RSSLimo News | San Francisco Travel Blog - Part 13
Wedding Limo Bus Catches Fire on the Way to Reception
Some newlyweds in Minnesota and their wedding party had an unexpected detour on the way from the ceremony to their wedding reception recently. Ken and Liz McDonald and their wedding party were relaxing and having fun in the back of their limo bus when one of the bridesmaids noticed smoke rising through the seats. After learning about the smoke, the chauffeur immediately pulled over to the side of Interstate 35 and asked his guests to quickly get out of the limo bus. Everyone got out safely before the bus was engulfed in flames. The groom said that the wedding party got out of the limo bus with little time to spare.
“Two minutes later we were 100 yards from the bus and it was up in flames,” said groom Ken McDonald. “The plume was unbelievable.”
A police officer who stopped to investigate the fire notified the fire department and then transported the bride and groom to their reception. The rest of the wedding party was picked up shortly thereafter by the bride and groom’s parents and made it to the reception without further incident. The limo bus was a complete loss, and the owner is waiting on the report from the fire department to learn how the fire started.
We have heard some strange wedding limo stories over the years, and we frequently pass them along to our readers, but we are delighted that this one has a happy ending. After all, we’re in the happy ending business! We have been the Bay Area’s premier wedding limo bus service for years and are very proud to help couples and their friends and family members celebrate this very important moment in their lives. In addition to San Francisco wedding limo buses, we also offer many other kinds of wedding transportation, including the following:
- Stretch Limousines
- SUV Limos
- VIP Vans
- Classic Cars
- Luxury Coaches
- Party Buses
- Motorized Cable Cars
- Many other transportation options for weddings and other special occasions!
If you’re planning to get married and are looking for a San Francisco wedding limo bus, stretch limousine or any other type of luxury transportation for you and your wedding party, please call us at 800-339-8936 for more information about rates, availability, wedding packages and more. Call NLS Limo today!
Nissan Leaf Limousine Takes Green Limos to a Whole New Level
A custom coachbuilder in Missouri recently completed a very unusual and challenging project – turning a fully electric 2012 Nissan Leaf compact car into a fully electric not-so-compact limousine. It took the craftsmen at Imperial Coach Builders of Springfield, MO, ten months to finish the ambitious project, but it is now ready, and the builders hope to sell this and other electric limo models to limousine services across the country. Nathan Daily is the head electrician at the company. When asked how his company created the world’s first fully electric limo, he took a fairly straightforward approach.
“We took a regular Nissan Leaf electric sedan and we cut it into two and basically extended the frame and everything to add a center section to stretch it into a limousine,” he said.
Like other Leaf models, the limo’s power plant is a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack located beneath the floor of the cabin. Daily did not mention whether or not he and other workers made any other modifications to the Leaf’s electrical system to handle the extra size and weight. He also did not mention what, if any, luxury amenities were built into the new limo. However, he did mention that Imperial began working on the Leaf after learning that limousine companies are under increasing pressure to increase the fuel economy of their fleets of luxury vehicles.
“Limo operators have to decrease their overall gasoline consumption, so obviously by putting an all-electric Leaf (in their fleets, they) would decrease their overall gas consumption and be able to legally stay on the road,” said Imperial sales manager Gary Spaniak.
Although we are making strides to make our fleet of San Francisco limousines and other luxury vehicles more fuel-efficient, it might be a while before we add a Nissan Leaf electric limo to our fleet. However, if you’re looking for Bay Area hybrid car rentals, we can help you out there! We proudly offer Toyota Prius and Camry hybrid models at very affordable rates for clients who want to lower their carbon footprint without lowering their checking account balances. For more information about our San Francisco hybrid rentals or any of the other vehicles in our fleet, please call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
Classic Car Once Owned By Al Capone Slated for Auction
A classic 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan that once transported legendary Chicago gangster Al Capone is going on the auction block this July. The annual RM Auctions St. John’s event on July 28 will feature this and other classic cars. This Cadillac is expected to sell for between $300,000 and $500,000. Capone sold this custom Caddy shortly before he was imprisoned on tax evasion charges in 1932, and, since then, it has traveled widely in classic car shows and been a fixture in museums. This one-of-a-kind classic is definitely not just an old car. It features several modifications befitting a man of Capone’s stature in his line of work.
