1920s Limos...
By the 1920's, the automobile and the most luxurious of all, the limousine was asserting its position.
The builders of luxury cars were receiving the same recognition as fashion designers in the 1920s with names like LeBaron, Fleetwood, Fisher, Vanden Plas, Judkins, Dietrich, Willoughby, Derham, Locke, and Brunn essential inclusions on the advertising of the new models of limousines. Everyone knew these vehicles and their makers, were a cut above the rest.
Limo hire was not far behind either. Limo hire pioneer JP Carey noticed in 1920s New York, many people would take advantage of a chauffeur driven limousine iif it was within their reach. Carey realised that visitors to this ever bustling city wanted to travel in more style than a taxi cab offered and so used the most luxurious and expensive cars on the market at the time, Packards and Cadillacs to launch his multi-million dollar limousine empire still in operation today.
The need for luxury transport in the 1920s was also recognised by car manufacturer Isotta Fraschini. Isotta Fraschini saw the growth of a wealthy middle class America and met that with the development of deluxe limousines.
The Isotta Fraschini limousines were used by film stars such as Clara Bow and Rodolfo Valentino and a 1929 Isotta Fraschini limousine even featured in the famous 1950s film, Sunset Boulevard.
By the 1920s, the automobile was an accepted mode of transport and was often used in funeral processions and as a hearse. The styling of hearses developed to mimic that of limousines of the time and there was little difference between the cars in a funeral procession. This just goes to show that limousines were being adopted not only by the rich and famous as their transport, but were also being recognised for their sleek and stylish presence as well as the virtues of their chauffeurs.
