The History of Limousines

When we pass a stretch limo the chances are we can’t help but stare at it. And when we’re the ones in the limo, a kind of vehicle that is usually not a part of our lives, we’re treating ourselves to something special. But what is the history of the limo? Did you know that the evolution of the limo dates back many hundreds of years?

So sit back, relax and enjoy this short and comprehensive history of limousines!

It All Started In France …

We can find the start of the word “limousine” dating as far back as the 1700s. However, a “limo” back then is not what we know of a limo today, except for the wealthy people part. What were they? Limos were covered horse-drawn carriages that carried wealthy people around. It had a chauffeur, but the chauffeur was separated from the passengers. He wasn’t allowed to sit with the passengers. He had to sit outside in the elements with only a hooded cloak to protect him.

It wasn’t until 1902 when we saw the first automobile limousines, and that was less than two decades after the first practical automobile was invented. There was a compartment that was separate and covered and where the driver sat. It looked like a cloak worn by people of Limousin, a French region. That is why we have the word “limousine.” Today, we still have the limousine driver separated from the passengers. Furthermore, because the driver continues to be separated from the passengers in today’s times, passengers can drink alcohol and party in the back of the limo legally.

Stretching Out

So what about the “stretch limo”? Well, that didn’t happen until the late 1920s and was launched by a company out of Arkansas who created a long form of the standard limo. Soon, Cadillac chassis appeared, and that led to normalization of longer limos. In the beginning, they were known as “big band buses” because they would carry musicians and their equipment around from gig to gig.

With the development of limos, they gained a reputation for ferrying around the rich and famous, people who were Hollywood stars, politicians, and the like. They also were used for hotel transport and sightseeing tours.

Recent History

The concept of the “funeral car” came to be in the 1970s, as the limos were used to carry mourners from the funeral home to the graveyard. Today, limos are not just for the rich, but they are seen as a classy way to get people from place to place.

And these days, due to the demand, more and more people, of all types, can gain access to being driven around in a limo. Prices are such that you don’t have to be a Hollywood type or a wealthy citizen to rent one. What’s even better, more and more companies are trying to outdo one another with more luxurious/outlandish limos for the general public to enjoy.

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