LBJ Boats?

[silverghost]

Does anyone know if any of LBJ's old boats, or Donzi boats from his secret service agent security team are still around anywhere in Texas?
LBJ used high-powered boats of their day in the lake near his LBJ Ranch.
There are some great stories about ol LBJ trying to leave the secret service agents in his wake!
It was one of his favorite games. He never tired of this!
Also
Another there is another famous story about LBJ taking Henry Ford II for a speedboat ride as told by a former Secret Service agent in the book Protecting the President.
And let's not forget Pres. George H W Bush and his cigarette boat with his friend & buddy "Donzi" Don Aronow!
Pres. Nixon was also given a Soviet built speedboat as a gift from the USSR's leader!
Wonder if it had a bult-in tape recorder?
Or Soviet "Bugs"?
I just can't picture Nixon in a speedboat?
LBJ & Bush~Sure !
Nixon~ NO !
Would love to see photos of any of these presidential speedboats.
Brad Hunter

[chappy]

http://www.classicglastron.com/lbj-glastron.htm

LBJ loved his Glastron.

[olredalert]

------Greaat stuff, Chappy!!! The two minute video is something I hadnt seen before. More DONZI stuff in it than Glasstron. It isnt hard to see that the DONZIs pictured arent Sweet 16s as stated but 18 barrel-backs. They appear to both be all white with red stripes on one and baby blue stripes on the other. One, pictured from the stern appears to have the exhaust holes covered. Im sure there is some type of quiet exhaust thing going on there. Maybe thats why they couldnt keep up with Johnsons boat. Both DONZIs also appear to be V-drive as well, which I believe is well known. Its funny that Johnson really liked Lincolns (Fords) yet had a 409 in his Glasstron and the DONZIs had (probably) the low horse version of the 427 H/Ms (Fords) and he used to walk away from the DONZIs. Of course, there may well have been more than two chase boats so maybe a third unpictured boat could be a Sweet 16. Who knows. :confused: :confused: :confused: .........Mr.Bill

[silverghost]

Hard to believe that the LBJ glastron beat the Donzis!
Could it be that the secret service possibly let LBJ win to keep him happy?
I hear many people often humored him to keep him in a good mood and happy! You could only make so much HP and RPMs with a 409 & the glastron is really a family utility boat ~Not a really speedboat!
Also add in the weight of all his passengers.

[chappy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqCfCTG-hCA

Lil' more.

Cool stuff.

Can you imagine the penalty for a secret service agent for blowing by LBJ?

I'd let him win too.:kingme:

[VetteLT193]

Was that 18 Baby blue or a classic turquoise color? in the vid it looked like a turquoise green with matching seats... I'd love to have one in that color combo. :shades:

[Rootsy]

A couple of 16's flying there.... Easy to see the wrap around seating...

The white / green stripe @ 1:18 is a 16 with an 18 style dash panel...

[olredalert]

-----So right guys,,,Dont know why I didnt see the white/green 16. The sixteens couldnt possibly be 427/V-drives though, could they??? Maybe they were 289/V-drives as that would answer the question of how the presidents Glasspar walked away from them. :boggled: ..........Mr.Bill

[WA-LO]

Im kinda thinking that they let the Glastron think he was getting by, I
mean would you flog by the Pres? or let him have his fun in the sun:wink:

[mattyboy]

it is good to be the President ;)


yes the 18 white and red was a barrelback v drive 427 side oiler not sure what the 16's were but they are I/Os

i have a pic of the 2 SS guys in the 16 white and blue the guy driver is a MONSTER he is crammed in the driver seat and his knees are almost as high as the steering wheel

[silverghost]

In my opinion LBJ had just too big an ego !
He should have been knocked-down a peg or two!
The Secret Service should have smoked him and left him in their Donzi wake!
They might have lost their jobs~
But to me it would have been worth it!

There is a famous story of LBJ arriving at the airport to board Air Force I.
A young Marine was sent to escort him to the airplane.
The young Marine told LBJ ~
"Mr President your airplane is over there!"
Without missing a beat LBJ replied~
"Son... They're ALL my airplanes!"

He also had his Air Force I office chair placed on a platform so that t looked like a King's Throne.

[gebedell]

I bought a basket case 16 about eight years ago in Texas. I tracked down a couple of the previous owners to try and find out what I could about the age of the boat. The best I can tell it is a 65 or 66. One of the previous owners said he heard it was once used as a chase boat by the Secret Service when LBJ was president. I didn't really believe the story at the time but now I'm wondering if it's true.


Glen

[silverghost]

It is very possible that this story might in fact be true!
You should look into it's history more & do some reserch !
I hear there are many photos and movies of the LBJ & Secret Service boats at the LBJ Library Museum~ You should contact them!
Is there anything unusual about your Donzi?
What about regristration numbers?
What were the original colors of the hull & deck ?
These should be compared to the films & photos!
Who knows~
You may actually own a piece of American History !
It also could be quite valuable to a collector & LBJ buff !

[gebedell]

It was originally white with blue stripe. Can't locate any hull numbers yet. It now has a Volvo 270 outdrive, but becasuse of a visible hole pattern in the transom, I believe it originally had an Eaton drive. There is an electrical disconnect with a dust cap installed just to the right of the arched instrument panel. I haven't traced the wiring, but I assume it is a power plug?

Glen