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history of luxury transportation travel

Driving a New Era of Luxury Transportation Service

There was a time when arriving at an event in a chauffeured limousine represented the height of style, sophistication, class and luxury transportation.

That time was not long ago, really. But, like many fading trends, it is clearly driving off into the sunset by now. The fabled days – and star-studded nights – of the classic limousine (or “limo” for short) are receding into the rearview mirror of American history.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there’s no longer a desire, or need, for luxury transportation services as we approach the second decade of the 21st century. In fact, the demand for premium luxury transportation options is higher than it’s ever been. It’s just not being driven by the traditional limo anymore.

The future, along with the present, looks a lot more like…Go Luxe

When the Stretch Limousine Had It’s Moment

1970s and 1980s style stretch luxury limousine at its height of popularity

The 1970’s and 1980’s, the era of “Wall Street’, saw the rise and then fall of stretch limousines as the luxury transport vehicle of choice.

Before we take a look at the new wave of luxury transportation, let’s start with a bit of an on-the-road American history lesson. It’s a fascinating story, really. Complete with a glorious rise. And a rather precipitous fall.

When they were first created in the early 20th century, with the coachman or driver seated in a discrete outside compartment, exposed to all elements, limousines immediately captivated Americans of all backgrounds. But they mostly served the truly wealthy – although a scene in The Great Gatsby chronicles an infamous instance of “anything can happen…anything at all” when socio-economic barriers breakdown in 1920s New York.

This “life of limousine luxury” has also traditionally included a very human element – originally called the coachman, then the driver, now the chauffeur. Always a staple of luxury transportation, the chauffeur has also always served as a model of dignity, decorum, selfless service and discretion. The luxury transportation driver is an absolutely key component in the history of the limo experience. That was true in the early days of the high-end carriage and it remains true today.

From stretched saloon cars to luxury sedans, from the rural roads of a burgeoning backwoods boomtown to the bustling streets of midtown Manhattan and the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles in the emerging days of the Hollywood mogul, limousines will always be parked in a distinguished and even notorious spot of American history and lore.

A Fort Smith, Arkansas company called Armbruster, produced the first “stretch limousine” around 1928 primarily for big bands and entertainers. The stretch limo business truly blossomed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the high-end luxury option becoming a true status symbol for new-money, aspiring Americans who rolled to glamorous, star-studded events in exaggerated, over-extended, jet-black cars and sedans. Lincolns and Cadillacs often ruled the road when it came to limos, and everyone who was anyone relished the opportunity to step out of the sweeping doors of a stretch limo – and onto a red carpet or arena or some other high-profile landing spot.

Donald Trump himself even made a foray into the limo business in the late 1980s, unveiling two lines of stretch Cadillacs that boasted gold accents, Italian leather upholstery, TVs, VCRs, fax machines and early-era “brick” cell phones.

The limousine drove everything associated with the chauffeured car service industry for many years, although a bit of a decline was already being felt by the late 1980s – accelerated by the stock market crash of 1987 and its effect on Wall Street executives, bankers, real estate moguls and regular executives. By the early 1990s, limo production had fallen to around 5,800 a year – down from more than 7,000 annually in the previous decade. And, today, the limo business as we knew it in the big hair, large living days of the 1980s, is just a shell of what it once was. 

Town Cars Into the Garage. Luxury SUVs Out on the Streets.

Once the stock market recovered, “town cars” became a more popular luxury transportation option than limousines, especially when it came to providing executive car services. Not nearly as flashy nor over-indulgent as a stretch limo, the black town car (often a Lincoln) nonetheless emerged as the luxury transportation vehicle of choice for celebrities, high-powered executives and the well-to-do looking to make an impression. But by the end of the first decade of the 21st century, the town car itself began to retreat from the luxury vehicle market, driven out of high demand by the advent of the luxury-outfitted Sport Utility Vehicle, or SUV for short.

Luxury Cadillac Escalade SUV

Town cars and luxury SUV’s made luxury transportation options more accessible and more popular to more people.

Tricked-out, souped-up Cadillac Escalades, Lincoln Navigators, Chevrolet Suburbans and Mercedes S Classes began to hit the road, soon emerging as the newest, latest and greatest luxury transportation options. For a while, there were even regular stretch Hummer sightings on the roads and highways of America.

The more approachable town car and luxury SUV introduced a much wider audience to these newer transportation options. Now there was no turning back, luxury transportation was a mainstream market as more people discovered the benefits of using chauffeured car service for personal and executive transportation, to leave the driving to someone else and to make a night out with friends, loved ones and clients a more enjoyable experience. 

Sprinting Past the Field…

Of course, the only constant in life is change, and that’s no different in the luxury transportation industry. Even these exciting newer options can’t hold a candle to one particular vehicle:

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van.

Mercedes Sprinter Limo Van Luxury Transportation Experience Los Angeles

Along comes the Mercedes Sprinter Limo Van. The best luxury travel transportation option yet. Including this one, The Road Stallion, by Go Luxe.

The Sprinter represents the very best option yet in the history of luxury transportation. Luxurious and versatile, it boasts the distinguished Mercedes nameplate – along with all its amenities and aura. From a practical standpoint, it also holds more people, provides more amenities, can accommodate the widest variety of luxury transportation demands, and offers more available room inside. Not just legroom, but room to move around, host clients and celebrate with guests. With the advent and rise of the Sprinter Limo Van, limousine companies and luxury transportation services, like Go Luxe, can now offer elevated, extravagant even, luxury transportation experiences to individuals, executives, large groups and parties.

