Lehmann-Peterson, Inc.1963-1970 Lehmann-Peterson was founded in 1963 when Robert "Pete" Peterson met George "Skip" Lehmann. Robert Peterson was in auto racing and for many years he was a chief mechanic, building racers for use at Indianapolis. George Lehmann at the age of 21 had recieved a large inheritance from his father who died in Boston's Coconut Grove Night Club fire. In a small Chicago garage on Harlem Avenue they took a 1963 Lincoln cut it in half and added a 34 inch stretch. They also added their plaque which read "Executive Limousine by Lehmann-Peterson". Only one prototype was constructed in the Harlem Avenue garage. (When production began, operations were moved to a shop at 2710 North Sawyer Avenue and one on Armitage Street) Ford was impressed with the 1963 prototype especially the seating arrangement which created a conversation area atmosphere. Ford kept the car for further testing being concerned about safety and the strength of the frame with the additional length. Then on February 25, 1964, after 40,000 miles of testing, Ford and Lehmann-Peterson reached an agreement.  It was first displayed (above) at the New York International Automobile Show in April, 1964. Over the next 6 years Lehmann-Peterson produced around 600 limousines. The exact number is unclear and varies from several different sources (see charts on Stats page) The Lehmann-Peterson limousines were built for many government official, business executive, numerous celebrities including Elvis Presley, Jackie Gleason, Spencer Tracy, The Supremes, The Rolling Stones, Sophia Loren, Jerry Lewis, Robert Vaughn, Victor Borge, Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis and even a custom built 1964 "Popemobile" custom built for Pope Paul VI for his visit to New York City and the United Nations AssemblyIn 1970 only 6 Executive Limousines were produced, Ford for various reasons terminated their relationship with Lehmann-Peterson and the doors were closed. Moloney Coachbuilders absorbed all assets of the company (it is now called Scaletta Moloney Armoring). On April 6, 1972 at the age of 34, George Lehmann died in Cook County Illinois from an inoperable brain tumor that was the result of an earlier accident while on his sailboat. Robert Peterson went on to work for Moloney Coachbuilders and passed away in 1995. |
