12 Amazing Facts about Limousine You may Hardly Know

Traveling in a limousine is a dream of almost everyone in the world. Thanks to companies that offer these majestic vehicles on rent for various occasions, we get the opportunity to travel in them, no matter for a short time, with all the luxury they have to offer. Apart from traveling in them, knowing more about them is also not less interesting. Here are some facts about limousines you may not know and will be amused to know them.

The name “Limousine” was derived from a traditional garment worn by French shepherds!

Actually Limoges is the name of a geographical region in the heart of France. Locals in this area wear a unique type of hooded cloak since centuries to get protection from elements in the chilly weather in the soggy French countryside.

When car makers produced limousine for VIPs to cruise around in luxury, only the compartment for the passenger was enclosed (poor chauffeurs were exposed to the rain). This enclosed portion of the cars looked similar to the traditional Limoges cloak and thus the name “Limousine” came into existence.

When we hear the word limousine, what we first envision is a stretch limo. However, since 1902 when the first limo was built which accommodated only 4 persons till 1928, limos were not any larger than normal cars.

The first proper stretch limousine was built in 1928 in Arkansas and these stretch limos were often known as “big band buses” because they mainly used to transport famous bands, their instruments and orchestra to various parts of the United States.

During those times, these Big Bands had taken the country by storm with their amazing brassy music. Musicians like Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller required to get all their band members and instruments for the show on time. Therefore they crafted the first stretch limo in which they could carry their entire band to the concert venue on time.

There is only one difference between a limousine and a stretch limousine and it’s their size. A stretch limo is merely a town car, a sedan or other car that is cut in half, stretched and welded back together. So, a sedan can become a stretch limo when it gets extended. Both these vehicles, i.e. a regular-sized limousine and a stretch limousine can be called a limo.

Limousine is rather a set of characteristics than a brand. These mainly include an extended body and a partition between the driver and the passenger compartment. It’s interesting to know that a vehicle cannot be called a limousine unless it has a chauffeur.

Furthermore, the passenger compartment are equipped with various amenities for their enjoyment like bar, music system, dance floor and poles, TVs and other entertainment options, and so on. It depends on the limo service which and how many of these amenities to provide for the comfort of passengers.

If you are in search of SUV limousines, you will get them only in two sizes – one of 140 inches which carries 14 passengers and the other of 200 inches carrying even up to 24 passengers.

SUV limos were produced by Ford and GM to satisfy clients’ needs by introducing an all new set of luxuries and amenities.

The most popular model of SUV limos, mostly hired for prom, weddings and night outs, is the Lincoln Navigator.

You may not know the name of car customizer Jay Ohrberg, but probably you know his great works in the form of the famous television and movie cars like the Knight Rider’s KITT, General Lee, the Starsk and Hutch’s Ford Gran Torino and the Back to the Future DeLorean. However, his best feat remains little known – it’s the “American Dream” - a 100-foot limo, with 26 wheels, hinged in the middle and having a Jacuzzi, a helipad, swimming pool with diving board, a king-size bed, sun deck, a satellite dish and several interior ‘rooms’. But this amazing car seems to be wasting away in a parking lot, just because it has been declared illegal to drive on road.

The Midnight Rider has claimed to be the largest and grandest limo of the world. This car is 70-foot long and 25-ton and is the heaviest limousine in the world as per the Guinness Book of World Records. Technically, it’s a “tractor-trailer limousine” and was built between 1997 and 2004. It is based in Southern California and is licensed to travel across the USA, at least on roads broad enough to accommodate its 48-foot turning radius.

Another interesting feature of the Midnight Rider is that its horn plays “The Midnight Rider” by the Almman Brothers.

Limousines were the first ever automobile equipped with air-conditioning. These days air-conditioning has become standard in almost all kinds of vehicles. However, in the past, to be exact in 1939, air-conditioning was a luxury amenity and was available only in a few modern and expensive cars and limos. Air conditioner was optional for these cars and the clients who wished to enjoy the amenity had to pay around $300 more.

The other side of the fact is air conditioners at that time were not as great and efficient as they are today. As a matter of fact, they occupied a big space, didn’t work for most of the times and couldn’t even show the temperature.

The limo that serves the President of the United States is nicknamed “The Beast”. This is the President’s private, heavily armored, custom-built and almost indestructible stretch limousine. It is entirely bullet-proofed for the safety and security reasons. It also features a plethora of exquisite communication devices and security systems to ensure the safety of the president all through the world.

The world’s fastest limousine is a stretch Ferrari and runs at a top speed of almost 170mph. This 400bhp car is made from a Ferrari 360 Modena by chopping it in half and stretching it by 9.5 feet. It’s now 20 feet long and accommodates 8 people. It weighs 160kg more than the original 1390kg car and has lost only a little of its performance. Passengers can climb in this car through 9-foot long hydraulically powered gull-wing doors. The car has two Guinness World Records – the fastest limousine as well longest Ferrari.

The world’s most expensive limousine is owned by the monarch of a small country, named Brunei. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the king of Brunei owns a customized Rolls Royce Silver Spur limo which reflects his highly luxurious lifestyle. The car was custom-made for his wedding and is covered in 24k gold. It costs around $14 million.

Brunei is a tiny country in Southeast Asia that borders Malaysia. Revenue from oil, small population and tight immigration laws permit people of this country to live pretty comfortably with $60k GDP per capita and Brunei’s Sultan to be the biggest collector of cars in the world, having more than 5000 vehicles the combined cost of which is $5 billion.

The world’s tallest limousine measures 10 ft 11 inches (3.33 meters) from the ground to its roof. Created by Gary and Shirley Duval in Australia within slightly more than 4,000 hours, the limo features an 8-wheel independent suspension system and 8 monster truck tires. It has two independent engines.

We hope that all these interesting limousine facts have increased your passion to travel in a limo even more. So, rent a limo and go on a joy ride!