You probably, like me, saw President Obama’s new limo during the inauguration coverage on TV. It was pretty impressive there, but they didn’t have much in the way of details.
Well, never fear, thanks to the folks at Gas2.org we got a peek into the technology inside Cadillac-One. Follow the link for full details.
The limo looks like a Cadillac, but is based on the engine and chassis of the GMC Topkick C4500 truck. A five-inch steel plate gives the Cmdr-in-Chief a little more protection from IEDs than the troops in Iraq have. Run-flat, kevlar-reinforced tires and special rims mean never having to pull over and change a flat too.
It’s a pretty impressive ride. The graphic (from The Daily Mail in England) lists the pricetag at £300k.
The only thing I’m skeptical of is the “Bottles of the President’s blood kept on board in case he needs an emergency transfusion.”
Seriously? He has to give blood and have it saved in his car in case of emergency? Not even blood of the same blood type, but his own blood?
I was grateful to see the attention given to the new President’s security for reasons we all know but I won’t go into as this IS the WWW and you don’t need 200 responses. Did you see that police motorcade? Any more security and it would look like May Day parade in the former Soviet Union.
I am a little skeptical of the “president’s blood”, too. From what I understand about donated blood, it would only keep a couple of months and would have to be replaced. I just can’t imagine it. Stored elsewhere, maybe.
I understand the blood is not donated blood, but the President’s actual blood. I guess one of his ‘duties’ is to give blood…
Also, I heard some discussion of the SUV the Secret Service has that follows in the motorcade. It supposedly has a gattling gun built into it. Fun, wow!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhwJyKO2TXg
Secret Service SUV equipped with a gatling gun – now THAT I believe! I’ve had some minor experience with presidential (or vice-presidential) security here in New England. First of all, nobody lands or takes off from the airport while Air Force One is. Once it has landed and the Prez has left the airport, air traffic may resume. Exits and entrances to the highway are blocked by police while the Prez is enroute to his destination. I was once late to work because I couldn’t get off the highway near work thanks to Bill Clinton.
One time George H.W. and Barbara attended a fund-raising party at the Governor’s house. The Secret Service took the Gov’s dog to the vet to be x-rayed to make sure it wasn’t bugged. The day of the party they also jumped out of the bushes and scared the you-know-what out of some kid who was being driven around by his mom to deliver papers early in the a.m. I would love to have heard the radio transmission about that one.