There are cars you use to go to the office, to bring your kids to school or to go grocery shopping. And then there’s the limousine.

There’s a reason why car dealerships offering shiny limousines are a dime a dozen, or why the Internet is filled with companies offering limo and luxury car rental in Atlanta , New York and every other city in the world: it’s that the sleek, elongated cars are the ultimate status symbol.

Some may crave the thrill and excitement a Formula 1 car brings, but when a man wants to exude power, confidence and luxury, it is still ultimately the limousine that he comes back to. What self-respecting rock star would arrive in a red carpet event in anything less than the best limousine available? How can a head of state expect to demonstrate his power if he doesn’t come to a state meeting in a long black stretch car?

The limousine had quite humble beginnings. Far from the glamorous and luxurious world it is now associated today, the limousine was actually named after a humble large cloak used by shepherds of the French province Limousin. The term "limousine" came to be associated with an automobile sometime in the end of the 19th century and by the early 1900s, a "limousine" was understood to be a covered automobile powered by gasoline.

The limousine started rising to the top of the car hierarchy in the 1920s when the first "stretch limousine" was produced by Arkansas-based coach company Armbruster. Big bands and orchestras started using these oversized vehicles as their main means of transportation when they toured the United States (they were very useful for carrying instruments), thus establishing the first "link" between the music industry and the vehicle (now a favorite of rock and pop stars alike).

Soon, Hollywood too discovered not just effective the roomy limousine is when transporting film equipment and props, but also how glamorous and comfortable they can be. By the 1940s, the limousine has become the IT car of Tinsel Town and everyone who was anyone was riding in one.

At the same time as it was gaining popularity among the golden men and women of Hollywood, the limousine has also turned the world’s political leaders, particularly, American presidents, into fans. Harry Truman, Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight D. Eisenhower for example, all rode 21.5 feet long Cadillac convertibles. During the 60s and the 70s, the limousine’s reputation as the rich and the powerful’s vehicle of choice was cemented.

Many would tell you, that the limousine’s popularity, its rise as a status symbol, could be attributed solely to the vehicle’s features. It’s roomy interior offers passengers with comfort while traveling- a feature the privileged expects and demands. In the early years of the automobile when most cars were open and its passengers were exposed, the limousine’s covering provided passengers not only with added security but also privacy. Simply put, the limousine just screams luxury, privilege and style.

Want further proof that testifies to the limousine’s lavish and extravagant nature? Vehicle etiquette dictates that a limousine can only be driven by a professional chauffeur and never by the owner, whose main and only task is to enjoy the ride and bask in the car’s luxury and opulence. Now, does any other kind of car have this kind of "rule"?