JFK Pontiac ambulance up for auction

[Tony Blair]

Didn't someone in this forum claim it had been crushed back in the 60's?

http://www.marketwire.com/press-rele...ed-1374422.htm

[John ED Renstrom]

I would love to see the paper trail on this one. but it would have to be from superior to the GSA to the DOD. to the Naval station to when it was sold at auction from GAS and who titled it then. if this is the car that was in the movie then it has been altered again. the one reported to be like the JFk ambulance had a siren on the right front fender.

[Jean-Marc Dugas]

http://automotive.speedtv.com/articl...rrett-jackson/

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/appli...277&pop=0&it=1

[Todd Merrifield]

Somebody has their story wrong...not sure who though.

[David Martin]

Well... My opinion is Barret-Jackson wouldn't have even touched it without authenication many times over. They're known as being very particular about a vehicle's history to the point of pulling vehicle's on the day of auction because of controversy.

Last year? there was a big hoobah about Davey Allison's race winning T-bird to the point that Richard Childress was called out by the winning crew chief/ Speed commentator Larry Mac who was the crew chief on the actual winning car and said nope...not as presented. The car was verified but had to be re-decalled just hours prior to auction.

If this was a "imposter" they would'nt have even looked at it.

[Steve Lichtman]

One of our members (I think Craig Stewart), had researched this many years ago and was told the car was scrapped. I'm not sure what actual documentation was available at the time to prove that it was scrapped.

I'm not sure what documentation is available now to prove that this is it. Definately been repainted or at least re-lettered.

I can't imagine how a vehicle that a lot of people have been looking for over many years could have been stashed away and nobody knew where it was for more than 40 years.

Maybe?

[Kerry Bogard]

It is well written; Bobby Kennedy ordered the Navy Pontiac Hearse destroyed. B-J has been known for a few 'blunders'. The backside of the bidders card gives them 'a pass' for any mistakes and/ or over-puffing by the auctioneers. It all becomes part of the auction 'folklore'...

[Bill Marcy]

Originally Posted by Steve Lichtman

One of our members (I think Craig Stewart), had researched this many years ago and was told the car was scrapped. I'm not sure what actual documentation was available at the time to prove that it was scrapped.

I'm not sure what documentation is available now to prove that this is it. Definately been repainted or at least re-lettered.

I can't imagine how a vehicle that a lot of people have been looking for over many years could have been stashed away and nobody knew where it was for more than 40 years.

Maybe?

Steve, I called Craig Stewart, thinking he may wish to contribute to the discussion. Unfortunately, he said it was not his research. Funny thing is that I can almost swear that I had heard it from Craig. I guess it is my mind playing tricksn on me again.

[John ED Renstrom]

first of all when they say its original never been restored they are off base. nothing was sold at gsa auction this sharp. especially after 10 years in service. the lacquer won't last this long. my guess is there numbers they stated are off. only 15 of that year went to DOD. I would not have Imagined that they picked up so few one year. then to keep quit while the hearse sells for a mill. they have this car carrying him twice. I understood it went from the plane to the white house only. he was moved by cason after that. the key would be the serial number of the car. both of them. easy to fake the gsa tag. but if you could marry up the gm chassis number and the superior number with that DOD number then you have a match. other then that it's just painted numbers on a door and someones word. from the pictures a nicely done car though.

[Tom Hoczyk]

I have a distinct memory of this conversation from years ago, and I'm almost positive it was Dan Brintlinger who was able to contact his Congressman, or other high-level official, and received a written statement that the car had been destroyed.

Although I'd like to think that Barrett-Jackson is extremely reputable, they often have to take the word of the seller for advertising information. They're not the types of people to do outrageous research on an old ambulance that members of the PCS would be willing to do. When I think of Volo Museum blatantly trying to sell a Eureka (an easily traceable Eureka, nonetheless) as THE Ghostbusters car, I only get angry at the audacity of some people. I'm hoping the same thing is not going on here. Dan? What do you think? Tom