20 Weird Facts About The Beast - US President's Car You Didn't Know!

The Beast doesn't just drive, it's a fortress on wheels. Doors weigh as much as a Boeing 747's. The blood bank matches the President's type and one feature can turn the entire car into a sealed bunker. These are 20 weird facts about the Beast and the bonus. Let's just say even a direct rocket hit won't stop it. Buckle up, this ride is bulletproof in every way possible. Has the President's Blood Type The Beast carries several pints of blood that matches the President's exact blood type in a special refrigerator. If the President gets shot or injured during an attack, doctors can start a transfusion immediately. The blood is stored in a medical compartment in the trunk along with emergency medical supplies. A trained paramedic or doctor always rides in the motorcade ready to treat the President instantly. The blood is replaced regularly and never allowed to expire or go bad from age. This feature was added after President Reagan was shot in 1981 and almost died. He lost a dangerous amount of blood before reaching the hospital for treatment. Now the President can receive blood in the car while racing to a trauma center. The Beast essentially has a mobile emergency room built into the trunk space. IVs, medications, defibrillators, and surgical tools are all stored in special medical kits. The Secret Service won't reveal all the medical equipment on board for security reasons. Cost over 1.5 million dollars to build in secret government facilities and factories. That's more expensive than most people's houses in nice neighborhoods across America. The government ordered multiple copies, so there's always a backup if one breaks down. Exact numbers are classified, but estimates suggest there are 12 to 15 Beasts in service today. The high cost comes from the custom armor, special technology, and secret features built inside. Every Beast is hand built by specially cleared workers who sign secrecy agreements before starting. The Secret Service won't reveal the exact price because it would expose security details. Some experts think the real cost is closer to 3 million dollars when you include research. The communications equipment alone probably costs several hundred thousand dollars per vehicle installed. Maintaining and repairing the Beast costs taxpayers millions of dollars every single year in the budget. When a new president takes office, they get new Beasts built with updated technology. It weighs more than three elephants. The Beast weighs between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds when fully loaded with passengers and equipment. That's more than three full-grown African elephants standing on a scale together at the zoo. A normal luxury car weighs around 4,000 pounds, which makes the Beast five times heavier than regular vehicles. The extreme weight comes from thick armor plating covering every single inch of the car's body. The doors alone weigh as much as the entire door on a Boeing 757 Jumbo Jet. Each door is eight inches thick and reinforced with titanium, steel, and aluminum layers stacked together. The weight is so extreme that it needs special heavy-duty tires that can't go flat even when shot. The suspension system has to be specially designed to handle all that massive weight without breaking. When the Beast drives over bridges, engineers have to check if the bridge can support it. The car is so heavy it can actually crack weak pavement and damage old roads underneath it. Doors seal like a submarine. The doors on the Beast seal completely airtight just like doors on a submarine underwater. If there's a chemical attack or biological weapon released outside, the car becomes a sealed bunker instantly. Special rubber gaskets run along every edge of the doors to create a perfect seal. The windows can't open at all except for a small three-inch opening for the driver. The president is trapped inside once the doors close, which actually keeps him completely safe. The sealing system can keep out poison gas, radiation, and even biological weapons for hours. The car has its own oxygen supply stored in tanks under the seats for emergencies. If smoke or tear gas surrounds the car, everyone inside breathes clean, filtered air safely. The cabin pressure is controlled like an airplane to keep everyone comfortable during attacks. Secret service agents tested the seal by filling a room with smoke, and the Beast stayed completely clear inside. The sealing technology is the same used in military tanks on the battlefield today. Windows are five inches thick. The bulletproof windows on the Beast are five inches thick and weigh over 100 pounds each. They're made from layers of polycarbonate, glass, and other secret materials stacked like a sandwich. The windows can stop armor-piercing bullets, grenades, and even small explosives without breaking through. Each window costs more than most people's entire car sitting in their driveway at home. The windshield alone weighs several hundred pounds because of all the protective layers inside. The windows are so thick that they distort the view slightly from inside the car. President Obama joked that looking through them felt like looking through the bottom of a Coke bottle. The driver's window can roll down exactly three inches, so secret service can pay tolls or talk. No other windows in the entire car can open even a crack for security reasons. If the car goes underwater, the windows won't break from the water pressure crushing them. The glass can withstand temperatures from freezing cold to burning hot without cracking apart. Built on a Truck Frame The Beast isn't built on a regular car frame despite looking like a stretched Cadillac sedan. It's actually built on a modified GMC Top Kit commercial truck frame designed for heavy work. The truck chassis is the only thing strong enough to support all the armor weight. A normal car frame would bend and break under 20,000 pounds of armored steel. The truck