Luxury on the Inside Too

Of course, no history of luxury transportation would be complete without a closer look at the, well, luxury. While spacious, state-of-the-art, sexy, sleek vehicles are nice, what has often defined the limousine and luxury transportation experience has had as much to do with the technology and amenities available to the passengers inside the vehicles. From wet bars with top-shelf liquor brands to early-era gigantic car phones and fax machines in the 1980s, we have evolved to gourmet food spreads and high-speed Wi-Fi connections. It’s what inside that really makes the luxury experience go…or fall flat in meeting passengers expectations.

Go Luxe represents the very best in today’s version of luxury limousine transportation. From special events to executive outings, from corporate CEOs to professional athletes, from individuals to larger groups, from day to night, Go Luxe gives everyone who sets foot inside one of our luxury Mercedes Sprinter Vans a unique and unforgettable experience out on the road.

Our high-end luxury transportation vehicles are like private jets on the road. They come equipped with Apple TV, flat-screen TVs, reclining plush leather captain’s chairs, state-of-the-art sound systems much more. As technology continues to evolve and passengers’ expectations continue to grow alongside the new tech, things only stand to get more and more luxurious inside the luxury limos of the 21st century.

Luxury Vans Make the Best Limos

Go Luxe lets you wave goodbye to the old-fashioned stretch limo, the black car – or more recent luxury SUV option. And say hello to a truly modern and undeniably amazing luxury transportation experience.

Go Luxe proudly offers private luxury transportation for events, executives and companies all across Los Angeles, Orange County and Southern California. The Go Luxe difference and advantage truly lies in our “proprietary blend” of Mercedes Sprinter Limo Vans and superior, “white glove” concierge service. Our luxury limousine and concierge service is dedicated to ensuring all the details of your on-the-road experience are nothing short of extraordinary. Our elevated and custom-tailored private transportation offers a versatile, invaluable and unique alternative to “traditional” limo services or executive car services.

Our state-of-the-art, customized Mercedes Sprinter Limos Vans, and now mini-coaches, deliver a wide range of entertaining and indulgent configurations, ample room to party or conduct business (or maybe a bit of both), top-of-the-line technology and entertainment, fully-stocked bars and much more.

From The Land Jet (luxuriously seats up to six passengers) up to The Mini Coach (for up to 27 passengers), Go Luxe offers a wide range of versatile vehicles from our luxury fleet to choose from – 10 different vehicle options, to be exact. To be even more specific, we provide luxury Sprinter Vans that seat up to 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13 passengers – and luxury mini-coaches that can transport larger groups of up to 23, 27 and 32 people. And yes, we even have luxury SUVs for smaller groups that still desire the same concierge service they can only get from Go Luxe.

Concierge Comes Standard

From wine tours to wedding limos, from executive transportation to group transportation, from golf outings to red carpets…Go Luxe sets a high bar in luxury transportation service.

Mercedes Sprinter Van Limo Luxury Interior

With plush interiors, connected vehicles, full amenities and room to move around and enjoy yourself, luxury vans truly make the best limos.

The Go Luxe edge is accented by awesome amenities like AppleTV-equipped flat-screen TVs, booming sound systems, plush leather captain’s chairs, wet bar option and concierge drivers. But these aren’t the only next-level touches that come standard.

Our goal is to empower all our clients to be guests at their own event or party, to take their business outings to the next level and to enjoy a “private jet on the road” experience unlike anything else available.

With our concierge service, it’s all about you leaving all the details to…us.

From concerts to sporting events to the hottest new clubs and more, we can provide VIP parking, VIP tickets and VIP access. We can make your reservations. We can even cater your outing. We’ll do all the pre-trip shopping for whatever you need in your van, shuttle or mini-coach before you hit the road. You don’t have to do anything other than show up for the ride.

We even offer VIP Memberships with your own dedicated driver, your choice of vehicles, advanced reservations, and monthly discounts.

The Next Level Luxe Service

Another available option that sets us apart is our “Ghost Host” service – a personal concierge who’s never visible to you, your clients or your guests during your outing. Your Ghost Host travels separately and works closely with your concierge driver to make sure everything goes exactly as planned. Your guests, however, will assume you did all the hard work to make their experience amazing.

Imagine arriving at a restaurant where the valet, host, bartender and manager know your name. Or rolling up to a bar where your seats are reserved and the bartender already has your preferred drinks prepared for you. Hitting up a nightclub with us? Your Ghost Host will have VIP seating waiting and bottle service attendants always on call. When you’re done, you can simply leave – without even having to sign for the bill.

Today’s Best Luxury Limo Transportation Is A Luxury Van or Mini-Coach

Luxury Group Transportation Limo Mini Coaches Los Angeles

Go Luxe features luxury Mercedes Sprinter limo vans and mini-coaches for individuals, private parties, executives and groups up to as many as 27 passengers. Offering today’s best luxury transportation service for Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Ventura County and all of Southern California.

As you can see, Go Luxe truly represents the very forefront of the next wave of luxury transportation. From concierge service to Ghost Hosts, from top-of-the-line technology to top-shelf-stocked bars, from Los Angeles to Orange County and beyond, there’s simply nothing else quite like Go Luxe luxury transportation service out on the road today.

Once you experience  Go Luxe, you’ll realize that everything is just a ride.

Contact us today for more information and the very best luxury transportation experience available.