History of the Limousine
The limousine, like many things associated with opulence and style, originated in France. The history of the limousine began, strangely enough, with French shepherds.
In the region of France known as Limousin, shepherds tending flocks in the fields, developed a hooded out garment to protect themselves from the elements. These were called limousines. When the first motor carriages were being developed in the early 1900’s, the majority were open vehicles. When the first hoods were placed over the passenger compartments to provide more protection and comfort, these carriages were given the name limousines after the French shepherd garment. A carriage maker from the Limousin region might well have coined the name.
In 1921, in New York City, a man named James P. Carey recognized a demand for a ride for hire that had a bit more style than the common taxi cab. He introduced chauffeur driven luxury cars as an alternative. This launched a business that made him a millionaire and is still in operation today. The concept of limousine was being narrowed down to refer to a high luxury automobile usually driven by a chauffeur.
It was another New Yorker named David Klein who made the “stretch” limousine popular. In response to a taxi strike in 1970, Klein got the idea of making special stretch luxury limousines available for hire in big cities across the United States. The stretch limousine became a standard for the rich and famous and a mark of importance and wealth. They became associated with Government figures as well and there was a Presidential Limousine made for the use of the United States President.
There is an American folk image of limousine after limousine pulling up at special Hollywood events discharging their rich and famous passengers. The sight of a stretch limousine passing on a highway would cause necks to turn and eyes to stare seeking a glimpse of the special person inside. The limousine became the darling vehicle of the rich and they outdid themselves to make them longer and longer. The insides contained everything from hot tubs to putting greens.
This association with the rich led to the limousine rental business. For special events, anyone could feel important, rich, and famous. It became common to rent limousines for proms and special romantic dates. Limousines carried the mourning families behind the hearse in funeral processions. Although the cost of ownership kept limousines from being owned by the average person, they were able to feel all eyes turning to them even if for just a few hours on one special day.