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Obama's $1.5 million limo, 'The Beast,' breaks down in Israel

Barack Obama's eight-ton Cadillac limousine wasn't ready for him when he arrived in Israel.
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(UPI Photo/Doug MIlls/Pool)
(UPI Photo/Doug MIlls/Pool) 
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Published: March. 20, 2013 at 12:38 PM
By KATE STANTON, UPI.com

Even presidents can have car trouble.

Barack Obama's custom-made Cadillac, known affectionately as "The Beast," broke down two hours before the president arrived in Israel, CNN reported Wednesday.

"We experienced mechanical trouble with one of the cars," Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan told a pool reporter later.

"That's why we bring different multiple vehicles," he added.

Israel's Channel 2 reported Wednesday that a new limo was flown in after reports that someone had filled the eight-ton armored Cadillac with diesel instead of gasoline.

The Secret Service keeps the car's exact specs secret for security purposes, but it is known to have eight-inch thick doors, its own oxygen supply and tear gas cannons.

The Beast became the subject of punchlines after getting stuck on an exit ramp during the president's 2011 visit to the U.S. Embassy in Ireland.

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