First off, the car was painted green to resemble Chicago Police cars, complete with siren and a searchlight mounted next to the windshield on the driver’s side. It has been restored several times over the years, but it originally had 3,000 pounds of bulletproof asbestos-wrapped steel plates reinforced with lead inserts, along with one-inch thick glass. Unlike other Cadillacs of the time, Capone’s Caddy also featured a dropdown rear window that could be used as a gun slit and side windows that rolled up to reveal holes in the bottom that fit rifle barrels very nicely.
The son of the garage owner who initially did the custom work for the gangster recalls the day that Capone arrived to pick up his Cadillac. Richard Capistran, now 93 years old, said that Capone was so pleased with the work that he paid his father double the agreed-upon price for the Cadillac and tipped young Richard $10, a princely sum at the time, for helping his father work on the car.
We love classic cars. Every one of them tells a unique story, and there simply is no experience quite like riding in one of these classics. Step into the spacious interior and you are transported back to another time. If you’re thinking about renting a classic car for an upcoming special event and need a Bay Area classic car rental service, you have come to the right place! We have several San Francisco classic car rentals, and we are adding more all the time. For information about rates and availability, please call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
Entrepreneurs Start Commuter Bus Service in British Columbia
Two IT professionals in Vancouver, B.C., got so tired of their commute back and forth to work that they did something about it – they started their own commuter bus service for themselves and coworkers. Their new company is called Pacific Commuter and emulates the commuter bus service that Google provides its employees in the Bay Area. Chris Geoghegan and Darian Kovacs started their commuter bus service recently and have worked hard to convince coworkers that their way of getting to work is faster, less expensive, relaxing, allows them to be productive to and from the workplace and affords many other advantages to driving, taking the bus and other modes of transportation.
“This is a business we started out of frustration,” said Kovacs, who works in the same office as Geoghegan. “Chris has young children, I have a five-year-old son, we’d like to spend more time with our families. I usually leave home at 6:45 in the morning to get to work for 8:30 and I try to leave around 5:30 and I get home at 7 or 7:15. Our kids are in bed by 8 o’clock so it’s a bummer. We wanted to use that commuting time to get work done so we could spend more time at home.”
Thus far, their service has proven modestly popular. Fourteen coworkers have signed up for the service in the 42-seat luxury commuter bus, and the owners hope that they will reach 35 riders in the near future. After crunching numbers, they have determined that 35 riders is the minimum number of riders that can make their venture a success.
“We have three months to test it,” Kovacs said. “Our goal is to have 35 people by Oct. 1, but we expect we’ll have more than that and we hope to have two or three buses going by the fall. As new members come on, we’ll add different pickup times and different locations.”
Other businesses have learned about the service, and Kovacs and Geoghegan are beginning to feel that they are onto something big. “Human resources departments are going crazy over this,” said Kovacs. “They’re looking at buying packages of six to 20 for their employees. We’ll give special rates for that as well.”
If you are tired of your commute and have thought about starting a similar service in the Bay Area or you’re an employer looking at a Bay Area commuter bus service for your employees, please give us a call at 800-339-8936. We have the luxury coaches, the professional drivers, the proper licenses and insurance coverage and everything else that a San Francisco commuter bus service requires. We also provide outstanding customer service and offer our commuter bus services at very affordable prices. Intrigued? We thought so! Please call us at NLS Limo today to learn more about a commute that you’ll actually enjoy!
California Lawmakers Considering Party Bus Legislation
A bill introduced recently in the California legislature would require San Francisco party bus operators and others throughout the state to check the identification of anyone coming aboard the bus or face steep fines. Assemblyman Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, introduced Assembly Bill 45 in 2010 after a tragic incident involving an inebriated 19-year-old man who allegedly got drunk while riding in a Bay Area party bus. After the party bus rental was over, the man got into his car and caused an accident in which he was killed. If passed, the bill will close a loophole that allows some limousine services to allow underage guests to drink alcohol while riding in the party van.
