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.

[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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Given the manner is which demonstrations are put down by the Islamic Republic, populism may not seem like a key element in Iran’s political system. But in an effort to gain support from lower classes during his campaign, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rode around in his modest 1977 Peugeot 504. Not an extravagant car by any means, but one that became a symbol for the despotic ruler.

Part of his campaign pledge was to create housing for low-income Iranians, and to that end the president is selling his Peugeot. Proceeds from the car’s sale are earmarked to benefit the Mehr housing project. The vintage French sedan is actually registered to the president’s wife, but given the association, this particular example is sure to sell for more than the modest sum it would otherwise fetch. Thanks for the tip, zedster!

[Source: Yedioth Ahronoth | Images: Peugeot]

Iran’s Ahmadinejad auctioning his ’77 Peugeot 504 for charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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