frame is reinforced with additional steel beams welded throughout the structure. The wheelbase is stretched to limousine length to fit all the passenger seating and equipment. This is why the Beast drives and handles more like a military truck than a smooth car. The suspension uses heavy duty components found on armored military vehicles, not luxury sedans. General Motors specially modified the frame in secret factories before adding the Cadillac body. The frame alone took months to build and test before any armor was attached. Everything is custom made specifically for this one vehicle and nothing is standard parts from a dealership. Carries Firefighting Equipment The Beast has a built in firefighting system stored in the trunk compartment alongside medical equipment. If the car catches fire during an attack, foam suppression systems activate automatically inside. The system can spray fire retardant foam throughout the cabin to protect the president from flames. External fire extinguishers are mounted in hidden compartments around the car's exterior for agents. The fuel tank is surrounded by special foam that prevents explosions if it's punctured. The car also has a fire suppression system in the engine compartment just in case. If someone throws a Molotov cocktail at the Beast, the fire won't spread or penetrate. The exterior armor is designed to resist fire temperatures over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit for several minutes. Secret service agents carry additional fire extinguishers in the cars behind the Beast always. The car was tested by literally setting it on fire to make sure everyone inside stays safe. Every safety system has multiple backups in case the first system fails during an emergency. Has Night Vision Cameras The Beast is equipped with multiple night vision cameras mounted around the entire exterior body. The driver can see clearly in complete darkness using infrared technology on dashboard screens. If the motorcade drives through smoke, fog, or tear gas, the cameras still work perfectly. The cameras also have thermal imaging that can detect people hiding in bushes or behind walls. Secret service agents in follow vehicles can monitor all the camera feeds from their command center. The system was added after the 9-11 attacks to improve security during nighttime movements. The cameras record everything continuously and save footage to encrypted hard drives for investigation. If someone attacks the motorcade, agents have multiple angles of video evidence automatically recorded. The night vision system is the same technology used by military special operations forces overseas. Some cameras are hidden so cleverly that most people never notice them at all. The feeds can be transmitted live to secret service headquarters in Washington D.C. during trips. Trunk Holds Shotguns The trunk of the Beast contains a hidden arsenal of weapons for secret service agents. At least two Remington 870 shotguns are stored in quick-release mounts ready for use. AR-15 rifles and other automatic weapons are also kept in locked compartments back there. Tear gas canisters, smoke grenades, and other defensive tools fill special storage racks. The trunk is essentially a mobile armory that follows the president everywhere he goes. Agents can access the weapons in seconds if the motorcade comes under serious attack. The weapons are loaded and ready to fire immediately without any preparation time needed. Special quick-release locks open with codes that only secret service agents know and memorize. The trunk also contains extra ammunition, body armor, and communication equipment for emergencies. During the Cold War, the Beast even carried a nuclear football in the trunk. Today, the football travels in a separate secure vehicle right behind the president's car. Everything in the trunk is secured so it won't fly around if the car crashes. Can Drive on Flat Tires The Beast uses special Kevlar-reinforced run-flat tires that work even when completely deflated and destroyed. If someone shoots the tires during an attack, the car keeps driving at high speed. Steel rims inside each tire allow the Beast to drive on the metal if necessary. The car can travel at 60 miles per hour on completely flat tires for many miles. This feature ensures the president never gets stuck in the middle of a dangerous situation. The tires are filled with special foam that provides support even when punctured by bullets. Each tire costs over $10,000 and has to be specially made by government contractors. Normal tire shops can't service or replace the Beast's tires at all under any circumstances. The secret service has to order replacement tires months in advance through classified military supply chains. During testing, agents shot the tires repeatedly and the car drove perfectly fine afterward. The tire technology came from military vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. Stuck in Ireland Once during President Obama's visit to Ireland in May 2011, the Beast got stuck on a steep driveway ramp. The car was leaving the U.S. Embassy in Dublin when it bottomed out on the ramp. The heavy armor scraped the ground and the car got stuck on its own undercarriage. Secret service agents couldn't move it forward or backward because it was high-centered completely. The embarrassing moment was caught on camera and broadcast on television news worldwide instantly. Agents had to call for help and use another vehicle to pull the Beast free. The incident revealed just how heavy and low to the ground the armored car really is. Irish people joked online about the Beast getting stuck in their small country for days. The secret service was mortified that their invincible car got defeated by a simple driveway. Engineers later modified the undercarriage to prevent this from happening again on future trips. The car now has better ground clearance and reinforced skid plates underneath for protection. Despite all the high-tech features, a basic