GENERAL
Fascinating Facts you didn’t Know About the President’s Limo “The Beast”.
The Presidential Limousine, known officially as “Cadillac One” and called “the Beast” by the Secret Service, is a remarkable machine. The president’s car is capable of transporting and protecting him, letting him work undisturbed, and if necessary, unleashing nuclear hell. President Obama’s car is a unique vehicle built around a Cadillac DTS that almost everyone has seen, but almost nobody knows anything about. And that’s on purpose – the details of its protection and weapons are closely guarded secrets.
Wait, there are weapons on the President’s limo? According to rumors, there are shotguns and tear gas cannons. But it’s also got bulletproof armor and glass, rims that can run even without tires, a blood bank, and of course, a mobile uplink to a military satellite. It flies on its own plane, costs millions of dollars, and travels with an identical buddy, should it break down. Which it has.
Here are some things you probably didn’t know about President Obama’s limo – the ultimate in stylish, bomb-proof, transportation.
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Presidents and Cars Have a Long History
Presidents have long been early adopters of automobile technology, with William McKinley being the first POTUS to ride in a car, all the way back in 1900. William Howard Taft was the first president to regularly use motor transportation, as opposed to horse-drawn carriages, and successive presidents have bought more and more lavish state cars. Barack Obama’s Presidential State Car is an armored Cadillac DTS known as “The Beast.” -
The Beast Earns Its Name
The exact details of the weight and outfitting of the President’s limo are closely guarded secrets, but the car is thought to be about 18 feet long and weigh around 7.5 tons. Its speed is also classified, but it’s speculated that the car gets about eight miles to the gallon – not being designed for fuel efficiency. -
It’s Essentially a Moving Fortress
President Obama’s car is a bulletproof mobile bunker made of steel, ceramic, and titanium. It’s designed to keep the President safe from a variety of attacks, and to serve as a mobile command center in the event that the White House has to be evacuated. -
Bombs and Grenades Can’t Touch It
While the specifications of the Beast are classified, one of the most speculated about features is a reinforced, five-inch steel plate said to run underneath the car. This protects the President in the event that a bomb is placed on the car, a grenade rolls under the car, or the car rolls over a land mine. -
It’s Resistant to Chemical Weapons
The main cabin of the Beast seals when the doors are closed, meaning poison gas or nerve agents can’t get in. It also has its own filtration system to ensure clean air is always being pumped through. -
The Doors Are REALLY Thick
Legend has it that the doors of the Beast are as heavy as the cabin doors of a 757 jet. They feature bulletproof glass said to be five inches thick, and have over eight inches of armor plating. -
The Huge Doors Don’t Have Handles
The standard Cadillac DTS door handles were replaced on the Beast with special loops that allow the Secret Service agents to run alongside the car while holding on. They’re also easier to grab and open in an emergency – providing the driver or President hasn’t locked the car from the inside. -
It Can Drive Without Tires
The Beast’s tires are heavily protected from puncture or flattening. It’s thought that special wheels were made that are Kevlar-reinforced, and can resist shred and puncture. Additionally, if something DOES blow out the tires, that’s okay, because the Beast can drive short distances on just its steel rims, thanks to special run-flat devices. -
Only One Window Opens
The windows on the Beast are reportedly five to six inches thick, bomb-proof, and able to withstand armor-piercing bullets. Only the driver’s window opens, and only 2.75 inches at that, so the driver can speak with Secret Service agents outside the vehicle. -
The Fuel Tank Is Double Defended
The limo’s fuel tank is armor-plated to help repel bullets. As a second line of defense, the lining of the tank is filled with a special foam that prevents it from exploding even if it sustains a direct hit. This is the same technology race cars use to keep their gas tanks from exploding in a collision.
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The Trunk Isn’t for Luggage
The Beast has a trunk, but it’s not meant to hold the President’s baggage. Instead, the trunk is said to house an emergency oxygen supply and firefighting equipment. It’s also rumored that the trunk holds bottles of blood that match President Obama’s blood type, in case an emergency transfusion is needed. -
There’s More Than One Beast
There are likely about 12 different armored Cadillacs that serve as the Presidential State Car. Each car is identical, and the system of what car is used when is kept classified. In fact, there’s always another Beast around whenever the President is traveling, usually somewhere in the Presidential motorcade. -
It’s Got a Bit of a James Bond Car Thing Going On
Like everything about Cadillac One, its special features are classified. But it’s believed that the car carries its own night vision camera, to use in case of a blackout. It’s also said to carry tear gas cannons for dispersing a hostile crowd, and pump-action shotguns for close quarters defense. -
The Inside Has All Kinds of Cool Features as Well
The Presidential Cadillac seats seven people, including a driver and Secret Service Agent up front. In the back, President Obama sits facing forward, with his guests facing toward him. He’s got an array of defensive measures, including a glass partition to the driver that only he can open, and a panic button for summoning help. -
President Obama Can Do Pretty Much Anything Inside the Car
Like Air Force One, the Beast allows the President to do his work even while in transit. He can stay connected safely on his fold-away desk that includes a laptop with secure WIFI capabilities, as well as a satellite phone with a direct line to the Pentagon and Vice President Biden. Communications equipment in the car is maintained by the White House Communications Agency. -
The President Can Fire Nuclear Weapons from the Car
Should the unthinkable happen and nuclear war break out while President Obama is in the Beast, he’s ready to go. The motorcade always includes a vehicle known as the Roadrunner, or the MC2V. This car carries equipment that can link the Limousine Control Package – which allows the President to conduct Command and Control functions – to a Defense Department Satellite. Through this satellite, the President can send and receive Emergency Action Messages through a special channel, which allow him to authorize and direct a nuclear weapon release. -
The Driver Has to Be an Expert in Crazy Turns
The driver of the Presidential Limo isn’t just a run of the mill Secret Service agent. He has to be trained in CPR and have specialized training in evasive driving techniques, including the legendary J-turn. Also known as the “moonshiner’s turn,” based on a signature bootlegger driving maneuver, the J-turn can flip the car 180 degrees while the driver guns the engine at the same time. Don’t try it at home. -
The Beast Has Its Own Plane
Just as the President has his own airplane, the President’s car has its own plane – because nothing else can carry it. Whenever the President flies, the two limos that go with him, as well as the other motorcade vehicles, are fit into a specially designed C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. -
It’s One Expensive Ride
Each Beast reportedly costs about $1.5 million to build and maintain. As with everything else related to Cadillac One, this is a closely-guarded secret. -
The Beast Occasionally Breaks Down
The vast majority of the time, the complex machine known as Cadillac One functions smoothly and with no problems. But when it doesn’t, it tends to make the news. This usually happens because the Beast has terrible maneuverability, and can struggle with narrow roads overseas. It had trouble parking in London in 2009, appeared to get stuck on a ramp during the President’s 2011 visit to Ireland, and broke down completely in Israel in 2013. Each time, the President was moved to the backup limo, and the visits went on as normal.