“This is essentially booze cruises on wheels,” Hill said recently during an appearance on Polk Street, home to several popular clubs that frequently attract party buses and revelers.
The law would require all party bus rental companies to verify that each guest is 21 or older before boarding the vehicle. If a minor is on board, he or she must be accompanied by a chaperone older than 25, and there can be no alcoholic beverages. Party bus operators who fail to follow regulations would face fines up to $2,000 and lose their licenses.
“This is about holding party buses accountable,” Hill said. “These buses have become a problem for businesses and owners.”
Last month, we featured a blog post about San Francisco club owners and other business owners who organized a ban on party buses at their establishments. They filed a complaint with the San Francisco Entertainment Commission regarding drunken and unruly crowds being dropped off by party buses and causing problems in their businesses and neighborhoods. Like many other San Francisco limousine services that rent party buses, we feel that the club owners, city officials and lawmakers have a legitimate complaint. There are a few operators in the Bay Area who use the current loophole in the law and allow underage guests to drink aboard their vehicles. They cast our company and the other ethical and responsible Bay Area limo companies in a bad light.
Whether the law passes or not, our position on underage drinking will not change. We want all our guests to have a wonderful time while they enjoy our party buses, limo buses and other luxury vehicles, but we do not allow any guests less than 21 years of age to drink alcohol. We take the safety of all our guests very seriously, and this policy has been in place from the very beginning. If we sound like the type of San Francisco party bus service you would like transporting you and your guests to an upcoming special occasion, please call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936.
Limo Service Steps Up to Help Couple Scammed By Wedding Planner
There are plenty of horror stories about couples who hire wedding limousines that never show up, and regular readers know that we talk about unethical limo operators from time to time. However, a recent story out of Kansas City is a fine example of the many ethical limousine services around the country that step up when limo renters are stranded by scammers. Courtney and James Pace are a recently married couple who experienced the ultimate wedding day nightmare. On their wedding day, she got a call from her fiancé, who said that their wedding limo was more than an hour late to pick up him and his groomsmen for the ceremony.
The groom and his groomsmen found another way to get to the ceremony, but minutes before the ceremony was scheduled to begin, the couple was stunned to learn that neither the photographer nor the videographer was there to document the wedding. The groom’s mother began making frantic calls to find a photographer at (literally) the last minute and managed to find one. After the ceremony, the newly wedded couple tried to contact the wedding planner who supposedly had reserved the limo, hired the photographer and videographer and made other arrangements for an $1,800 fee. They were shocked and furious to discover that Mario Antoine, their wedding planner, had scammed them and other couples and had not made any of the arrangements he agreed to handle.
When the couple contacted Horizon Limousine, the wedding limo service that Antoine had supposedly contracted for the wedding, they discovered that the limo service had no reservation for them. Taylor Hill, the owner of the limo service, was outraged that the couple had been scammed and quickly arranged for a limo to provide the couple and the wedding party with the limo service for which they had paid.
“The first thing that goes through my mind is how horrible of a thing to do,” said Hill. “It’s the biggest day of your life and he’s advertising a complete wedding package.”
After conducting an investigation into Mr. Antoine and his wedding planning business, Hill and others discovered that he had defrauded other couples and had moved three times within a year to avoid having to answer for his larcenies. He now faces several lawsuits and other legal troubles for theft.
There may be plenty of wedding limo horror stories out there, but for every story like that, there are many more about limo operators who do what they can to help stranded couples have a wedding limo to transport them on their special day. We are one of many ethical and responsible limousine services that do whatever we can to help people who fall victim to fly-by-night limo outfits. If you’re planning a wedding or any other special occasion and you would like to reserve a San Francisco limousine that will show up on time, every time without fail, please contact us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936.
