The Cars Driven By American Presidents Past & Present

"The Beast" Isn't One Of Them

"But, wait! American presidents don't drive!" That's correct. Once they enter the office, America's presidents are driven everywhere in an armored-up Cadillac uniquely made for this role. The Cadillac isn't based on any single vehicle but most closely resembles a Cadillac Escalade and a Cadillac CTS. But what about cars that presidents owned before assuming their roles? Let's look at all the presidents' cars, past and present.

William Taft's Baker Electric Runabout

Can you imagine the first electric car entering the White House? It's true! William H Taft was America's 27th president and the first to embrace the automobile. From 1909 to 1913, Taft replaced the old horse stables with a car garage and drove around in an all-electric Baker Runabout equipped with nickel-ion batteries (designed by Thomas Edison). The Baker produced 0.75 hp and had a top speed of 14 mph.

ubahnverleih, Wikimedia Commons

Woodrow Wilson's Pierce-Arrow  

While Taft also had a Pierce-Arrow, he didn't use it as much as Woodrow Wilson, America's wartime president from 1913 to 1921 and one of America's first two-term presidents. Wilson's Pierce-Arrow had a massive 7.4L engine and could reach an astounding (for its day) top speed of 85 mph. The Pierce-Arrow was the favorite car of many Hollywood elites and royalty worldwide.

Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons

Woodrow Wilson Used The Pierce-Arrow After He Left Office

Wilson was the first US president to be a qualified driver and the first to use a car to drive to his own inauguration. He was such a fan of the Pierce-Arrow that he bought one from the US government after he left office for $3,000. That car now sits in Staunton, Virginia's Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.

Sheila Scarborough, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Herbert Hoover's Cadillac Fleetwood V16 

The Cadillac Fleetwood V16 was the first V16-engine car produced in the United States. It was produced from 1930 to 1940, and only six cars were ever made. Between 1929 and 1933, the Cadillac Fleetwood V16 transported the 31st US president for four years. It produced 165 hp and a top speed of 90 mph.

John Ceulemans, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Franklin D Roosevelt's Packard Twelve

FDR is one of America's most beloved presidents. He introduced social programs that are still used today. He also had good taste in cars, as the Packard Twelve was gorgeous. Produced by Packard Motors in Detroit, the V12 7.3L engine produced 160 hp and had a top speed of 100 mph. In 1935, FDR gave one of his armored Packard Twelves to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and it became the dictator's favorite vehicle.

Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Harry S Truman's Ford Super Deluxe

The Ford brand quickly became a presidential favorite, with Harry S Truman receiving a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe as a gift from Henry Ford after the conclusion of World War II. Truman's Ford Super Deluxe was the first Ford car to roll off the production line when the automaker went back to making cars after spending two years producing military vehicles and other war effort items.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dwight D Eisenhower's Chrysler Imperial

Dwight D Eisenhower, America's post-war president, had a change of heart from his Ford-loyal predecessors, choosing the Chrysler Imperial for his presidential vehicle du-jour. It was fitted with electric windows, air conditioning, and a sunroof. Its engine could crank out 250 hp and a top speed of 103 mph.

Rex Gray, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

JFK's Ford Thunderbird

Back to Ford we went with JFK in 1961. The "T-Bird" was JFK's favorite, packed with a V8 engine and the classic open-top look. After 50 Thunderbirds were featured in JFK's inaugural parade, sales of the T-Bird skyrocketed. JFK even named Ford executive Robert McNamara Secretary of Defense, but we're not sure whether that had anything to do with his love of the Thunderbird or not.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

LBJ's Amphicar & Lincoln Continental Convertible

Lyndon B Johnson's Amphicar has a great story attached to it which we'll get to later. Still, one of his other favorite vehicles was his Lincoln Continental Convertible, which he frequently drove around his ranch in Stonewall, Texas. The ranch is now a museum that displays many of his cars, including the blue Amphicar, the only civilian amphibious vehicle ever to be mass-produced.

Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

LBJ's Amphicar Practical Jokes

One of the many practical jokes LBJ liked to play on guests in his Amphicar was driving straight into a body of water. As one guest recalled: "We reached a steep incline at the edge of the lake, and the car started rolling rapidly toward the water. The President shouted, “The brakes don’t work! The brakes won’t hold! We’re going in! We’re going under!” The car splashed into the water. I started to get out. Just then, the car leveled, and I realized we were in an Amphicar. The President laughed".