ramp almost trapped the President's car overseas. Has tear gas cannons? The Beast is equipped with tear gas cannons mounted in the front and rear bumpers. If protesters or attackers surround the car, agents can fire tear gas to clear them away. The canisters shoot out and create a cloud of irritating gas that forces people back. The system can be activated from inside the car without anyone having to get out. The tear gas is the same type used by riot police to control dangerous crowds. Secret service agents tested the system multiple times to make sure it works during real emergencies. The cannons are hidden behind panels in the bumpers so no one sees them normally. Some versions of the Beast also have smoke screen generators that create a fog behind it. The smoke helps the car escape ambushes by hiding its exact location from attackers quickly. During the Cold War era, Presidential cars even had oil slick dispensers like James Bond movies. Modern Beasts focus more on armor and escape speed rather than offensive weapons now. The tear gas system is considered a defensive tool, not an offensive weapon system officially. Communications Equipment Everywhere The Beast has more communications equipment than most military command vehicles in active war zones. The President can talk directly to anyone in the world from the back seat securely. Satellite phones, encrypted radios, and secure internet connections are all built into the car. The President can launch nuclear missiles from the car if absolutely necessary during an attack. Multiple antennas are hidden in the body panels and roof to maintain constant communication. The car has direct links to the always. If the President needs to address the nation during an emergency, he can broadcast from the car. The communications equipment is protected by special shielding that blocks electromagnetic pulses from nuclear explosions. Even if a nuclear bomb detonates nearby, the electronics inside the Beast will still work. The system is encrypted with military grade codes that are virtually impossible to hack or intercept. Foreign intelligence agencies desperately want to know how the communications system works but can't. The Secret Service replaces and upgrades the equipment regularly to stay ahead of new threats. President's Compartment is Separate The inside of the Beast is divided into completely separate compartments with bulletproof barriers. The President sits in the back section behind thick armor partition walls and bulletproof glass. The driver and Secret Service agent in front can't easily reach the President's compartment quickly. This design protects the President if the driver gets shot or the front comes under attack. The President's section has its own climate control, lighting and communications systems independent of the front. If the front compartment fills with smoke or gas, the President's area stays clean and safe. Partition between sections can't be opened from the driver's side for security reasons. Only the President or agents in the back can unlock the partition if needed. The President essentially rides in a separate armored capsule inside the larger armored car. This design philosophy comes from lessons learned after President Kennedy's assassination in Dallas. Kennedy was riding in an open convertible with no protection when he was shot. Modern presidential cars have multiple layers of protection because of that tragic day in 1963. Fuel tank is armor plated. The fuel tank on the Beast is completely surrounded by armor plating and fire suppression foam. If someone shoots the gas tank with armor piercing bullets, it won't explode like in movies. The tank is wrapped in layers of Kevlar and special foam that seals bullet holes instantly. The fuel is also treated with special additives that make it extremely difficult to ignite. Action movies show cars blowing up when the gas tank gets shot, but that's Hollywood fiction. The Beast tank is designed to resist explosions, fires and direct attacks without rupturing badly. The foam inside the tank prevents vapors from forming which could ignite and cause fires. Military aircraft use the same foam technology in their fuel tanks for combat protection. The tank is located in the safest position possible, protected by the frame and armor. Mechanics have to use special tools and security clearances just to refuel the Beast. The secret service won't even reveal what type of fuel the car uses for security. Some experts think it runs on diesel because diesel is harder to ignite than gasoline, weighs too much for planes. The Beast is so heavy that special arrangements have to be made to fly it overseas. It travels in a C-17 Globemaster military cargo plane because normal planes can't carry it. The Air Force has to calculate weight distribution carefully so the plane can take off safely. Sometimes two Beasts travel together which requires multiple cargo flights for the motorcade vehicles. Flying the Beast overseas costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in military transport fees. The car is driven into the plane using special ramps rated for heavy armored vehicles. Once inside, it's chained down with multiple steel cables to prevent it from moving. The plane's crew has to balance fuel loads carefully because the Beast shifts the center of gravity. Landing with the Beast on board requires longer runways than normal cargo missions for safety. The secret service coordinates with the Air Force months in advance for presidential trips abroad. Everywhere the President goes, the Beast goes too, no matter how expensive or difficult. When President Trump visited London in 2019, the Beast was flown across the Atlantic at huge cost. It has a self-destruct feature. According to some reports, the Beast has classified self-destruct capabilities if it's ever captured by enemies. If terrorists somehow stole the Beast during an attack, agents could destroy it remotely from headquarters. The system would burn or destroy