7 Little-Known Limo Facts

Did you know?

1. The first automobile limousines appeared around 1902.
   They were not stretch vehicles. They were luxury cars with passengers enclosed inside while the driver sat separately up front.
2. The word “limousine” is tied to France.
   The name is commonly linked to the Limousin region of France, where a hooded cloak was worn that resembled the covered driver’s compartment on early limousines.
3. Early chauffeurs were not exactly riding in luxury.
   In the earliest automobile limousines, the passengers were protected inside, but the driver often sat in a more exposed front compartment.
4. The first stretch limousines were closer to people-movers than party cars.
   Around the 1920s, coachbuilders like Armbruster in Fort Smith, Arkansas built extended-wheelbase vehicles used by hotels, taxis, airlines, corporations, tour companies, and entertainers.
5. Big bands helped popularize stretch limos.
   Before stretch limos became associated with weddings and celebrity arrivals, they were useful for transporting musicians, equipment, and groups from city to city.
6. Hollywood helped turn limousines into a status symbol.
   As the movie industry grew, limos became tied to privacy, glamour, studio executives, movie stars, and red-carpet arrivals. The association still drives the “VIP arrival” image today.
7. The longest limousine ever built was over 100 feet long.
   “The American Dream,” built by customizer Jay Ohrberg, was restored and recognized by Guinness World Records at over 100 feet long. It even had wild features like a helipad.

BONUS:

Little-Known Fact: The first limousines were not built to show off. They were built to separate the passenger experience from the stress of driving — the same basic idea behind professional car service today.