Although the extended limousine is, today, an iconic and quickly recognizable car, it was not always that way. These luxury chauffeured cars have come a long way since their inception in the early 1900s.

Before Ford
Long before Henry Ford invented his Model T, chauffeured carriages existed for the wealthy. These horse-drawn vehicles offered an enclosed space for their passengers to relax without having to experience the harshness of the road. The passengers were separated from their drivers, who were often exposed to the elements. This separation of driver and driver provided the basic components necessary for the first motorized limousines.

First models
The first motorized limousines were cars whose passenger seats were closed, like the carriages of yesteryear. Most automobiles of the time had open chassis, so the chassis enclosure marked a different new type of vehicle. The first fully enclosed limousine was built in 1902, but previously partially enclosed prototypes existed.

Let’s stretch
As automobiles became the standard means of transportation, especially for important people, the need arose to transport more people in a single vehicle. The first limousine was created in 1928 by Armbruster, an Arkansas manufacturer. Often called “big band buses” because of the clientele they normally carried, these cars quickly became popular. Hotels began using them to take guests to and from the airport and on tourist expeditions. The Great Depression didn’t slow down the popularity of the limousine, and Hollywood quickly picked up the trend, cementing it forever in our cultural landscape.

In truth, it seemed that he had not arrived if he did not arrive in a limousine.

Modern day
The limousine became the stretch sedan we know and love today. Doors were added to accommodate additional guests, and amenities like sunroofs and in-cabin refreshments became the norm. Today, super-ultra stretch limousines can carry up to 12 passengers, but typically carry between 6 and 10 passengers.

The all-rounder
With the growing popularity of SUVs, limousine manufacturers realized that they had to create stretch SUV limousines in addition to the traditional extended sedan. The first stretch SUVs created quite a stir, but today they are as common as any other type of limousine. These vehicles can carry more people than sedan-style limousines, with a maximum capacity of 20 passengers. Many people prefer this style of limousine because it offers more space inside to add both space and amenities that will not fit in a luxury sedan-style car.