Back in 1902 the Driver Seat of the Limo was Outside the Main Compartment!
Automobile limousines were first built back in 1902. These limos were not stretched giants as they are today - stretching of the cars stated just two decades after. First limousines were considered luxury automobiles. The design of a luxury automobile was based on giving the passengers privacy and put the driver outside. The driver seat was in the front of the car, outside the main compartment. The only thing that protected the driver from rough weather was a covered sunroof.
Even to this day the sound partition idea is still left in the limousine, however in the modern design it is a plastic divider which can be pulled up or down electronically.