I went to eh Post Office today and the 2012 White House ornament was on sale. I do not know if the White House ornament is any specific car, but it's nice. - not worth $25 (IMHO), but I wouldn't mind receiving one as a gift! lol
The first official White House automobile was the 1909 White model M for President Taft.
I believe the ornament:
is supposed to Taft's White steam car.
It looks like Big Bill had more than one car there. His chauffeur, George H. Robinson, was tasked with selecting the cars...
the model M, two Pierce arrows (above towncar?) and a Baker Electric.
TH
Surprised its not popping a wheelie with Taft in it!
William Howard Taft:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6MsGsNkFqI
Mrs. Taft looks squeezed into the corner.
To bad all the President's cars, and carriages before, were not saved and put into a museum.
Neil
Neil; several presidential cars are of course at the Ford Museum in Dearborn. This collection includes the car President Kennedy was riding in Dallas. The carriage Lincoln rode to Ford Theatre is on display at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, a museum worth visiting, even for us Ford folks.
Jon,
Good to know. Thanks. I assume several, such as Taft's car(s) are missing.
Neil
Petersen Museum has this 1912 Baker Electric reported to have been a Whitehouse car for Taft and Wilson. It is currently for sale.
I remember reading that Taft purchased the '09 White model M at the end of his term.
TH
Terry,
That would have 1912.
So the 100 year anniversary would work.
Larry
The car depicted by the ornament is a 1910 White 40 hp Model MM five passenger touring (steam). The White company described the 1909 seven passenger 40 hp car in Terry's top photo as a "Pullman" (steam).
The car barely visible (between the footman and the spectator) behind the Pierce-Arrow landaulet (town car) is a 1909 White Model O 20 hp car (smaller steam - LOL).
President Taft's 1909 Model M (Terry's photo) survived and is in the Heritage Plantation at Sandwich (MA) Museum.