Retiring Teachers Treated to Limousine Ride on Last Day of School
Three retiring teachers from an elementary school in Eastern Canada received an extra special treat on their last day of school. They were picked up at their homes and transported to Paradise Elementary School in a stretch limousine where all three were greeted upon their arrival by 600 cheering students.
One of the retirees, Susan Simms, has taught for 33 years, and she had very mixed feelings about her last day at school.
"This is what I’m going to miss, the energy and enthusiasm of the children at our school."
She taught fourth graders at the school for 31 of her 33 years in the classroom and could not believe the limo ride and the warm reception she and her colleagues experienced on their last day at work.
"I was feeling a bit strange and my husband jumped up out of bed and told me to read the computer," she said. "I just feel really happy."
Kelly Thorne, a music teacher at the school, organized the limousine ride and reception for the lucky retirees.
Do you know someone who deserves special recognition and a reward worthy of his or her contribution? Why not rent a San Francisco limousine for a day and give them an unforgettable experience? Clients frequently rent our Bay Area limos for someone special in their lives, such as the following:
- Key employees
- Caregivers
- Friends
- Teachers
- Employers
- Volunteers
- Other special people who make a positive impact in our lives
If you’re looking for a very special way to say “thank you” to someone who has gone above and beyond to help you, rent a limousine for an afternoon, evening or a full day of fun and luxury. Our San Francisco limos, party buses, classic cars, corporate sedans and other luxury vehicles are clean and affordable and feature the latest in luxury amenities. For more information about rates and availability and to reserve a limo ride for someone special in your life, call us at NLS Limo today at 800-339-8936!
Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder With Rolls-Royce-Nissan Cross
We talk a lot about unusual limousines, weird cars, hybrid limos and other oddities of the automotive world on our blog, and we love almost all of them, but sometimes, we come across something that even we don’t care for. Such is the case with a recent find in Dubai that is for sale (if they can find a buyer). A scan of a Dubai website revealed a cross between a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Nissan Patrol sports utility vehicle listed for around $15,800. From the windshield back, the body of the patrol is mostly intact and very presentable. However, what the builders did forward of the windshield is a bit too much.
The front end of this creature resembles the fenders and grill of a Rolls-Royce Phantom, one of the most beautifully designed automobiles ever conceived and crafted. The ad for this vehicle is a bit light on details about the interior, but after looking at this from all angles, our curiosity ends at the exterior. There are some boundaries that should never be crossed, and grafting the noble front end of a Rolls-Royce onto a Nissan or anything else except the rest of a Rolls is where we draw the line.
We’re very partial to Rolls-Royce automobiles and feature several in our fleet of luxury automobiles. If you’re looking for a Rolls-Royce rental in the Bay Area for an upcoming wedding, anniversary, birthday or other special occasion, we have a few that are definitely worthy of your consideration. Our San Francisco Rolls-Royce limousine rentals include the following:
- A vintage Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud
- A gorgeous Silver Cloud Convertible
- A 1948 Silver Wraith
Each has been lovingly restored with many original features, such as these:
- Original wood trim
- Suicide doors
- Wood pawn tables
- Mini bars
- Original instrumentation
- Many other classic features that impart the look and feel of another time
They also feature a few tasteful amenities that our guests expect in a vintage Rolls-Royce or any of our other San Francisco limo rentals, including the following:
- CD players and state-of-the-art sound systems
- Spacious interiors
- Plush, comfortable seating
- Privacy windows
- Many other tasteful appointments
If you have an upcoming special occasion that requires a very special mode of transportation, please check out the pictures of our San Francisco vintage Rolls-Royce rentals. After feasting your eyes on these timeless classics, call us at 800-339-8936 to learn more about each model and make your reservation. Our rates are very affordable, and there simply is no experience like riding in one of these classics. So, call us at NLS Limo today, and get ready to have a great time!
Federal Government Claims It Owns Fewer Limousines
The General Services Administration (GSA) has refuted claims by some government watchdog groups that the federal government owns more limousines now than at any other time in the nation’s history. According to the GSA, the number of limos in the federal fleet is in sharp decline and reflects the belt-tightening occurring in nearly all branches of government. However, critics say that the decline is due to bureaucrats who have redefined what types of vehicles can be classified as limousines.
