Infamous Cars of Famous People
These cars bore mobsters, tyrants, movie stars, royalty and world leaders, and were made famous by their passengers' antics and often un...
https://automology.blogspot.com/2016/09/infamous-cars-of-famous-people.html
These cars bore mobsters, tyrants, movie stars, royalty and world leaders, and were made famous by their passengers' antics and often untimely demise.
Al Capone ruled Chicago as one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in history, and the Prohibition allowed him to build his empire on bootlegging, on top of prostitution and, well, murder. His car of choice was a 1928 Cadillac V-8 Town Sedan – it was fast, flashy and of course reinforced, which suited the opulent mobster who probably had his name on every hit list in town.
Tupac Shakur was a social changemaker in his own right. He used his rap to bring up issues of racism, violence, poverty and the treatment of women. In September of 1996, after attending the Tyson-Seldon match, he stood up in this BMW 750il to talk to some women outside the vehicle, when a while Cadillac pulled up and opened fire on him. He was hit four times and died a few days later.
Hitler was as much a target of assassination attempts by then Germans as by the Allies. There was more than 40 attempts to end his life from 1933 to 1944. To thwart these, he rode in seven different specially designed armoured 1945 Mercedes Grosser 770. Each was bullet-proofed, weighed 4 tons and the 225HP engine could speed the car off at 93.2mph. There was also a rotational armoured plate at the rear that could be raised for protection, and secret compartments to store weapons. One of them is displayed in the Canadian War Museum.
When the Great Depression descended on the Midwest, Bonnie and Clyde were living it up, by robbing and murdering at least ten people, including several law officials. In May of 1934, an ambush was set up to put a stop to the crime spree. As they rolled down a rural road in their 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan, the officers emptied their shotguns, and then their pistols, into the car. The infamous duo were shot twenty times each.
In November of 1963, the charismatic 35th President of the United States, was riding down the streets of Dallas with his wife, Jackie Kennedy, in a 1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X when he was shot by sniper rifle.
Diana Spencer was the Princess of Wales, and more importantly to most, the People’s Princess. On 31st August 1997, while attempting to escape a pack of aggressive paparazzi on the streets of Paris, the 1994 Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed, killing Dodi Fayed, the driver, Henri Paul, and Diana, and devastating the masses of people who loved her.
James Dean was already a legend after only making three films before his life was cut short in September 1955. The 24-year-old was in his custom 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, also known as the “Little Bastard”, with his mechanic when a reckless driver collided with them.
It was better than a movie, because it was real. OJ Simpson being chased down a highway by more than 20 police cars was streamed live on television. When police finally caught him, they found inside the 1993 Ford Bronco a fake goatee and moustache, OJ’s passport and a gun.
One fateful day in 1914 set off a chain of events that led to the outbreak of WW1. A Serbian nationalist shot and killed the Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife. Earlier that day, a grenade had been hurled at their car, a 1911 Graf & Stift Double Phaeton, but it exploded behind the vehicle. Later, the royal couple wanted to visit the people who were hurt, and the change of itinerary caused a confusion among the drivers. The motorcade stalled and the murderer took advantage of the situation fire shots at them.
1928 Cadillac V-8 Town Sedan
Al Capone ruled Chicago as one of the most powerful Mafia bosses in history, and the Prohibition allowed him to build his empire on bootlegging, on top of prostitution and, well, murder. His car of choice was a 1928 Cadillac V-8 Town Sedan – it was fast, flashy and of course reinforced, which suited the opulent mobster who probably had his name on every hit list in town.
1996 BMW 750il Sedan
Tupac Shakur was a social changemaker in his own right. He used his rap to bring up issues of racism, violence, poverty and the treatment of women. In September of 1996, after attending the Tyson-Seldon match, he stood up in this BMW 750il to talk to some women outside the vehicle, when a while Cadillac pulled up and opened fire on him. He was hit four times and died a few days later.
1945 Mercedes Grosser 770
Hitler was as much a target of assassination attempts by then Germans as by the Allies. There was more than 40 attempts to end his life from 1933 to 1944. To thwart these, he rode in seven different specially designed armoured 1945 Mercedes Grosser 770. Each was bullet-proofed, weighed 4 tons and the 225HP engine could speed the car off at 93.2mph. There was also a rotational armoured plate at the rear that could be raised for protection, and secret compartments to store weapons. One of them is displayed in the Canadian War Museum.
1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan
When the Great Depression descended on the Midwest, Bonnie and Clyde were living it up, by robbing and murdering at least ten people, including several law officials. In May of 1934, an ambush was set up to put a stop to the crime spree. As they rolled down a rural road in their 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan, the officers emptied their shotguns, and then their pistols, into the car. The infamous duo were shot twenty times each.
1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X
In November of 1963, the charismatic 35th President of the United States, was riding down the streets of Dallas with his wife, Jackie Kennedy, in a 1961 Lincoln Continental SS-100-X when he was shot by sniper rifle.
1994 Mercedes-Benz S280
Diana Spencer was the Princess of Wales, and more importantly to most, the People’s Princess. On 31st August 1997, while attempting to escape a pack of aggressive paparazzi on the streets of Paris, the 1994 Mercedes-Benz S280 crashed, killing Dodi Fayed, the driver, Henri Paul, and Diana, and devastating the masses of people who loved her.
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
James Dean was already a legend after only making three films before his life was cut short in September 1955. The 24-year-old was in his custom 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, also known as the “Little Bastard”, with his mechanic when a reckless driver collided with them.
1993 White Ford Bronco
It was better than a movie, because it was real. OJ Simpson being chased down a highway by more than 20 police cars was streamed live on television. When police finally caught him, they found inside the 1993 Ford Bronco a fake goatee and moustache, OJ’s passport and a gun.
1911 Graf & Stift Double Phaeton
One fateful day in 1914 set off a chain of events that led to the outbreak of WW1. A Serbian nationalist shot and killed the Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife. Earlier that day, a grenade had been hurled at their car, a 1911 Graf & Stift Double Phaeton, but it exploded behind the vehicle. Later, the royal couple wanted to visit the people who were hurt, and the change of itinerary caused a confusion among the drivers. The motorcade stalled and the murderer took advantage of the situation fire shots at them.
