Posted on 01/05/2011 7:29:43 AM PST by re_tail20
A rare piece of Americana goes on sale this month, when one of the vehicles that carried the body of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination hits the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, which begins on January 17.
The 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance was used to collect the president’s flag-draped coffin from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland upon its return from Dallas. Kennedy’s wife, Jackie, and his brother Robert accompanied the president’s body as it was transported to Bethesda Naval Hospital for an autopsy.
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Cool car.
Weird. If I were rich, I could think of lots of other collectables to purchase as opposed to something strange like this.
Not sure why - but this ambulance is an American icon. It should do very well at auction.
It is definitely a cool car, and it’s been kept in great condition, it appears.
I don’t give a crap about the dopey JFK connection, but that is one bad ass mobile.
Kind of makes you wonder what was actually IN the coffin because of how low the hearse is riding in the rear. It is made to carry a casket, so why is it sitting that low?
JFK had gravitas!
I was thinking the same thing . . .
Two theories
1) Intentionally shorter to allow folks from that era to easily load/unload the coffin.
2) 48-year-old springs. I'm only 41, and I sag in spots, too.
Guess whoever buys the thing will have to have the rear shocks replaced right away ...
I was wondering why it sat so low too, but it probably had 5 or 6 Secret service guys and their weapons riding in back.
Presumably, the hearse was relatively new at the time it was used for JFK, so it shouldn’t be sagging so much. Also, I’ve been a pallbearer numerous times and have never seem a hearse that “kneels” for easier access.
The way I understand it, the coffin they hastily procured in Dallas was extremely heavy. A White House staffer told them to “go out and get the best they could buy”. They got the most ornate one they could find which had a lot of brass and metal on it.
And yes..the Secret Service guys also added weight.
JFK was already dead at that point, so little need for Secret Service protection, plus that is a military hearse, so the body is being moved on a military base.
There was a second ambulance.
Sitting fine because it doesn’t have a casket in it yet (see it being unloaded).
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