The History of Limousines and their Origin

Where do limos come from?
Unlike most cars, whose styles and adaptations are directly from their horse-drawn carriage predecessors, limousines were originally built as automobiles. In 1889, the first limousine automobile was introduced in Paris, France.
Read more on bigcars.com

Since more than a century ago, limousines have been an opulent kind of transportation. These cars are frequently utilized for big occasions like weddings, proms, and business gatherings and are frequently linked with money and power. But how did limos get started, and where did they come from?

The Limousin area of France is where the word “limousine” first appeared. The traditional hooded cloak used by farmers and shepherds in the area was well-known. The word “limousine” was used to describe the cloak, and it’s thought that the term “limousine” was also used to describe the earliest cars that looked like these cloaks.

Early limousines were frequently custom-built by coachbuilders and served as chauffeured transportation for affluent people. The driver’s compartment and the rear passenger compartment of these early limousines were often divided by a partition, and they were typically longer than conventional autos.

The Cadillac Fleetwood is one of the most recognizable and classic limousines. The Cadillac Fleetwood was created as an opulent, roomy vehicle that could carry big groups of passengers and was initially presented in 1927. One of the first limousines to include power windows, air conditioning, and a radio was the Fleetwood.

Even now, limousines are still seen of as being luxurious and are frequently employed for special occasions. They can hold anything from six to twenty passengers and are often longer than normal cars. Stretch limos, SUV limos, and party buses are just a few of the several varieties of limousines that are available. So why are they referred to as limos? The hooded cloak shepherds wore in Limousin, France, is where the word “limousine” initially appeared. When these cloaking vehicles first appeared on the road, they were known as “limousines.” The moniker persisted, and today any opulent and extended vehicle is referred to as a limousine.

Last but not least, Queen Elizabeth II drives a specially constructed Bentley State Limousine. This vehicle was created especially for the Queen and has a retractable “panoramic glasshouse” roof and a handcrafted wood interior, among other distinctive characteristics.

FAQ
When did limos become a thing?

When limousines were created and produced for the first time by automakers in the early 1900s, they became commonplace. The first limousines were made by shortening a conventional car’s chassis and lengthening the body to make additional room for passengers. These early limousines were frequently referred to as “stretch limousines” and were largely used by affluent people.

Leave a Comment