Harry S. Truman: Ford Super Deluxe Tudor SedanHarry S. Truman served two terms as the 33rd president (until 1953) but did so in a most unorthodox way. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the president in 1945 until he suddenly died on April 12. His Vice President was Truman, who took the reigns of a United States still entrenched in World War II, which wouldn't end until September.In February 1942, the government forced every automaker to stop building passenger vehicles to ration materials. Instead, they were instructed to build military cars and airplanes for the war effort. The ban lasted until October 1945, and Ford was the first company to return to passenger vehicle production.The first post-war car Ford built — labeled "Production 1" — was a moonbeam gray (referred to as "white" by some) 1946 Super Deluxe Tudor Sedan, and it was given to Truman by Henry Ford II himself in September 1945. The image above is that of a 1948 model, which looked similar. Unsurprisingly, it was put together using leftover parts from 1942 models and was powered by a 3.9-liter V8 Mercury flathead that kicked out 100 hp.While Truman technically "owned" the car, he never actually drove it. Why? According to reports, he was actually a dyed-in-the-wool Chrysler man. Remember, this was before the Former Presidents Act, so they could drive as they liked. When Truman left office, he purchased a brand new Chrysler New Yorker and subsequently went on a 2,500-mile road trip with his wife from Independence, Missouri, to the East Coast.Dwight D. Eisenhower: Rauch & Lang electric carDwight D. Eisenhower (34th President) served two terms from 1953 to 1961. He was a lauded general during World War II who commanded Allied Forces in North Africa in November 1942 and was Supreme Commander for the invasion of Normandy in June 1944 (D-Day). We also have him to thank for creating the U.S. Interstate Highway System.While campaigning for his first term in '52, he was often seen tooling around in a 1914 Rauch & Lang electric car. We're fibbing here a bit because, technically, it belonged to his wife's mother (Mrs. Elivera Dowd). Still, it was owned by the family, and Ike was known to drive it frequently, so we're making a concession. Over a century before Toyota unveiled the Prius in 2000, electricity was used in automobiles. In fact, by the early 1900s, electric cars made up a third of every vehicle on the road. In 1912, the Rauch & Lang Electric was the costliest car in America, costing about four times more than a Model T.Speeds between 18 and 20 mph were reached through five forward speeds (operated by a tiller) and a sixth passing speed button on the floor. The 1914 model had a bevel gear transmission and a dual control coach feature, allowing the driver to operate the vehicle from either the front or back seats. The front seat swiveled to help facilitate this option. It was also decked out with finer touches, like a removable brass clock and crystal bud vase.The car is said to be on display at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home in Abilene, Kansas.
