Power on wheels: The history of Lithuania's presidential cars

The history of Lithuania's presidential cars begins in 1919. At the time, a new Lithuanian state would buy many of the things it needed – be it cars or weapons – from the German military that had just lost the war and was eager to get rid of its load and return home.

President Smetona was driven in a Fiat 519 / Gamintojo nuotr.

Gamintojo nuotr./Lithuania's firts presidentia vehicle - Benz 25/55PS

Gamintojo nuotr./Lithuania's first presidentia vehicle - Benz 25/55PS

This is how the first presidential car was purchased – a Benz 25/55PS with a four-cilinder 6,300 cc engine.

The open six-seat car had three doors – one on the right and two on the left side. Steering mechanisms where positioned on the outside, so there were no doors for the driver. On the back-left door, the President's Office put Vytis, the Lithuanian coat of arms, and adorned front splash boards with Lithuanian tri-colours. The car was used by Antanas Smetona and Aleksandras Stulginskis.

The picky Smetona

During Stulginskis' term in office (1920-1926), the state purchased a new vehicle, a French Delauney-Belleville 12 CV. The five-seater was used along the older Benz. It was also used by Lithuania's third president Kazys Grinius.

When Smetona carried out a putsch and returned to power, he ordered to buy a new car. A Fiat 519 was brought to Kaunas. Unlike its two predecessors, the Fiat had a luxurious roofed body.

Gamintojo nuotr./Delauney-Belleville 12C

According to some sources, the first lady later convinced the president to switch from the Italian limousine to an American K-series Lincoln. The elongated, heavy and powerful vehicle conferred proper gravity on the presidential office.

The car's bodywork was not standard – it was custom-made in 1934 in one of the trendy workshops of the period. The car, that could accelerate up to 150 kilometers per hour, was armour-plated. Even glass between the president and his driver was bullet-proofed.

Gamintojo nuotr./K-series Lincoln

According to information available to the Club of Historic Cars, none of the inter-war presidential vehicles have survived.

Modest present

After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, the then leader of the state, head of the Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis, used an “inherited” Chaika M14. The Soviet-made limousine was later replaced by a newer donated German car, Opel Senator.

The armoured vehicle carried Lithuania's leader until another car was purchased, a Mercedes-Benz W126. It drove

Gamintojo nuotr./Audi V8 Lang

Landsbergis and later Algirdas Brazauskas, who was elected Lithuania's president 1993-1998. The armoured vehicle is now in the possession of businessman Robertas Dargis.

During Brazauskas' term, two new Audi V8 Lang limousines were brought to Lithuania. One of them was given to the president, the other – to Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius. The powerful car served the president until it was replaced by a newer model of the same brand. Car collector Stasys Brundza says he has seen it parked by a Maxima store. A young man purchased it in an auction and uses it still.

Lithuania's later presidents were not so picky. Valdas Adamkus (1998-2003 and 2004-2009) first tried a BMW 7-series and later switched to an S-class Mercedes-Benz. This same car is still used by the current president, Dalia Grybauskaitė. Her security team have hinted they would like a newer and more secure car, yet there is no money for the purchase at the moment.