat-elevator
switches. Lap robes fold into recessed doors.
Elevator Rear Seat rises 10 1/2 inches on push-button
power so President can see and be seen when crowds line streets. Footrest goes up
with it. Jump seat is at normal height.
The car has three interchangeable tops: all metal, transparent plastic, and convertible.
The latter two can be stored in the trunk when not in use.
An elevator back seat can be raised 10 1/2 inches by pushbutton so the President
can be seen by crowds. The compartment can be closed off from the front seat by
a pushbutton sliding panel and has a handrail the President can grasp while standing.
It has two two-way radio telephones, one fitted with a scrambler. There are separate
air conditioners and heaters in front and back. The car is an elongated 1961 Continental,
253.7 inches in length (41.3 inches longer than the standard) and has a 156-inch
wheelbase (33 inches longer). It weighs 7,822 pounds.
Posted May 28, 2024
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