What....a Fake Car at Barrett-Jackson.....Never!

[slider701]

Here is a good article on the JFK ambulance that was coming up for sale at BJ, and how several folks got involved to prove it was a fake:

http://jalopnik.com/5739333/presiden...ance-is-a-fake

If you read the article real closely you can even see how BJ's president Steve Davis used the term "provenance of this car".........proving the use of the word "provenance"

[Nedsel]

And yet the "press conference" to discuss the issue at the auction concluded that the car at the auction WAS the original car, even though there were photos from a scrap yard showing the ambulance in the jaws of the crusher, attended to by the then-curator of the Kennedy archives. The consignor said he figured there were 2 cars used in 1963, and one was a "decoy." But would they have bothered to paint the identical ID numbers on both?

I think the fact that the "million dollar car" brought just $120,000 indicated no one there who wanted the car believed it was the real ambulance.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

And yet the "press conference" to discuss the issue at the auction concluded that the car at the auction WAS the original car, even though there were photos from a scrap yard showing the ambulance in the jaws of the crusher, attended to by the then-curator of the Kennedy archives. The consignor said he figured there were 2 cars used in 1963, and one was a "decoy." But would they have bothered to paint the identical ID numbers on both?

I think the fact that the "million dollar car" brought just $120,000 indicated no one there who wanted the car believed it was the real ambulance.

still 120k ain't bad for a junkyard $500.00 ambulance with a $500.00 paint job on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, them BJ folks never have tried to pull anything on anyone!!!!!!

David

[joyridin']

Identical ID numbers tat weren't actually identical. As mentioned, the original just had US on it and the fake had U.S.

It was a cool car. Not $120k cool, but cool.

[timsullivan]

Again I say that MOST people buying cars from auction houses are guys with more money then brains spending "stupid money" on cars that clearly are not worth the money. Auction house selling prices are not FMV. They are generally highly inflated prices that are rarely supported by subsequent resales of the same car--unless they can find another stupid guy with more money than brains willing to pay the price--- a bigger sucker, if you will. Besides, BJ's has a a long track record of not looking out for the best interests of bidders and the case here, proves my point. "Buyer beware" or if you bid at BJ's, "buyer be damned".

[mln385]

The person whom bought it flipped it for a profit before it even left BJ's! Talk about luck!!

[Excaliber]

If this were a Cobra, I believe the applicable term would be, "story car", and before the argument was over some might call it an "air car".

...I like "story" myself.

UPDATE: This just in, the buyer is (was?) Ms. Addison Brown.

The original owner said he has no regrets, and the woman who bought it said the controversy did not bother her. She said she trusted the research done by Barrett Jackson.
The Paradise Valley woman, who is a car collector, was not sure what she would do with the vehicle, but she may ask the Smithsonian if it is interested in displaying it.

From:
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/ente...-120k-01222011

[csx4910]

Actually, the woman who bought it after the initial sale has a museum in colorado she plans on displaying it. They interviewed her later today on the local news

[Excaliber]

I won't hold my breath the Smithsonian will be interested, so Colorado it is!

[Nedsel]

To my mind, the Jalopnik article on this car covers the bases pretty well, and has photos of the "real" ambulance in a crusher, as well as letters verifying it was crushed. How it is possible to conclude this car is somehow still the original ambulance is a mystery. Unless there is $ involved... NAH.

[KVenom]

After looking at the pictures of the time at the airport and the recent pictures, I see a discrepancy with the spot light on the driver side fender that has an obvious clear lens in the '63 photo. The recent versions show it as red. Now yes I know the '63 photo is black and white but when you look at the light on top it has a black or dark hue to it. I believe the spot light on the fender should look similar. Yes lights break or get replaced. That is a difference I see. Does it prove it fake, no but it would raise questions.

[Mulv]

The buyer has already sold the car for a profit.. it was on the local news. Who the heck would want such a morbid thing in any case? No one less than 50 even remembers JFK which is 70% + of the population so good luck on reselling it in 20 years....