Nearly 47 years after his death, controversial still surrounds the shooting of President John F. Kennedy — even the sale of the 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance that transported the president after he was killed.
The ambulance that took the president from Air Force One to the Capitol after his death sold at auction last weekend for $132,000 — about 13 times more than a “regular” 1963 Pontiac ambulance is worth.
Yet, the hopeful selling price was estimated to approach $1 million until a car conservator society questioned the car’s authenticity.
McKeel Hagerty, CEO of specialty car insurer, Hagerty Insurance Agency, told Forbes.com:
“There’s always something with those celebrity cars…the art world has the same problems. Even if the car is absolutely real but there is a legitimate question about it, you’ll probably get some bidders, but it’s just not going to be as much.”
Forbes.com detailed that cars reportedly owned respectively by Michael Jackson and John Dillinger were removed from auction after ownership authenticity was questioned.
Article Last Updated: January 25, 2011.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
Interesting story. There are always scammers out there. $132,000 is a lot to pay under the circumstances.