JFK assassination limo painted at Broadmeadows

[Moo Man]

A little bit of history and an interesting read!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-0...tralia/9840906

Long story short, the limo that JFK was travelling in when he was assassinated was later modified and used by Johnson, including his visit to Australia in '66 where it was a victim of a paint 'bombing'.

The result of the protest left the president's minders with a major headache: the paint thrown on the limousine had started to dry and couldn't be removed by hand.

Johnson was due to visit Sydney the next day for the showpiece event of his visit and driving through the city in a car splattered with paint simply would not do.

So, the vehicle was rushed to the Ford factory in Broadmeadows where, it was hoped, workers would have more luck restoring the paintwork.

Under extreme time pressure, Ford workers decided to strip and repaint the limousine rather than retouch the damaged areas.

They completed the job in an hour, in time for the car to be flown to Sydney by the US Air Force.

[Vesper Martini]

Good read. I wonder why they chose Breadmeadows rather than a reputable panel shop

security perhaps

[BENT_8]

Great read!

Hard to believe that a vehicle of this significance hasnt been returned to the original specs as it was on that fateful day in 1963.

[solarite_guy]

Originally Posted by Moo Man

They completed the job in an hour, in time for the car to be flown to Sydney by the US Air Force.

That's what you call a 20 ft paint job.

"Looks fine from here"

[ford71V8]

Why would they bring the car to Australia at all?
Nothing here would suffice?
I guess its understandable after what happened in 63 that they trusted no-one to prepare a car for a president's safety

[Sam1112]

Didn't is say something about this car in the Ford Australia book, something like the US Officials got in contact with Ford (with the car being built by Ford) and they had the local output get it all sorted out (aka, Broadmeadows)

[Fordblue1000]

This car, as well as a few other presidents cars are on display at the henry ford museum in detroit. I was quite surprised at how poorly condition all the cars were in. I guess they were a working car after all. But even some of these had rust in the doors etc! Good to see them as they were used back in the day though.

Sent from my SM-G928I using Tapatalk

[Rob 351]

I remember seeing this car also at the Henry Ford, and I recall standing beside it in amazement reading the history of it. Hard to believe a car with this much historical significance just sitting there in the museum, you can touch the thing!
Also there was Reagans 72 Lincoln still with bullet holes from when he was shot in 1981.
I remember it had a 460 in it and weighed something like 1300 pounds.
That museum is totally amazing and anyone thinking of going to that part of the US, it's a must see.

[Brodes]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Good read. I wonder why they chose Breadmeadows rather than a reputable panel shop

security perhaps

Under extreme time pressure, Ford workers decided to strip and repaint the limousine rather than retouch the damaged areas.

They completed the job in an hour, in time for the car to be flown to Sydney by the US Air Force.

Not sure a paint shop could do it that quick.

[roddy1960]

Interesting stuff. The whole JFK story has so many twists , turns and conspiracies these days too . I also saw a story once on the Discovery Channel about the modern day Presidents Limo but I found this little clip just now on it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJYbG0I7e20 ..Heavy bugger ...

[Sabantien]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Why would they bring the car to Australia at all?
Nothing here would suffice?
I guess its understandable after what happened in 63 that they trusted no-one to prepare a car for a president's safety

Apparently the US president is the only head of state that takes a vehicle everywhere they go.

I suspect paranoia - avoid it being bugged. The Secret Service has a fleet of vehicles and flies one in ahead of the president wherever he goes.

Not much good in an open topped vehicle, as JFK found out, but heavily armoured, blast resistant, etc.

Very few heads of state have the security of the POTUS. Heck, the German chancellor hit up a few pubs in Brisbane and drank with the locals.
If no one else has the same level of security of you, it stands to reason they're not going to have vehicles up to your standards. Plus, they realise they're hated the world over.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by Brodes

Not sure a paint shop could do it that quick.

maybe back in the 60's but in recent years

The Ford assembly Plant, & like most other plants its not really setup for stripping paint back and respraying a car.

The paint booth is setup to hold the body only. its held with a robot on a conveyor system sprayed and then baked.

you cant just roll in a car off the road for a paint job.

perhaps you could back then

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

maybe back in the 60's but in recent years

The Ford assembly Plant, & like most other plants its not really setup for stripping paint back and respraying a car.

The paint booth is setup to hold the body only. its held with a robot on a conveyor system sprayed and then baked.

you cant just roll in a car off the road for a paint job.

perhaps you could back then

There would have been a paint defect repair area. There certainly was when I was last there in 2014. The car can't just go back through the paint shop to fix a defect. It has to be repaired by hand. But yeah extremely doubtful they had one hour to get it done. Sounds unrealistic.

[minheim]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Why would they bring the car to Australia at all?
Nothing here would suffice?
I guess its understandable after what happened in 63 that they trusted no-one to prepare a car for a president's safety

I think these extras mentioned in the article probably explain why it was flown to Australia:

The vehicle — codenamed the SS-100-X by the US Secret Service — came with added extras such as telephones, a retractable roof, flashing lights, standing platforms for security agents and — questionably, in hindsight — a hydraulic lift that raised the president's seat so that he could be more easily seen.

Post the assassination

Titanium plating was added to the body, along with a bulletproof roof and windows, and flat-proof tyres.
It was also fitted with an air-filtration system to protect against chemical attack.