Everyone recognizes the grainy, flickering Zapruder film. We see the motorcade, the crowds in Dealey Plaza, and that sleek, open-top dark blue car turning onto Elm Street. But honestly, most people have a completely wrong idea about what happened to the vehicle itself. You’d think a car that witnessed the most traumatic moment in 20th-century American history would be crushed, buried, or at least tucked away in a dark warehouse immediately.
Nope. It went back to work.
If you’re asking what car was jfk killed in, the technical answer is a heavily modified 1961 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible. To the Secret Service, it was known by its code name: SS-100-X. It was elegant, powerful, and—fatally—completely unarmored.
The Birth of the SS-100-X
This wasn't just some car they pulled off a lot in Dallas. The SS-100-X started its life at the Ford Wixom plant in Michigan, but it didn't stay "stock" for long. It was shipped off to Hess & Eisenhardt in Cincinnati, where they literally sliced the car in half.
They added 3.5 feet of length to the middle. They reinforced the frame. They added those iconic retractable steps on the rear bumper and grab handles so Secret Service agents could jump on and off. Under the hood, it packed a hand-built V8 engine designed to handle "parade pace" for hours without overheating.
Interestingly, the White House didn't even own it. Ford leased the car to the Secret Service for a measly $500 a year.
✨ Don't miss: Why Every Tornado Warning MN Now Live Alert Demands Your Immediate Attention
Why was it open-top?
Kennedy loved the sun. He loved being seen. That day in Dallas, the "bubble top"—a three-piece set of transparent plastic panels—was left in its storage bag in the trunk. But here’s the kicker: even if that plastic top had been on the car, it wouldn't have mattered.
The plastic was only about a quarter-inch thick. It was designed to keep the rain off the President’s hair, not to stop a rifle round. It wasn't bulletproof. It wasn't even bullet-resistant.
What Car Was JFK Killed In? Specs of the Original 1961 Lincoln
To understand the tragedy, you have to look at the machine itself. The 1961 Lincoln Continental was a design masterpiece of its era, famous for its "suicide doors" (rear-hinged back doors).
- Color: Midnight Blue (often mistaken for black in old photos).
- Interior: Two-tone blue leather.
- Special Feature: A hydraulic rear seat that could lift the President 11 inches so the crowd could see him better.
- Weight: About 7,800 pounds before the shooting.
When those shots rang out at 12:30 p.m. on November 22, 1963, the car became a crime scene. But the investigators didn't keep it for long. Just days after Kennedy’s funeral, a committee of 30 people met to decide what to do with the "death car."
The "Quick Fix" and the Secret Second Life
This is the part that usually blows people's minds. The car wasn't retired. Instead, it underwent a massive $500,000 overhaul (roughly $5 million today) called "The Quick Fix" or "Project D-2."
🔗 Read more: Brian Walshe Trial Date: What Really Happened with the Verdict
They stripped it to the bare metal. They added titanium armor plating. They swapped the glass for panes that were over an inch thick. They even added a permanent, non-removable bulletproof roof.
Lyndon B. Johnson, who became President the second JFK died, reportedly hated the car. He thought it was a "jinx." He ordered the color changed from the "preppy" midnight blue to a somber, funeral black. He also insisted on being able to roll down the back window—a request that actually made the car less safe, but LBJ wanted to be able to talk to people.
Where is the car today?
If you want to see the car JFK was killed in with your own eyes, you have to go to Dearborn, Michigan. It’s sitting in The Henry Ford Museum.
It looks nothing like the car from the Zapruder film. Because of the 1964 rebuild and another overhaul in 1967, it looks like a heavy, black, armored tank. It served four more presidents—Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter—before it was finally retired in 1977.
Think about that. For 14 years after the assassination, the car that carried Kennedy’s body was still roaming the streets of D.C., carrying other men in the exact same seat.
💡 You might also like: How Old is CHRR? What People Get Wrong About the Ohio State Research Giant
Key Facts to Remember
If you're researching this for a project or just out of curiosity, keep these specific details in mind:
- It wasn't black. It was midnight blue during the assassination.
- It wasn't bulletproof. There was zero armor on the car on November 22, 1963.
- It didn't go to a scrap heap. It was recycled and used for over a decade.
- The "suicide doors" stayed. Even after the armor was added, they kept the signature rear-hinged door design.
How to visit the JFK Limousine
If you're planning a trip to see it, the Henry Ford Museum is your destination.
- Location: 20900 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn, MI 48124.
- What to look for: The Presidential Vehicles exhibit.
- Don't miss: Right nearby, you can also see the chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot at Ford’s Theatre. It’s a heavy, somewhat macabre corner of the museum, but essential for history buffs.
Seeing the car in person is a surreal experience. It’s much larger than it looks on TV. It feels heavy—not just in terms of the literal weight of the armor, but the weight of the history it carries. It stands as a weird, metallic bridge between the "Camelot" era of the early 60s and the much more paranoid, armored reality of the modern presidency.
Check the museum’s official website before you go, as they occasionally move the vehicle for maintenance or special exhibits. Wear comfortable shoes; the museum is massive.