A LIMOUSINE built for US President John F. Kennedy is currently on sale in the New Forest.

The Lincoln Continental limousine, which rolled off the production line in March 1963 - just eight months before Kennedy was killed - has a price tag of around £80,000.

It was constructed to special order by the White House coachbuilder, Hess & Eisenhardt, and is a duplicate of the 1961-built car which the President was travelling in when he was assassinated in Dallas.

Classic car dealer Ivor Bleaney, who has the limo on sale at his family-run New Forest car showroom, spent six months renovating the 22ft-long vehicle. He told the Echo: “I got the car through my contacts in the classic car trade.

“The White House ordered three of these limousines, and this one ended up at a very important French museum.

“It is now British registered with an MOT.”

Photographs of the build are available with the car, which also carries the Y82 chassis number which indicates it is a production limousine.

Mr Bleaney said: “As was the car that JFK was assassinated in, this car also has the same specifications being equipped with grab handles on the boot for bodyguards, an extended rear platform, Presidential flags on each wing and flashing lights on the front bumper.

“It was purchased by the founder of the Musee Automobile des Voitures de Chefs d’Etat, forming the centrepiece of the collection.”

The car has been completely restored, with a renewed interior, overhauled engine, new automatic gearbox, brakes and exhaust system.

Mr Bleaney explained: “In 1961, after the election of JFK, the White House commissioned a new Presidential Lincoln limousine, specifying it to be a convertible and having large doors for maximum ease of access. A new Lincoln chassis was delivered to Hess & Eisenhardt USA to be stretched and modified appropriately.”

This company built its first Presidential limousine for Harry S Truman in the late 1940s - a succession of vehicles for other US Presidents followed.

The car will be displayed at Beaulieu’s International Autojumble, September 2-3, and at the annual Grande Classic Car Show, Sir Walter Tyrrell pub, Rufus Stone, near Lyndhurst, on September 16.