Rental with Driver Milan: History of Limousine from the Beginning
The birth of a symbol
Today we at Vip Limousine Milano would like to dedicate an entire news item to a car that became a symbol and status marker years ago: limousine. Despite the fact that our car fleet is stocked with many luxury cars, carefully inspected and frequently changed, it is still the limousine that represents, for many, the greatest symbol of luxury.
Many people take for granted the existence of limousines as we know them today, i.e. luxurious and spacious cars for special occasions and prestige, but not everyone knows that this history has roots that go back even before cars were invented.
Over time, the limousine has undergone several small but significant transformations in terms of space and technology: its history goes hand in hand with that of the first automobiles (late 19th and early 20th century) and this makes it relatively "young" compared to other means of transport.
Historical evolution of the limousine
The origins of the myth: carriages for the rich
The name "limousine" comes from the French town of Limoges, located in the Limousin region, where locals used to wear long hooded cloaks to protect themselves from bad weather.
The limousine has its origins in 18th century France: at that time, cars had not yet been invented and the only transport was carriages. The wealthy and more prominent people used horse-drawn carriages that were distinguished from the others by very specific structural features.
In contrast to normal carriages, these boasted an uncovered front part, where the driver stood wrapped in a "limousine" cloak, which gave its name to this type of vehicle, and a covered rear part for passengers.
This particular vehicle was reserved for wealthy people as a matter of status, since certain elements, such as the private driver and the cloak, were associated with luxury and therefore not for everyone.
The first limousine cars
The history of limousines as we know them officially began in 1902, when the first cars along the lines of the aforementioned carriages were produced: uncovered at the front and covered at the rear.
The characteristic element that preserved the connection with the cloaks of French shepherds was the car's top cover, which resembled the cloak itself.
A further evolution took place towards the end of the 1920s, when limousines began to become stretched. Armbruster, a company in Fort Smith, Arkansas, designed a car suitable for the big bands of the time (Benny Goodman Orchestra and Glenn Miller Orchestra), capable of transporting several people and their instruments in a single trip around the country: ideal cars for touring!
In 1933, the limousine achieved a historical technological first: it was the first type of car to have the first air-conditioning system inside. Being a prototype, it did not have the efficiency of today's air conditioning systems, but it gave limousines an exclusivity that other cars did not have.
These were the years in which the limousine acquired an unmistakable and unattainable status: starting with William Howard Taft, who bought four limousine cars in 1910, and continuing with Roosevelt who, at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s, had it modified with armour plating and bulletproof glass, transforming it into the presidential car that every President of the United States of America has had to this day.
From after World War II to the present day
The growing pop culture after the Second World War meant that film, television, theatre and music stars increasingly took advantage of this super-equipped and luxurious vehicle.
Suffice it to say that, starting in the 1950s, there was a further extension in terms of space of the limousine and the addition of other luxury options, such as telephones, monitors, lights and more.
Moreover, just as six-door limousines were being introduced, the US market was being enriched by new manufacturers such as Cadillac and Lincoln (the latter would become the producer of John Fitzgerald Kennedy's presidential car in the 1960s). The car model with a driver separate from the passengers had by then become fashionable, to the point that even the famous London Cabs had adopted this structure.
VIP Limousine Milan: unmistakable quality for an excellent service
As we have just seen, we have come a long way in the evolution of the limousine: if we think of the horse-drawn carriages that barely accommodated 3 or 5 passengers, and then of today's limousines that can accommodate at least 20 people inside them, including all the comforts and extra services possible and imaginable, then we can safely say that the limousine now constitutes an extremely high quality service and one that is aiming even higher in terms of optional extras and services for the future.
We at Vip Limousine Milano have been present as a reality for many years and we have followed every recent evolution carefully, transferring it into our service package: from car hire with a highly qualified and prepared driver to airport transfers, from wedding services to shopping tours with latest-generation luxury cars.
We care about service quality as much as Customer satisfaction: there is no better gratification for our work than knowing that a Customer is happy and satisfied with his experience with us, and this encourages us every day in our mission to provide excellent services for luxurious experiences.
Our Milan chauffeur services are available to the customer for any occasion and at any time of the year, together with our customer service. For any information or booking please do not hesitate to contact our offices open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
