Cadillac DTS Presidential State Car

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Side view of the 2005 model

The Cadillac DTS Presidential State Car was the official state car of US President George W. Bush during his tenure. Similar to the Air Force One aircraft used by the president , the presidential limousine is colloquially known as the Cadillac One . This model was replaced with a newer model when Barack Obama was inaugurated on January 20, 2009, but has been in use as a replacement vehicle ever since.

Model 2005-2009

Cadillac One deployed abroad in Zagreb in 2008

When driving domestically, the Cadillac One displayed the flag of the United States and the standard of the President, which are illuminated by gas discharge lamps on the hood. The state car was transported by plane for domestic and international missions, mostly by a C-17 Globemaster III of the US Air Force . During state visits by the President abroad, the President's standard was replaced by a flag of the respective host country. The 2005 DTS model continued to be used as a replacement vehicle in the President's fleet from 2009.

Technical data and equipment

The armored door (interior view)
The Obamas in the back row of seats

The model is a 2005 handcrafted armored version of the Cadillac DTS (DeVille Touring Sedan) stretch limousine , which was built on a four-wheel drive chassis from GM . The car was fitted out by Centigon (formerly O'Gara, Hess & Eisenhardt). The vehicle model was first used at the inauguration of George W. Bush on January 20, 2005.

Most of the special installations serve the safety of the president. It has a high roofline, all-wheel drive derived from the Cadillac Escalade , red and blue emergency vehicle lights in the grille, and red strobe lights in the main headlights and rear brake lights. The standard door handles have been replaced by those with larger loops. The vehicle is armored all around 127 mm thick according to military standards. The windows cannot be opened and the wheels are fitted with run-flat tires. Five antennas are mounted on the trunk lid. Because of the thick panes, only little light penetrates from the outside, so the brightness is ensured by fluorescent ring lighting in the roof lining.

The car has seven seats including the one for the president. Two people can sit in the front; A communication system is installed in the center console. A pane of glass separates the driver's seat from the passenger compartment. In the back there are three rear-facing seats equipped with cushions that can be folded against the partition. The two rear seats are reserved for the president and an attendant. Their backrests can be adjusted individually. A table can be opened between the two rear rows of seats. Trays contain communication devices.

Model from 2009

The second model: "The Beast" from 2009

On January 6, 2009 it was announced that a new, modified Cadillac model from 2009 would be used for the inauguration of Barack Obama on January 20, 2009. On this day the car was replaced by the Cadillac Presidential State Car (callsign: The Beast , Cadillac One , optionally also Limo One ).

During President Obama's official visit to Ireland on May 23, 2011 , the vehicle was damaged by driving on the driveway to the US embassy in Dublin . The Secret Service later stated that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were in a different vehicle at the time and were not endangered.

Others

In 2015 the model appeared in the regular range of the toy manufacturer Matchbox .

Web links

Commons : Cadillac DTS Presidential State Car  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Gregg D. Merksamer: Take a Look Inside the President's New Cadillac One Limo. In: Popular Mechanics. June 2001.
  2. ↑ a b Neil McDonald: By George, a Caddy that's Bulletproof. In: The Daily Telegraph. (Australia) August 24, 2007.
  3. ^ British Company Agrees to Buy Armor Holding. ( Memento of July 28, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) In: The Associated Press. May 8, 2007.
  4. ↑ ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: Obama to Ride in Style in GM Limo, "The Beast"! ) In: Detroit News. January 6, 2009.@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.detnews.com
  5. ↑ Mike M. Ahlers, Eric Marrapodi: Obama's Wheels: Secret Service to Unveil New Presidential Limo. In: CNN.com , Jan 6, 2009.
  6. ↑ RTÉ.ie Extra Video: President Obama's car gets stuck leaving the US Embassy in Dublin - Video - RTÉ News Player . In: Rte.ie , May 23, 2011, accessed December 31, 2011.
  7. ↑ Obama's Beast 'did not get stuck' on Dublin ramp. In: BBC News. May 23, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2014.