Don’t taxi to work anymore: Fly in this Learjet limo

Limousines are the most superfluous vehicles in the commercial category. They are a pure image item, since a small bus can carry the same amount of people in a less fashionable form. But the limo will likely never go away, and that means someone just has to have the most unique or special one. This Learjet limo is certainly insane, but is it pretty fly for a limo guy?

Oddly, this Learjet and I share one thing in common—we both hail from Kansas. Luckily, I retain more of my original form and function, unlike this beast. The fuselage appears to be from a Learjet 31, a plane produced from 1987–2003, and it likely got retired due the airframe tiring out.

Which made it a great base for such a project as this wild limo. A steel frame was grafted onto the fuselage, giving the previously three-wheeled flying machine a more road-friendly four-wheeled stance. The jets have been removed, and propulsion now comes from a Chevrolet-sourced 8.1-liter big-block V-8. Somehow the whole operation is street-legal, according to the Mecum Auctions, where it will cross the block at the now-delayed Indianapolis auction.

How this is street-legal is anyone’s guess, and it must not be very good on the street since the sale also includes a truck and trailer to move the thing around. The plethora of speakers and flashy paint certainly draw attention, but the driver has to hope none of the admirers walk up to the thing, as it likely has worse visibility than a fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. An array of cameras cover the numerous blindspots around the jet with displays in the cockpit. The whole setup looks like a weird version of a mall security booth.

There is no real explanation as to why a thing like this would, could, or should be built. Frankly though, that’s one of the best parts about cars and their ownership. You can do what you want with your car—or plane, in this case. If you want to create the wildest limousine out there, just know that this is the new standard for you to out-crazy.