This limousine was used regularly by Godfather Vito, the Godfather of Godfathers, and his wife, Duchess Maria, the twin sister of Duchess Florence. Other royals who were transported in this limo while visiting the United States were Godfather Don Vito, Godfather of Sicily, along with his wife, Duchess Sabrina, and Countess Athena, Godfather Vito’s mother-in-law, and Count Marco, his father-in-law. The characters in the Godfather series were based on this family. My wife of 46 years, Lady Marie, was Connie in the film, played by Talia Shire, and the character of Michael Corleone was her first cousin, Tony Jr., played by Al Pacino. Tony and Godfather Vito were combined as one character, played by Marlon Brando, who perfectly imitated Tony’s voice.

In the 1920s, Al Capone moved to Chicago, and Tony followed a few years later. As a young man, Tony had learned the streets and back alleys of New York with Al Capone. They began working together once again, riding and doing business in this car. Tony went on to head up Murders Inc., on the enforcer side of the mafia company. In the back seat, under your feet lay Tommy Machine guns for easy access, and the side pockets of the rear doors held .38 pistols, all within arm's reach.

Tony had this Lincoln installed in his living room in his Nashua, New Hampshire home in the 1980s. He had a table set up in the back seat of the limo, where he dined by himself or with a friend. His butler would serve dinner and wine through the rear suicide door. One night, while I was sitting in the same seat where Al Capone had sat, enjoying a glass of wine with Uncle Tony while he smoked his Cuban cigar, he shared a story about Big Al that had happened in January 1932, while they were driving in the limo with Big Al sitting in my seat. He told Big Al to get out of town because something big was about to happen. Big Al replied, “I have plans to go to my home in Florida.” “Well, be on your way,” Tony answered. “What?!” Big Al asked. Tony responded with a big grin on his face, “Do you read the papers? You’ll see.” What was in the works was the plan for the Valentine’s Day Massacre. Tony had planted the story in the Chicago papers that Al Capone had planned it, and papers across the country picked it up. This was one of the biggest stories of 1932.

On another occasion, while dining with Uncle Tony in the limo, he told me about how he planned and carried out the assassination of President Kennedy. This book tells the real story of how the Kennedys double-crossed the Godfather after the Godfather fulfilled the deal to have JFK elected, followed by the CIA asking the Godfather for a favor.

This limousine is currently owned by the Godfather Don Vito/Barton family.