Limousine history

Post War Limousines...

2008-04-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Even though Isotta Fraschini stopped producing limousines, there were others who picked up on it. After the WWII Detroit became a center of limo production. People noticed the luxury cars after the war and it became a wonderful sight: it meant the war was over and people could focus on building their lives again. Cadillac was a major producer and their Cadillac Series 70 was produced from 1936 even up to 1976! It was a V8 full powered limousine!
Many celebrities used limousines to highlight their status of fortune and fame. Betty Grable was a big fan of Cadillac 60 and she used to often travel in it, especially going to premieres of her movies!

Courteous Cadillacs

2008-04-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

Not only Maybach produced stylisch limousines in those days. Also Cadillac produced some very stylisch limo's. Also these limousines have survived untill today and are still being used as wedding limousines. The Cadillac 60 only transports 2 persons and a chauffeur but these passenger can enjoy their ride in plush velvet seating. This Cadillac was produced in 1939. For those who iwshed a big more leg space and seating of four people, Cadillac produced in 1038 and 1939 the Cadillac 75. And again, thes eare still popular with weddings, since tehy ahve more room brides have les trouble fitting their bridal gowns in the seating.
Both the Depression and after this the WWII presented major abstacles for the limo business and limousine production. However, there were still the celebrities that kept on using these cars and eventually the business pulled through into the 40's.

1930's continued....

2008-04-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

Even though the Depression hit in the 30's and limousine companies were affected noticeably, there were some limousines produced in those days. These limousines are now collectors items and heavily paid for. They are also still used a nostalgic limousines for weddings etc. The Maybachs DS 8 Zeplins limousines were state of the art vehicles in those days. They are till recognized for their beauty and style today. The interior was all made in wood, chrome and leather, yet not too extravagant, rather more sphisticated. The only drawback in that limousine was the steering that was quite heavy, yet this was a drawback for the driver not for the passengers.

Depression all around...

2008-04-06T16:46:00.000-07:00

In the 30's the Drepession hit worldwide. Many companies went out of business. The limousine company was not excluded. Especially since the limousine business is a luxury item, a service that people will cut off fast once the budget gets tighter....The car manufacturer Isotta Fraschini was hit hard by the Depression. and after this again by WWII. eventually he stopped producing cars completely. As in ay other business, people do not stop trying to make business. so even during teh 30's with the Depression there were companies starting and trying to produce better limousines. Many however were forced to close down or taken over, for not only had they compete with each other, they also had the Great Depression to get through....

1920: Limo Businesses arise

2008-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

In New York, 1921, James P Carey was the first to launch a limousine business. He felt that the visitors to New York liked to ahve a more luxurious method of transportation than the taxi cabs, so he started to rent out Cadillacs and Packards. The idea found response since that company is still in business today in NY!
America was growing and the middle classes were getting richer. Anotehr entrpreneur saw his chances. His name was Isotta Fraschini. he manufactured luxurious limousines. His customers were mostly the movie stars such as Clara Bow and Rodolfo Valentino. One of his limousines had a small film roll in the movie Sunset Boulevard.
Even in funerals limousines started to feature. Their stylish sleek look and the discretion of the drivers made it the appropriate method of transportation.
As you can see, right from the start the limousine's value and diversity was acknowledged!

Bustling 1920's...

2008-04-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

In the 1920's we see the first real limousine being produced. The first to make a limousine was a company named Armbruster. They produced the first real stretch limousine in Forth Smith, Arkansas in 1928. They used the stretch limousine to transport the 'big bands', that were very famous in those days. Why big bands you might ask? Because not only the musicians would be in there: their instruments too! Therefore these limos were called the 'big band buses' in those days. Famous names such as Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman were using this kind of transportation. The 1920's were also the days that limousine company's and limousine hire as we know it today arrived at the scene. We will discuss this in the next post!

The Sedan Chair

2008-04-02T14:46:00.000-07:00

As you can see in the pictures in the previous post, limousine service started with a mancarried chair, called the Sedan Chair. This start is placed around the 1720's. Hooded so the person inside would stay dry, there was only enough room for one. Hardly like the limousines today where a standard stretch limo can at least carry 6! You can imagine that this method of carrying an important firgure around wouldn't be used to carry him/her very far. Within the city and within a few blocks maybe but for travel further away horses and carts would be used. we will talk about those in the next post!

A little french touch....

2008-03-31T07:55:00.000-07:00

Limousine services go way way back, maybe even further than this picture, since you can imagine this type of limo transport to have existed for any person who was revered in any society. Limousines originated in France. That isn't a big surprise concerning the name 'limousine'. It is said that the first 'limousine' as a sort of hooded overcoat, developed by shepherds in France to protect them from the rain. later on this idea as converted into a coach with a hood on it to protect the passengers from the rain. It is also said that the coach maker making such coaches lived in a place called 'Limousin' in France, hence the name. Leaving the details aside it can be safely said that as far as we can trace it now, the origins lie in France...

Welcome to limousine history!

2008-03-30T11:12:00.001-07:00

We will show you in this blog how limousine services came to grow into what we know it to be today: luxurious chauffeured transportation. How did it start? what type of carts, vehicles and cars were used? how did it become a service to be hired? who used to uds this service and who is using it today? lots and lots of questions which we will answer soon in this blog.....