The World’s First And Only Camera Limousine

On July 9, 2014 - TV History

The World’s First And Only Camera Limousine

I think this Cadillac limousine was first used on President Eisenhower’s inauguration on January 30, 1953. It was NBC’s mobile unit purchased to use in the parade, just ahead of the President’s car. I think the microwave signal from the car was shot to an NBC truck that was nearby and was sent on to the tower pickup from there.

There probably was not pool coverage of the parade route, but if there was, I’m pretty sure this was a proprietary vantage point for them. Enjoy and share.

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16 Comments

  1. pdq July 21, 2023

    Chrysler did two camera cars in 1951 (but not limos)
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g971pXhziHw

  2. Jay Van Dyke September 29, 2014

    Must have a had one hell of a AC converter/power supply to make it work….

  3. Gary Walters July 11, 2014

    Think it was also used for part of a motorcade at Glassboro, NJ in 1967. Soviet Premier?

  4. Pavel Mikhailovskiy July 11, 2014

    This Cadillac is not the only one camera limousine. Let me introduce you MB limo, Moscow 1980 Olympic Games

  5. Harold Borth July 10, 2014

    The technician in the rear of the car operated the microwave transmitter. Keeping it lined up with the receiving site. They could have used iPhone technology back then. 😉

  6. Mark West July 10, 2014

    Merrill Mueller.claimed to.have reported.from an Inaugural Parade for NBC.in this or a similar vehicle. He was a visiting professor at Ohio University in the mid 1970’s.

  7. Bill Parinello July 9, 2014

    We used the Cadillac at the New Brunswick NJ railroad station for Robert Kennedy’s Funeral. The body was transported by train from New York to Washington DC. We were on the air for as long as it took the train to slow down to pass through the station.

  8. Bob Batsche July 9, 2014

    Back in 1967, the Cadillac was still in use. There was a NYC School Strike as I was the B&W hand held cameraman for a remote for WNBC News.

  9. Beverly Brooks Seger July 9, 2014

    Could you imagine all that stuff on a smaller car? It’d be laying on its side :))

  10. Mark Tipton July 9, 2014

    Great post everyone.

  11. Bob Rector July 9, 2014

    And today you can do the same thing by holding your smart phone out the sunroof – and get a better picture and send it all over the world. But I gotta admit, that’s a pretty cool looking Caddy.

  12. Dennis Degan July 9, 2014

    The microwave unit at the right could not operate as shown because there was no dish installed. Without that dish, the signal was being directed back at the operator.

  13. John Schipp July 9, 2014

    Like this from the NBC Archives.

  14. Joseph Lojko July 9, 2014

    Look like a modified 50 cal. tank gun mount….from WW2

  15. Jim Shaffer July 9, 2014

    June 1953 Popular Mechanics

  16. Gary Walters July 9, 2014

    Also was sold as a toy in a Studebaker model.