Some cars are built to go fast. Others are built to be comfortable. The American Dream wasn’t built for either—it was built to break records. At over 100 feet long and loaded with everything from a hot tub to a helicopter pad, this limo wasn’t transportation. It was a flex.
Originally constructed in the 1980s and later restored in 2022, The American Dream remains the longest car ever built. It’s less of a limousine and more of a monument—one that celebrates excess, engineering curiosity, and the idea that too much might just be enough.
Built to Break Records—And It Did
Originally built in the 1980s by car customizer Jay Ohrberg, The American Dream was never just a limo—it was a rolling Guinness World Record. At over 100 feet long, it was designed with one goal in mind: to be the longest car ever built.
Ohrberg based the build on a pair of 1976 Cadillac Eldorados, stretching the frame with custom sections to create a vehicle longer than a blue whale. It wasn’t practical, but that wasn’t the point. This car was built purely for spectacle—and it delivered.
Over 100 Feet of Custom Bodywork
At its peak length, The American Dream measured an astonishing 100 feet and 1.5 inches long. That’s longer than a semi-truck with a trailer or even a Boeing 737’s wingspan. It originally featured 26 wheels to support the weight across its massive length.
To make the car drivable, it had to be hinged in the middle like a bendy bus. Steering both ends and managing weight distribution was a real challenge, requiring custom hydraulics and suspension solutions that were as wild as the limo itself.
It Had a Helicopter Pad—Yes, Really
If the car wasn’t over-the-top enough, The American Dream was outfitted with a working helipad on its rear deck. This wasn’t a stylistic addition—it was designed to handle actual helicopter landings. It helped seal its reputation as a record-breaker and media magnet.
In addition to the helipad, the car included a jacuzzi, mini-golf course, and even a diving board. Ohrberg’s design was more akin to a traveling theme park than a limousine. It was built to entertain, not just to transport.
The Cabin Could Hold Over 75 People
With its absurd length came absurd capacity. The American Dream could seat more than 75 passengers depending on the configuration. The interior was lined with lounges, bars, beds, televisions, and every overindulgent luxury you could imagine in the 1980s.
It was never about speed or handling. The car existed to make a statement—and it did, whether parked at an event or inching down the road surrounded by flashing cameras. It was a moving tribute to American excess in its purest form.
Originally Built for Hollywood Glamour
Jay Ohrberg was no stranger to the outrageous. Known for creating movie and TV cars like KITT from Knight Rider and the DeLorean from Back to the Future, Ohrberg designed The American Dream for promotional events and rentals in Hollywood.
It was a hit at car shows and appeared in various media spots, from low-budget movies to TV specials. Despite its impracticality, it made people stop and stare—exactly what it was intended to do in the era of big hair and bigger ambitions.
It Fell Into Disrepair for Years
After its moment in the spotlight, The American Dream was retired and eventually forgotten. Left outside in the Florida sun, it deteriorated rapidly. The fiberglass cracked, the interior rotted, and several sections rusted away.
For years, the once-glorious limousine sat abandoned and half-disassembled, a sad reflection of its former self. Its world record still stood, but few expected the car to ever be roadworthy again—let alone restored to its former over-the-top glory.
It Was Saved and Restored in 2022
In a twist worthy of a movie, the limo was rescued and fully restored in 2022. Michael Dezer of the Dezerland Park Car Museum partnered with auto builder Michael Manning to bring the car back to life over a two-year span.
They extended the car to break the original record, added structural reinforcement, and rebuilt the interior with period-correct flair. The finished result was unveiled in Orlando, Florida, where it now resides on display as part of a permanent collection.
Now Longer Than Ever at 100 Feet, 1.5 Inches
The original car was long—but the restoration team made sure it reclaimed the Guinness title once and for all. The updated American Dream officially measures 100 feet, 1.5 inches, making it the longest car ever built or recorded.
It even includes functional elements like the pool, golf area, and helipad—all of which have been fully restored or rebuilt to match the original configuration. The car isn’t just long—it’s fully loaded in every possible way.
It Weighs an Estimated 25,000 Pounds
With its stretched steel frame, reinforced bodywork, and stacked amenities, The American Dream weighs over 25,000 pounds. That’s more than a fully loaded transit bus or Class 8 semi-truck. It’s not light on anything—especially presence.
That weight means the car can’t just be driven around the block like a normal limo. It needs special tires, reinforced concrete when parked indoors, and a carefully planned transport strategy any time it moves. It’s less a car, more a rolling exhibit.
A Rolling Symbol of Automotive Excess
Love it or hate it, The American Dream captures something deeply American: a go-big-or-go-home attitude applied to the most unexpected format. It’s not fast, efficient, or remotely practical. But it’s one-of-a-kind, and it’s still standing decades after it was first built.
In a world of sanitized luxury, the Jetway 707 is a monument to an era when bigger was better—and nobody asked why. For collectors and car lovers, it’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s okay to build something simply because you can.
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*Created with AI assistance and editor review.
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