US leaders' automobiles reflect their lives and times

New York, Dec.10 (ANI): People say that what one chooses to drive says a lot about their personality and character, and U.S. presidents are no exception.

While most are routinely transported in limousines, many owned, and were passionate about, personal cars.

Hagerty Insurance, which specializes in covering classic and collectible cars, has compiled a list of the most interesting cars driven by American presidents since 1909.

William Taft, who was president from 1909-1913, owned a Baker Electric. Truly high-tech for the times, it was a popular choice, though not just because it ran on battery power. With a top speed of 14 mph it was anything but fast, but it was virtually maintenance-free.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was president from 1933-1945, drove around in a Packard Twelve, which was both graceful and powerful and packed a large, strong V12 engine. FDR's car was fitted with bulletproof glass, making it the first presidential armored car.

His successor Harry S. Truman drove around in a moonbeam gray 1946 Ford Super DeLuxe Tudor Sedan, which was the automaker's most popular model that year.

Dwight David Eisenhower, who was president from 1953-1961, liked the 1956 Chrysler Imperial luxury sedan that had a "HEMI" V8 engine and came to be known as "the Detroit car."

John F. Kennedy's choice was a 1961 Ford Thunderbird convertible, while Richard M. Nixon preferred to his trusty 1950 Oldsmobile 98.

Ronald Reagan, president from 1981-1989, usually traveled in a limo, but his most prized personal car was a 1952 U.S. Army Jeep given to him as a gift by his wife, Nancy, in the late 1970's.

Bill Clinton owned a 1967 ice blue with a white interior Mustang Convertible when he was the Governor of Arkansas. It was said to have been the hardest thing to leave behind when he moved into the White House.

Barack Obama has traded in his Chrysler 300C sedan for a fuel-efficient Ford Escape Hybrid SUV. (ANI)