Secret Service Vehicle: The Beast

Introduction

• Special edition of Jeno's Garage
• Featuring the presidential limousine
• Vehicle protected by the Secret Service
• Not a political discussion, it's about the vehicle's protection systems

Vehicle Overview

• Built by General Motors, resembles a Cadillac
• Enormous size, essentially a tank
• Most likely the safest vehicle in the world

Tire Specifications

• Massive tires, similar to a bus or big truck tires
• Equipped with run-flat capabilities

Transportation Logistics

• Two vehicles accompany the President wherever he goes
• Transported via Air Force C-17 or C-5
• For foreign trips, multiple C-17s are used
• Vehicles have an 8-year shelf life
• Current version has been in service since September 2018
• Out-of-service vehicles are destroyed, not donated or sold

Design and Technology

• Incorporates General Motors components
• Dash similar to a Cadillac Escalade
• LED lights illuminate flags at night
• Uses some stock pieces to reduce costs
• Constant updates in technology

Manufacturing and Secrecy

• Secret Service involved in the design process with GM
• Builders must have top secret clearance
• General public and possibly others inside the agency don’t know who the builders are
• Several years needed to develop a new vehicle

Historical Context

• First armored limousine was Al Capone's bulletproof Lincoln used by President Roosevelt after Pearl Harbor

Vehicle Features

• Presidential windows extended for visibility during parades
• Flags changed according to the host country when overseas
• A lot of standard GM parts like mirrors and headlights

Internal Features

• Presidential seal made from wood of a tree planted by George Washington
• Seal stitched by a dedicated individual, later laser-etched onto titanium
• Interior seats heated, cooled, with massage functionality

Operational Details

• Advanced work done a week prior to the president’s arrival at a location
• Close coordination with local law enforcement
• A significant focus on alternate routes for motorcades
• Stressful due to potential changes in events

Safety and Security

• Secret Service agents rely on fleet protocols and local law enforcement to ensure routes are safe

Driving Comfort

• Vehicles undergo high-speed driving courses
• Generation 3 limousine is much better than previous versions

Maintenance and Issues

• Mechanic travels with the car for on-the-spot repairs
• Story of a fuel contamination issue and air conditioning failure
• Mechanics handle spare parts and minor fixes

General Information

• Presidential motorcade disrupts traffic but aims to minimize public inconvenience
• Historical shift from open cars to heavily armored vehicles
• Logistics of presidential vehicles involved in travel

Conclusion

• Secret Service dedication to ensuring presidential safety
• Lessons learned from past experiences

Loading the Vehicle

• The limousine is loaded onto a C-17 cargo plane for transportation

Final Notes

• Video ends with an appreciation for the dedication of the Secret Service and their role in safeguarding the President