Reagan’s Jeep
February 26, 2008 –The Worldwide Group, auctioneers of some of the world’s finest automobiles, has procured the sale of Ronald Reagan’s 1952 Army Jeep, Model M-38A1 and the 1934 Packard Twelve Sedan of Al Capone. Collectors will be given the opportunity to bid for both at the Houston Classic Auction on May 3rd, when they join a stunning selection of vintage American and European road and race cars at auction at the prestigious Lakewood Yacht Club, in Seabrook, Texas.
The M38 A1 was the evolution of the M38 military jeep, used extensively in the Korean War, the first manifestation of the round fender jeep that would ultimately become available to the consumer as the CJ-5. This example was transferred to Ronald Reagan’s California ranch for his use and is offered for sale complete with Title which still reads “Reagan Protective Division. US Secret Service.” The vehicle was later donated to the Camping and Education Foundation of Cincinnati, an organization which raised scholarship funds to run wilderness island camps for under-privileged youth.
From the collection of a gentleman whose career was to take a somewhat different turn, is the 1934 Packard Twelve Sedan of gangster Al Capone. Delivered new to the Capone Syndicate, in his favorite shade of maize yellow, the vehicle arrived just as he himself was dispatched to jail, on charges of racketeering.
In the words of Rod Egan, Managing Partner and Chief Auctioneer of the Worldwide Group; “Often, part of the charm in collecting vintage cars lies in the provenance of those vehicles-their individual histories and those of the people who owned them. These two examples certainly provide that inherent charm. We are proud to be able to present such remarkable automobiles from both a leader of the free world and leader of the underworld.”
For further details on any of these vehicles, or a full list of current consignments, please contact John Kruse or Rod Egan on 1-866-273-6394, or go to www.wwgauctions.com
Held in conjunction with the annual Keels & Wheels Concours D’Elegance, the Houston Classic Auction is on Saturday May 3rd at 11a.m, at the Lakewood Yacht Club, in Seabrook, Texas, with preview on the evening of May 2nd. The full color catalog is available in advance, for $50, to include auction admission for two and limited seating. Please contact 1-866-273-6394, or visit us online at www.wwgauctions.com.