10 Most Legendary Cars Owned By US Presidents
From classic convertibles to powerful luxury cars, several U.S. presidents have driven or collected legendary vehicles, leaving behind a unique automotive legacy that continues to fascinate car lovers today.
Key Takeaway
- Out of the 46 U.S. presidents, only 19 owned cars, with notable enthusiasts like Lyndon B. Johnson, JFK, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden boasting iconic vehicles that reflect both history and luxury.
Of the 46 US presidents, only 19 owned and drove cars. Many presidents have been true car fans, but Lyndon B Johnson, JFK, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden show a very strong interest in cars and a collection.
From classic to sports to super luxury cars, is a history of special and legendary machines driven by the occupants of the White House.
Contents
1. 1930s Cadillac V-16 – Herbert Hoover
The 31st President of the United States owned a Cadillac V-16, a truly powerful vehicle for the period. This car had a huge 7.4-liter 16-cylinder engine producing 175 HP, the V-16 was a powerful and classy car.
But in 1930, sales of the V-16 came to a complete halt due to the great depression that gripped the US, so this model completely disappeared just a few years later. This car is known as one of the best and most luxurious cars owned by President Herbert Hoover.
2. 1961 Ford Thunderbird – John F. Kennedy
At his own inauguration, President JFK displayed his recently purchased Ford Thunderbird Convertible. It was the third generation that was known as the bullet-bird. Тhis was a really nice car with a soft top and two doors as well as a 300 HP 390 CID V8 and a three-speed automatic transmission.
The Ford company only made 50 limited edition Thunderbirds, named the Mahogany Thunderbird Convertible or the Presidential Edition. We can say that President JFK had a very cool classic car.
3. 1923 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost – Thomas Woodrow Wilson
As is known, Rolls-Royce has been creating the most expensive and luxurious cars for more than 100 years. Silver Ghost was such a car and it is interesting that the vehicle itself has modifications made to the windshield and roof so that President Wilson could wear his famous top hat.
The engine was a straight six 453.3 CID connected to a 4-speed manual gearbox, and the chassis of this vehicle itself was known for its low maintenance costs. Silver Ghost was the best birthday present that President Wilson received.
4. 1967 Ford Mustang Convertible – Bill Clinton
After becoming president of the US, Bill Clinton repeatedly stated that one of the hardest things he had to do was leave his fully restored 1967 Ford Mustang. This convertible featured a 120 hp 200-cubic inch I-6 engine and Clearwater Aqua paint color.
But fortunately for him, the vehicle was not lost somewhere among collectors but was found in the Museum of Automobiles, it was fully restored and Bill Clinton gave it to his nephew Tyler for his 16th birthday.
5. 1936 Ford Phaeton – Franklin D. Roosevelt
The Ford Phaeton was an incredibly good-looking car, dressed in a dark blue with a cream leather interior. This Ford was modified so that President Roosevelt could continue to drive despite his disability.
This car cost the president only $850 which is a far lower price compared to the price this beautiful car has today. After 19,143 miles driven Ford Phaeton is now in the Presidential Library and Museum.
6. Amphicar – Lyndon B. Johnson
Although at first glance this is the strangest car on this list, however, Lyndon B. Johnson’s Amphicar was one of the most legendary in his collection.This car was able to sail on water but also drive on land and only 4,000 examples were made, so Amphicar has a very high value for President Johnson.
President very often joked that it was just an ordinary car claiming that while he was driving the car his brakes failed and drove into a body of water and then he realized that this car could also float. All this makes this presidential car one of the most legendary and also strangest cars that a president has ever owned.
7. 1952 Willys M-38A1 – Ronald Reagan
President Reagan was a big Jeep fan and owned several of their models, and then bought their coolest model, the Willys Jeep M-38A1. This is a very rare and desirable car as it was only produced for one year under the Willys name and was the first American Jeep to use the Willys Hurricane F-Head 134 engine.
The car is not very comfortable or fast and is very similar to WW2 models. President Reagan owned this car from 1982 to 1996. The 1952 Willys M-38A1 still exists today and represents a small truck with high style and charisma.
8. 1997 Lamborghini Diablo – Donald Trump
The 45th President of the United States owns a garage full of cars and therefore we can say that Donald Trump is a president who has one of the largest collections of cars. Of all these cars, his favorite was the 1997 Lamborghini Diablo.
This car was very rare because it was painted in a Le Mans blue and had a 500 hp V-12 engine. So Lamborghini Diablo was a very amazing and cool car owned by Donald Trump.
9. 1939 Packard Twelve – Franklin D. Roosevelt
Although President Roosevelt is already on this list, it would be unfair if we didn’t mention his beautiful classic car – the 1939 Packard Twelve. The car was purchased towards the end of his second term as governor and it was a symbol of elegance and luxury at the time.
Packard Twelve consists of a 12-cylinder engine, capable of pushing out 160 HP. The vehicle itself had some styling tweaks such as a finely crafted leather interior, a dual side mount system, and a special New York governor’s fleet insignia. In 2017 this car started to get back on track after getting the real attention and love it deserved.
10. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C2 – Joe Biden
President Joe Biden is also a big car fanatic and his biggest love is the 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C2. The president completely restored the car after owning the Stingray for more than 50 years. An interesting fact is that he received this C2 as a wedding gift from his father, who was a Chevrolet dealer at the time.
This Stingray C2 has a carbureted 327 V8 engine, putting out around 300 HP. The C2 is an absolutely classic muscle car and it competes to be one of the coolest on this list.
What Are The 10 Most Legendary Cars Owned By U.S. Presidents?
The most legendary cars owned by U.S. presidents include the 1930s Cadillac V-16 (Herbert Hoover), 1961 Ford Thunderbird (JFK), 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C2 (Joe Biden), and more. These cars reflect both power and style, showcasing presidential tastes in automotive history.
From this list we can see that all US Presidents own really fantastic cars.
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