Limousine: A Forbidden Dream

Fairy tales of another era… Cinderella climbs into her pumpkin, magically transformed for the occasion into a sumptuous carriage. At the reins sits a coachman in full livery, ready to take her to the ball. In less distant times, the American dream found its expression in the four most admired and envied wheels of the 20th century. Indeed, it was in the United States, at the dawn of the 1900s, that the first limousines made their appearance.

As in the fairy tale—and following the customs of those days—the driver was positioned outside the passenger compartment. Only later did this vehicle, which by antonomasia became the ultimate symbol of luxury, adopt an internal partition to separate its passengers from the chauffeur.

The word limousine now describes a specific car body style, but its roots are French. Limousin refers both to a breed of cattle from southwestern France and to the long cloak once worn by local shepherds—an image that, in turn, inspired the concept of an elongated, elegant vehicle. Today you’re unlikely to spot one on every corner, unless you frequent the glitzy districts of Hollywood or Las Vegas.

Synonymous with opulence and high society, the limousine was designed to host eminent personalities on prestigious occasions. Yet it’s often rented for special events—galas, weddings and other grand celebrations.

Some argue that a limousine is less a car than a status symbol—and how could it be otherwise, given its countless comforts? Interiors are typically swathed in leather or Alcantara. Vast sofas face each other, or line the length of the cabin. You’ll find a minibar, flat-screen TV, premium sound system—even gaming tables. Naturally, champagne flutes for toasting are never in short supply. Each limousine is custom-built to its client’s specifications, so it’s not uncommon to encounter wildly eccentric color schemes or design flourishes.

“You haven’t seen this many limousines around since Al Capone’s funeral.” Even in Andrew Davis’s film “Kill the White Dove,” the limousine remains closely tied to gangster lore. Those twelve meters of steel perfectly embodied the aura of power wielded by organized crime.

World leaders, too, have embraced these rare automobiles. Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia favored two custom Mercedes—one built in 1967, the other in 1978—each seating six passengers, armored against bullets and featuring a removable hardtop. He used them for official travels and to receive foreign delegations.

Among the most famous state limousines was the ZIL used first by President Gorbachev and later by Boris Yeltsin. Produced between 1991 and 2007, it may not rank among the most cutting-edge models, but it certainly carried much of the post–Cold War establishment. Nearly impossible to breach, it was built around an armored capsule with bullet-resistant plating beneath the body. Twenty-two were made; only ten remain today. Six meters long and weighing almost six tonnes, it rode on a three-speed automatic transmission—and today commands prices north of €850,000.

Even the Lancia K once owned by “the Lawyer” (Gianni Agnelli) failed to find a buyer when auctioned for €39,000. And yet this was no ordinary car: a metallic blue finish chosen by Fiat’s patron; bespoke Ermenegildo Zegna interiors; just four ever built—the minimum required for road registration. It even chauffeured Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, marking a historic moment for Italian automotive prestige.

Similarly, a 2003 Ferrari 360 Modena converted into a limousine in 2017 went unsold at auction. With its stretched chassis, seating for seven, retractable glass roof, embroidered leather seats, “suicide” doors, plasma screens and a 400-horsepower engine, it stands alone on American soil. Offered at $95,000 (about €77,000), it too drew no takers—proof that even the rarest automotive curiosities can struggle to find a home.