5 Historically (In)Famous Vehicles of All Time
“You are the author of your own destiny; write yourself into history books.” ― Matshona DhliwayoWe at Farm Boy Garage have a love for all things vehicle related. That extends to and includes history of (in)famous vehicles throughout history. You know what we're talking about... those stories you hear in history that grab your attention and keep you hanging on waiting for more. Some of those better known vehicles, we've all heard the stories about. We've seen the movies. We've read about them in history classes. Others, may not be as well known, but still hold so much importance in history. So, this week, we thought it'd be fun to share with you 5 historically (in)famous vehicles of all time! We're sure the first one will have you saying 'Aha! Yep, that's definitely infamous!'
Bonnie & Clyde’s 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan
Few outlaws in history have captured as much attention as Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrows, and few cars remain as famous as the Ford V8 they died in. In early 1934 Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow stole a V8 Ford and drove it around the Midwest, robbing and killing people. Ambushed by police just outside of Bienville Parish, Louisiana on the morning of May 23, 1934, the couple were shot before they could surrender and died as fast and furious as they lived.
Legend has it that they were hit by as many as 160 bullets, though this is likely an exaggeration. The blood-splattered, bullet-ridden car was an instant attraction, touring carnivals, amusement parks, flea markets, and state fairs for 30 years. Today, the car is on display in the lobby of Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino in Primm, Nevada.
Al Capone's 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan
Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac may be one of the first armored cars ever made, and as the rumor goes, it was quite the handy car to have in the FBI impound lot after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The Secret Service needed a secure car to shuttle President Roosevelt around in, and Capone’s car already had the armor they wanted.
While CBS News reported that Pres. Roosevelt arrived to deliver his Pearl Harbor speech in Al Capone's Cadillac, documents proved that Al Capone's Cadillac was sold to a couple who worked in a travelling carnival show who later sold the car to a Mr. H. Nielson of Toronto who shipped the car to England in 1933. The car was displayed for all to see at an amusement park in London, England. While this is just a rumor, it still became widely spread enough to create fame!
Aloha Wanderwell's Ford Model T
Aloha Wanderwell traveled 380,000 miles across 80 countries becoming the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in a Ford Model T in the 1920s. Just 16 years old at the time, the epic journey took seven years to complete. In 1929, she and her husband, Walter, released the silent film 'With Car and Camera Around the World' after their travels, making them international exploring sensations.
James Dean’s Porsche 550 Spyder
James Dean, a 1950s actor famous for his smoldering good looks and intense style, and a love of racing and fast European cars. That passion is what ultimately took his life on the afternoon of September 30, 1955.
Dean and his co-driver, Rolf Wutherich, were involved in a head-on collision just a mile west of the town of Cholame, California. Colliding with a monster 1950 Ford Tudor coupe as it made a turn onto Route 41 directly into the path of Dean’s speeding Porsche 550 Spyder, Dean’s much lighter vehicle flipped into the air and landed on its wheels some forty feet away.
Remarkably, both men were pulled from the smashed Spyder alive, but Dean died at the scene, abruptly bringing an end to a most promising career. As for the smashed roadster, it was shown around the country for several years afterwards as part of a driver safety display but has since disappeared.
Adolf Hitler’s 770-K Mercedes-Benz staff cars
While many historically famous vehicles are known for the historical event or tragedy they were involved in, these cars are more infamous because of their original owner. Der Fuhrer ordered several of these massive, armored-plated behemoths to tool around the Third Reich in and, remarkably, almost all of them survive to this day.
The most famous of these is currently on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada. Confiscated by the army, it made its way through a succession of owners until finally ending up being donated to the museum in 1970, where it remains to this day.
A second car, presented to Finnish Field Marshal Carl Gustav Mannerheim by Hitler as a gift and to cement the Finno-German alliance, had been shipped off to Sweden for “safe storage”. Later, it was seized by the Swedes for back taxes and sold to an American industrialist in 1948, who used it for promotional tours and raising money for various charities.
A third car resides at the Technisches Museum in Sinsheim, Germany while others reside in the private collections of several wealthy millionaires around the world.
Let Us Restore Your Vintage Car!
Do you own a historically famous vehicle, or maybe a replica of one? We can fully restore it to its original/super modified glory. We run a one-stop-shop here at Farm Boy Garage, and all restoration services are done on site, meaning your car doesn't leave our garage until it's completed to your satisfaction. Let us bring a piece of history back to life for you!
Are you ready to create the muscle car or classic truck of your dreams? Let us be your one-stop-shop! Visit our website to check out some of the recent projects we've completed and to learn about the vehicle restoration services we offer.
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