classified technology so enemies can't study it and copy it. The exact method is completely classified, but likely involves thermite charges or explosive devices hidden inside. The self-destruct would target communication systems, encryption devices, and classified armor materials specifically. It would not kill people inside, but would make the car useless to enemies and foreign governments. This technology exists on military vehicles and equipment that operate in hostile foreign countries regularly. The CIA uses similar systems on spy equipment that might fall into enemy hands overseas. If the Beast was abandoned during a hasty evacuation, it could be destroyed before being captured. The secret service has never confirmed or denied that this feature exists for obvious reasons. Former agents hint that multiple backup plans exist for every possible scenario, including vehicle capture. The government learned from Black Hawk Down when classified equipment was captured in Somalia, so production location is secret. The exact factory where the Beast is built is classified information that few people know. General Motors builds it somewhere in the United States in a secure government facility with guards. Workers who build the Beast have to pass extensive background checks and security clearances first. They sign non-disclosure agreements and can't tell their own families what they do at work. The facility is probably near Detroit where GM's headquarters is located, but nobody confirms this publicly. Photos of the inside of the factory have never been released to the public or media. Workers aren't allowed to have phones or cameras anywhere near the production line at all. Armed guards watch the factory 24 hours a day to prevent spies from getting close. When the Beast is finished, it's driven out in a covered trailer to hide it. The secret service takes delivery at a secure location away from the factory for final inspection. Everything about the Beast's construction is treated as a matter of national security by the government. Foreign governments would love to know how it's built so they can copy the design. Has multiple identical decoys. Whenever the Beast travels, multiple identical copies travel in the motorcade as decoys for protection. Enemies don't know which car the president is actually riding in during the convoy. Usually there are at least 2 or 3 Beasts in the motorcade that look exactly the same. All the decoys have darkly tinted windows so you can't see who's inside them at all. The cars switch positions during the route to confuse anyone watching and tracking the president. Sometimes the president isn't even in the Beast, but in a completely different unmarked car. This tactic makes it nearly impossible for snipers to target the correct vehicle during an attack. During President Obama's trip to Israel in 2013, one decoy Beast broke down embarrassingly on camera. The driver accidentally put diesel fuel in a gasoline engine, which destroyed it completely. The incident revealed that the decoys are just as real as the actual presidential car. The Secret Service was mortified, but it proved that all the cars are functional, not fake props. Having multiple Beasts also provides backups if one breaks down or gets damaged during the trip. Replaced every few years The Beast fleet gets completely replaced every few years when a new president takes office. Each new president gets newly built Beasts with the latest armor and technology installed. The old Beasts are either destroyed completely or stored in secure government warehouses somewhere. They can't be sold or given away because they contain classified technology that must be protected. The Secret Service won't reveal what happens to old Beasts after they're retired from service. Some are probably kept as backup vehicles in case the new ones break down or need repairs. The destruction process involves crushing the cars and melting down the armor in secure facilities. Every classified component has to be accounted for and destroyed according to military protocols exactly. The current Beast fleet serving President Biden was delivered in 2018 during the Trump administration. It replaced the older models that served President Obama from 2009 to 2017 during his term. The continuous replacement cycle ensures the president always has the most advanced protection technology available. As threats evolve and weapons improve, the Beast has to evolve too to stay ahead. Bonus Fact Failed – An Emissions Test The Beast is so heavy and uses so much fuel that it would completely fail any state emissions test. The EPA gas mileage is estimated at only 3-5 miles per gallon in city driving. That's worse than the biggest SUVs and trucks sold to regular consumers at dealerships. The Beast burns more fuel than most 18-wheeler semi-trucks hauling cargo cross-country on highways. The government doesn't care about fuel economy when protecting the president's life is the priority. The car is exempt from all environmental regulations, safety standards, and vehicle inspection laws completely. It doesn't even have to meet basic safety requirements like airbags or crumple zones. The armored body is so rigid it would never pass modern crash test standards at all. If a normal person tried to register the Beast, it would be rejected immediately by the DMV. The president's car operates under special federal exemptions that allow it to ignore all normal rules. It's the ultimate example of function over efficiency when designing a vehicle for one specific purpose. The Beast exists to keep the president alive, and everything else is completely secondary to that mission. From blood banks to bulletproof windows thicker than your phone, the Beast proved that protecting the president requires technology most people can't even imagine exists. This car isn't just transportation, it's a moving fortress that represents the most powerful office on earth. 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