The 1972 Lincoln Continental Presidential Limousine, often mistakenly referred to as the “Sunshine Special” (a name actually given to a 1939 Lincoln K series used by Franklin D. Roosevelt), is a significant artifact at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. This armored vehicle, used by Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, is a testament to the evolving balance between presidential visibility and security. Below is a detailed exploration of its history, use, and significance.
Design and Features
Delivered to the White House in 1974, the 1972 Lincoln Continental was a 22-foot, 13,000-pound, six-passenger limousine leased from Ford Motor Company for $5,000 annually (equivalent to about $31,879 in 2024). Built by Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury Division at the Wixom Plant and customized by Ford’s Special Vehicles Engineering Department in Dearborn, it featured a 460-cubic-inch V8 engine producing 214 horsepower. The car was equipped with advanced security features for its time, including full armor plating, bulletproof glass, external microphones to detect outside noises, and racks for Secret Service submachine guns. Despite not being a convertible, it had opening roof panels to allow the president to stand and wave during public appearances, reflecting the ongoing tension between visibility and safety.
In 1982, after the assassination attempt on Reagan, the car underwent modifications, including updated front sheet metal and a 1979 Lincoln grille (as the 1982 grille was incompatible with the 1972 body). By the time it was retired in 1992, the limousine had logged 40,617 miles and measured 259 inches long, 79.6 inches wide, 61.1 inches tall, with a 161-inch wheelbase.
Historical Significance
The 1972 Lincoln Continental served during a turbulent period in American history and was involved in two notable assassination attempts:1975 Attempt on Gerald Ford: On September 22, 1975, in San Francisco, Sara Jane Moore fired a shot at President Ford, missing narrowly. The limousine safely transported Ford away from the scene. This incident, following another attempt on Ford’s life earlier that month, underscored the vehicle’s critical role in presidential security.
1981 Attempt on Ronald Reagan: On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan outside the Washington Hilton. Two of the six bullets struck the limousine—one damaging the bulletproof window of the right rear passenger door, and another ricocheting off the back-right quarter panel, hitting Reagan. The car swiftly carried him to George Washington University Hospital, likely saving his life.
Clarification on “Sunshine Special”
The term “Sunshine Special” is often misapplied to this 1972 Lincoln Continental. The actual Sunshine Special was a 1939 Lincoln K series V12 convertible, the first vehicle built specifically for presidential use, leased to Franklin D. Roosevelt. It featured a 160-inch wheelbase, rear suicide doors, and later modifications like armor and bulletproof glass after Pearl Harbor. The 1972 Lincoln Continental, while a successor in the lineage of presidential vehicles, is distinct and lacks an official nickname like “Sunshine Special” in the records. This confusion may stem from the prominence of the 1939 vehicle in The Henry Ford Museum’s collection.
Display at The Henry Ford Museum
The 1972 Lincoln Continental is part of The Henry Ford Museum’s Presidential Vehicles exhibit, which showcases five limousines used by 11 presidents, including the 1961 Lincoln Continental (SS-100-X) associated with John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Donated by Ford Motor Company, the 1972 limousine is displayed to illustrate the evolution of presidential security, particularly after high-profile incidents like the Kennedy assassination and the Reagan attempt. The exhibit emphasizes how vehicles balanced the president’s need to be seen with the imperative of protection. Visitors can view the car alongside other historic vehicles, such as the 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan “bubble top” and the Kennedy limousine, which was rebuilt with armor after 1963.
