Barrett-Jackson auctioning Pontiac ambulance that served as JFK hearse

Discussion in 'Station Wagon News From Around The Web' started by wagonmaster, Jan 9, 2011.

  1. wagonmaster

    wagonmaster Administrator Staff Member Moderator

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    Filed under: Classics, Wagon, Auctions, Pontiac, Police/Emergency, Military

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    1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance - Click above for high-res image gallery​

    Few ambulances have ever been as well-known as the Pontiac that transported the remains of the late President John F. Kennedy after his assassination. And now it's going up for auction.

    The 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance was one of only 69 of its kind built, and only 15 commissioned for military application. This particular example was assigned to Bethesda Naval Hospital in DC, and was sent to collect the flag-draped casket of the slain commander-in-chief from Air Force One upon its arrival at Andrews Air Force Base and bring it, accompanied by grieving widow Jacqueline and brother Robert F. Kennedy, to the hospital and then on to Capitol Hill.

    The ambulance was retired from service several years later and sold as surplus before landing in the collection of its current owner, who is now putting it up for auction at the 40th-anniversary Barrett-Jackson extravaganza in Scottsdale later this month. It's in apparent immaculate original condition and has been featured in magazines and at the 2010 national convention of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, where it was lauded with the Gold Award.


    Gallery: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance

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    [Source: Speed | Images: PontiacsOnline]Barrett-Jackson auctioning Pontiac ambulance that served as JFK hearse originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.



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    wagonmaster, Jan 9, 2011
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  2. Dan Scully

    Dan Scully Well-Known Member

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    Dan Scully, Jan 9, 2011
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  3. Fat Tedy

    Fat Tedy Island Red Neck

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    Hard to tell....and Barry It Jackson IMO would sell his own mother for $1 to make a buck IMO!

    It looks like the Ambulance but in this pic the marking/printing on the door is clearly smaller...
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    Fat Tedy, Jan 9, 2011
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  4. snooterbuckets

    snooterbuckets Well-Known Member

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    Yes, it does look smaller plus the lens on the spotlight is red in the current pic and clear in the one from '63. Of course, that could've been changed through the years. I'm assuming there were jump sears for Jackie and Robert to sit on. I'd hate to think they rode on the floor of it.
    Anybody else offended by the fact that despite the large number of "gentlemen" present, the grieving First Lady had to open her own door.
     
    snooterbuckets, Jan 10, 2011
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  5. GN300

    GN300 Tipmaster G

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    If you watch the video they do open the door.
     
    GN300, Jan 15, 2011
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  6. silverfox

    silverfox New Member

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    Well....I just read the entire thread that Dan Scully posted from over at the Professional Car Society. It appears that the original ambulance was crushed as documented by the historical archives of JFK.
    I believe this car to be a fake. The thread that Dan posted is good reading (albeit, long) and, even though I thought the car to be a fake from the git-go, there is convincing evidence about the crushing of the original. Barrett-Jackson only requires that the paper work matches what the seller states. If you are interested....read the thread. It is very interesting.
     
    silverfox, Jan 19, 2011
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