limo history

i'm trying to find out a bit about american stretch limos. i want to know about history, like who made the first one and for who. i want to know about why certain cars are used and not others, like why lincoln and caddy, what about buiks (werethey ever used?) and what happened to imperials? i've checked out a few manufacturers web sites like da bryan, but none tell me how the work is done, is it solid strngthened flooring or some kind of joist or bar set up?

it's proving all very difficult to find out because i'm in the uk, no-one makes them like the US over here, and i can't afford to call up manufacturers over there. any help with these questions would be great.

paul
email: phut74@hotmail.com

Hi Paul. If you go to the home page of limos.com and click industry links, you might find something. I'm no expert but the reason Lincoln's and Caddy's were used is because they were considered the most luxurious cars on the road in North America at the time. They were and still are to the older generation viewed as a status of wealth. Personally I'd rather have an Aston Martin. I have seen stretch Chevrolet's on the road but not in big numbers. It's interesting to see how they are built. I had three built. They basically saw the stock Lincoln from the factory in half and reinforce everything. I don't know the exact details. Try searching for car museums over here and go from there. Maybe you can get some more info from them. Also search coach builders. Good luck, I hope I was some help. Michael.

The first American Coach Builders started I think you will find, by building Funeral coaches pulled by horses. Some of the old names in the business are Petersen and Hess and Eisenhardt, now O'Gara Hess and Eisenhardt. As has been stated Cadillac and Lincoln were, and still are considered to be the top Corporate cars because originally the Top Corporate Executives and Film Stars were the people who had Limousines, then in the early sixties rental limousines came into being.
As far as the construction goes a base vehicle usually with heavy duty suspension, additional cooling systems for oil and transmission fluids, is cut in half and a steel floor pan is welded in place usually supported by an additional cross member welded to the chassis extensions which are normally a box girder style. a profiled roof steel plate is welded into place and the side panels complete the stretch. I hope that this simple explanation fits what you are asking.
A few Buicks were made primarily for the funeral business but basically any vehicle can be stretched if you have the money, I have even seen Honda Civics done this way, heaven knows why. One of the major problems however is the additional weight factor, in the USA every vehicle has what you call in the UK a gross laden weight factor. Without special and difficult authorisation you are not permitted to go above this and therefore some vehicles do not lend themselves to being stretched.
Hope this helps you a little
Sincerely Dick Hall

Lincoln was making factory limos in the early 1960's. I think they started in the 50's. They used these cars because of the size and weight, and the fact they could take the strain. As for coach builders telling you how they make the stretches, my cars are by Royale, and they let customers walk through the production line and show them how the cars are made, let them ask questions, and the like.