The Center for Public Integrity, a non-partisan government watchdog group, published a report last year that said the number of limousines owned by the federal government had skyrocketed during the Obama administration. They said that when President Obama took office in 2008, the government owned 238 limos and that by 2010 that number had ballooned to 412. The GSA’s most recent findings indicate that the government owned only 158 limousines in 2011. Responding to the GSA’s findings, the Center for Public Integrity said that the sharp decline was mostly due to reclassifying the term “limousine” by excluding shuttle buses and other vehicles capable of transporting larger groups of people.
The Center claims that new GSA guidelines classify a limousine as “a vehicle with a lengthened wheelbase, generally driven by a dedicated driver with possible customization, including ‘privacy panels’ and stretching for capacity and comfort."
The Center also reports that the GSA instructed federal agencies that "vehicles, including shuttle buses, without the aforementioned characteristics should not be reported as limousines."
At NLS Limo, we classify our San Francisco limousines, shuttle buses, SUV limos and other luxury ground transportation options as “vehicles with a longer wheelbase driven by a dedicated professional chauffeur designed, engineered and maintained to provide our guests with a fun, luxurious and entirely wonderful time at very affordable prices.”
Admittedly, we have not submitted our definition to the GSA for their review. If you choose one of our Bay Area limos, party buses, luxury sedans or other luxury vehicles for an upcoming special occasion, we’re confident that you’ll agree with our definition. In fact, instead of reducing our fleet of limos, we are constantly adding new models in order to better serve our guests for all their luxury ground transportation needs! If you would like to reserve a San Francisco limo for an upcoming event, just give us a call today at 800-339-8936! We welcome any inquiries by the Center for Public Integrity.
High School Graduates Rewarded With Limo Ride on Last Day of School
The parents of seven graduating high school seniors gave their kids a very cool reward that allowed their kids to end their high school careers in style. After the last day of school this year, these lucky kids were picked up at school by a pink limousine, which transported the graduates around town for two hours. The graduates, six young ladies and one young man from Clay High School in South Bend, Indiana, were picked up promptly at 2:45 p.m. one recent afternoon at their school’s front entrance. The location of the pickup, as well as the color of the limo, made it impossible for anyone in the school and immediate area to miss this very unique graduation gift.
"I was the first one out of class, and I saw the pink limousine and I was confused," said one of the lucky graduates. "Then I saw Kaylee, and we knew it for us. I was so excited. I just stood there screaming."
The only male of the group said that when he saw his parents waiting outside the school, he wasn’t quite sure whom the limousine was for and what was happening.
"I wondered what was going on and when I saw my parents I was so excited. A pink limo — it was a wonderful thing for our parents to do for us," he said.
By all accounts, the graduates had a wonderful time. They decided that their first stop would be a local yogurt shop for a cool treat. Then, they all climbed back into their limo for a cruise through local streets and neighborhoods while they sang with music on the radio and made music videos in the back of the limo.
The graduates told their friends that they had very mixed feelings about their last day of high school. They were excited to graduate but were a bit apprehensive about not being able to see each other on a daily basis.
"When I walked out of school today I had bags and bags of things from my locker," one of the graduates said after the ride. "When I saw the pink limo I said out loud, ‘It’s not that serious,’ but when I saw our pictures on the limo, I gave my mom a hug and screamed and screamed. It was a great feeling."
If you know some high school students or other young people who have earned a special treat and you have been thinking about rewarding them with a San Francisco limousine ride, you have come to the right place! At NLS Limo, we have become the Bay Area’s premier limo service by providing the best selection of luxury vehicles at the best rates and offering the best customer service in the industry. For more information about our limo rentals, rates and availability, call us today at 800-339-8936 to speak with one of our reservation specialists.
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Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun.
I've used Nationwide 3 or 4 times now and have not once been disappointed. Great customer service, great prices, and always a lot of fun. Staff always helps me pick the best option for my group and our budget.