Yoichi Okamoto, Wikimedia Commons

Richard Nixon's 1950 Oldsmobile 98

Many have questioned whether Nixon owned his famed 1950 Oldsmobile 98 or used the car as a prop to better connect with the everyday American. Nixon was never photographed driving this car, but he did mention it in his infamous Checkers speech at the 1952 Republican National Convention to refute allegations that he had accepted illegal campaign contributions to secure the Vice Presidency.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ronald Reagan's Subaru BRAT

Before the outbreak of the Cold War and before he became president, the movie star-turned-world's most powerful man was driving a Subaru sport utility coupe called a BRAT. The acronym stood for "Bi-drive Recreational All-terrain Transporter," primarily a farmer's vehicle. It produced just 94 hp and could only reach a top speed of 87 mph. When he ran for president and won, Reagan gave up the Subaru, as no American president worth his salt (back in the days of the Cold War) could be seen in a Japanese-made car.

Preserving President Reagan's daily drives at Rancho del Cielo, News Channel 3-12

Ronald Reagan's US Army Jeep

Of course, he changed the Subaru BRAT for something more practical, powerful, and American. Nothing could be more American than the US Army Jeep that Reagan drove around his Californian ranch. This one was bright red and is one of the most iconic presidential vehicles ever.

THIS JEEP MATTERS: President Reagan's 1962 Willys 'Jeep' CJ-6, Hagerty Drivers Foundation

Bill Clinton's 1967 Mustang Convertible

Bill Clinton's 1967 convertible Mustang was an instant classic that likely helped earn him some credibility among America's car-loving population. His custom license plate reads "BILL CLINTON," just in case you needed confirmation of who was driving. He gave up the 1967 Mustang during his time in the White House but frequently mentioned how much he missed it.

President Bill Clinton's Mustang Moment, King Rose Archives

Barack Obama's Ford Escape Hybrid

Ever the forward-thinker, Barack Obama's vehicle of choice for him and his family was a Ford Escape Hybrid: an environmentally-conscious "family-man" car that perfectly fits Obama's personality and public image. While he couldn't drive it for eight years in the White House, Obama had confessed that he couldn't wait to get back behind the wheel.

Bull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons

Joe Biden's Corvette Stingray

While not necessarily a car aficionado like Clinton, Joe Biden loves his British racing green 1987 Corvette Stingray. The Stingray has likely been in the Biden family since Biden first became a Senator in 1973. While he is getting up there in age, we're sure he loves taking his Stingray for a rip now and again.

CNBC, Jay Leno's Garage (2015–2022)

Donald Trump's  Extensive Collection

Because Donald Trump didn't have a political career before 2016, he had plenty of time to acquire beautiful cars. His extensive collection includes a 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, a blue 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT, a 2003 Mercedes-McLaren SLR, and a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. Let's examine President Trump's collection one by one.

MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud

Produced from 1955 to 1965, the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud is the quintessential wedding car of the era and beyond. Featuring a six-cylinder engine with twin carburetors, the Silver Cloud produced 155 hp with a top speed of 104 mph. Trump ordered his Rolls-Royce in Maroon Red despite being called the Silver Cloud. It likely has huge sentimental value to the President, as one of his first cars was a Rolls.

Sicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons 

1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT

His blue Lamborghini Diablo VT is one of the most limited productions of his car collection. He bought the car in 1996 for $460,000 and quickly slapped his brand on its gull-wing doors (because, of course, he did) before selling it as the "Donald Trump Diablo 1997". One of the most expensive cars in a president's collection, the Diablo VT could hit a top speed of 208 mph.

Rare Clip Of Donald Trump With His Lamborghini Diablo, Supercar Hunter

2003 Mercedes-McLaren SLR

Another quick addition to Trump's private collection is his 2003 Mercedes-McLaren SLR. Equipped with a 5.4L V8, the '03 Mercedes-McLaren SLR will reach a top speed of 208 mph and was driven by Trump along Manhattan's streets before he moved into the White House.

Matl, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

2011 Chevrolet Camaro Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

This Camaro was the official pace car of the 2011 Indianapolis 500, featuring a six-speed transmission and 400 hp. The Camaro was all-white with an orange stripe. Historically, the Indy 500 has allowed celebrities to perform one lap in the pace car, and as Trump was a star with The Apprentice at the time, he was tipped to do the lap. Unfortunately, the future president was busy with other commitments, but he later bought a replica of the pace car to drive it whenever he wanted.

 2011 Camaro Indy Pace Car 100th Anniversary Edition 389 Actual Miles, West Port Auto Center

Hebert Hoover's 1931 Hudson Phaeton Draws Ire From Americans

One might describe Herbert Hoover's decision to parade around in a brand-new 1931 Hudson Phaeton as "tone-deaf," particularly in the early 1930s when the Great Depression had hit America harder than anywhere else. As much of the nation struggled with poverty, Hoover's decision to buy and drive around in a stunning, luxurious 1931 Hudson Phaeton drew heavy criticism from the press and the American public. 

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Sources:

1, 2, 3, 4