A vehicle like no other is currently available under online auction conditions in the US – and the company selling it thinks bidding is soon going to take off… even if the car can’t!
Called the LimoJet, it is a de-winged private plane that’s been converted into an eight-seat limousine.
Built by Exotic Coach Customs with a pending patent on its one-of-a-kind design, the prototype concept – known as the ‘Learmousine’ – is said to ‘guarantee to turn heads and cause envy in all who gaze upon it’.
While it might struggle to navigate a narrow British B-road, the LimoJet is street legal in the US, having received full approval from the Department of Transportation.
The online sale, hosted by Goldin Auctioneers, also includes a matching Chevrolet truck and custom six-wheel trailer to tow it with.
Ready for take-off? This is the ‘LimoJet’. A Learjet fuselage that’s now a limousine that can transport up to eight passengers. The one-off vehicle is being offered at auction in the US…
The LimoJet reportedly took Exotic Coach Customs – based in Addison, Illinois – two years to research, develop and then manufacture the rear engine bay, drivetrain, suspension, and electrical and computer systems to make it run with four wheels.
In total, it took 40,000 man-hours to complete and cost around $1million to make.
The vehicle measures in at a whopping 42-feet long (that’s two and a half Range Rovers front to back), 11.6-feet wide, eight-feet wide and weighs around five and a half tonnes.
Built by Exotic Coach Customs with a pending patent on its one-of-a-kind design, the prototype concept – known as the ‘Learmousine’ – is said to ‘guarantee to turn heads and cause envy in all who gaze upon it’
It reportedly took the Illinois company two years to research, develop and manufacture the vehicle, including its bespoke rear engine bay, the drivetrain, suspension, and electrical and computer systems to make it run with four wheels
In total, it took 40,000 man-hours to complete and cost around $1million to make. It even comes with the private jet door with the drop-down steps
The vehicle measures in at a whopping 42-feet long (that’s two and a half Range Rovers), 11.6-feet wide, eight-feet wide and weighs around five and a half tonnes
It has a steel skeleton frame and the aluminium fuselage of a genuine Learjet. It has recently been painted in two-tone black and silver with a red pinstripe, having formerly being entirely red (as seen in the video).
While the wings have been removed – for obvious reason – the drop-down airsteps remain like a conventional private jet.
Its rear wing has also been retained and ‘only enhances the feeling of flight,’ says Goldin, while the tips of the tailplane on the vertical fin fold inward for when the vehicle is being manoeuvred into tight spaces.
With the nacelles no longer housing engines, they instead have mammoth speakers hidden inside that play jet engine sound effects when on the move – or pumping music if you really want to show off.
The nacelles that would normally house the jet engines are now used for a pair of massive speakers. There are more below these on each side and they can either replicate the sound of a jet of play pumping music
Up front is a centrally-mounted bucket seat with a harness for the driver, while the console has red carbon-fibre-look trim
Overhead toggles like that in a genuine cockpit are for operating different internal and external effects and controls, including the Showtime Audio 17,000-watt system in the back that includes a 42-inch plasma TV at to the rear of the fuselage as well as multiple light panels and a plethora of speakers. There’s even a toggle switch to turn on the disco floor lighting!
From the steering wheel, the vehicle has a conventional car-like instrument cluster and an automatic transmission
Four screens on the dashboard are linked to individual cameras at the front and back of the vehicle, which must be a headache to drive, let alone parallel park!
However, the engine powering the LimoJet should be noisy enough.
It uses a 6.1-litre Chevrolet Vortec V8 engine ripped from a truck, which produced 400 horsepower and is nestled deep in the chassis.
For a vehicle of such extensive proportions, it’s not going to be the easiest to drive to a red carpet event in London, that’s for sure.
Though the lot description suggests turning it ‘won’t be a problem’ because it has ‘custom steering to smooth your landing at any event’.
Despite this, the vehicle is expressly for displays and shows and hasn’t been offered as an actual limousine to customers in the US.
In the back is seating for up to eight jetsetters in a glitzy limo-like setting that includes an infinity floor, loads of cupholders and a massive 42-inch TV screen at the back
Fitted to the four corners are 28-inch alloy wheels wrapped in Kumho tyres with bespoke fenders to protect them, while stopping power comes from hydro-boosted brakes.
The vehicle boasts custom-built Showtime Audio exterior door panels and a dashboard with four monitors, each linked to outboard cameras so the chauffeur can see how close they are to objects either side and all around the limo.
Up front is a bucket seat with a harness for the driver, while the console has red carbon-fibre-look trim.
Overhead toggles like that in a genuine cockpit are for operating different internal and external effects and controls, including the Showtime Audio 17,000-watt system in the back that includes a 42-inch plasma TV at to the rear of the fuselage as well as multiple light panels and a plethora of speakers.
There’s even a toggle switch to turn on the disco floor lighting!
In the back is seating for up to eight jetsetters in a glitzy limo-like setting that includes an infinity floor, a refreshment centre, and enough cup holders for every occupant.
‘Make no mistake, this offering is the pinnacle in limousines,’ Goldin says.
‘A show-stopper, a fun party ride, the perfect combination of style, comfort, and uniqueness singularly built to take the breath away of all who gaze upon it.’
The auction includes a 2017 Iron Bull 44-foot trailer to transport the LimoJet, and a matching 2015 Chevrolet 2500 pick-up to tow it.
The auction isn’t only for the LimoJet. It also includes a matching 2015 Chevrolet 2500 pick-up truck
And to haul the LimoJet to events using the truck is this massive 2017 Iron Bull 44-foot trailer with six wheels
The auction house states that the LimoJet ‘will not be shipped from Goldin Auctions headquarters’ if a winning bidder is found by 19 November. It adds that it is ‘incumbent upon them to coordinate pick up and shipment with the seller of the item’
Bidding is to start from $100,000, though as yet (with 10 days of the auction remaining) there hasn’t been a single one made.
Given the LimoJet cost $1million to build – and its creator has previously said he would expect it to sell for $5million – there needs to be a flurry of activity from interested parties if this one-off vehicle really is going to find a new home.
The live auction ends on Sunday 19 November, though UK bidders might want to read the small print on the terms and conditions before bidding.
It says that the LimoJet ‘will not be shipped from Goldin Auctions headquarters’ and it is ‘incumbent upon the winning bidder to coordinate pick up and shipment with the seller of this item’.
