King of the cowboys

[Ed Bass]

Anyone own (or know someone who owns) a celebrity vehicle?
This year I bought a 1952 International pick up formerly owned by Roy Rogers. He had it on his ranch over in Apple Valley. He and Dale probably used it to haul hay bales for Trigger. lol
I found it over in L.A. It had been parked in a garage for years but was still in presentable condition. Biggest bonus? It came with an old title from 1966 in Roy Rogers' name!
The engine was seized from sitting for so long. I removed it and it's currently at the machine shop undergoing a rebuild, put on 4 new tires, all new brakes, polished it up and it's looking great.
Best,
Toots

 

[Rick S.]

Ed,

A beautiful baby blue chariot! :eusa_clap

Hard, to think of anyone in the public eye that led such an exemplary life.

May, I add my own Roy Nudie's made costume from the same period?

rick

 

[K.D. Lightner]

That is a wonderful old truck. It's a wonder they didn't put it in the Roy Roger's museum. There is a car there, a '64 Pontiac Bonneville, with bull horns on the hood, gun parts on some of the controls, etc. Also, Nellybelle, the famous jeep from the TV series is there.

Congrats on your purchase, Ed, a truck to cherish!


karol

 

[dhermann1]

I was at a play this summer at the Westport Country Playhouse, and as we were arriving I saw a gorgeous 1939 Cadillac limo go by with license plates "MGM", which I'm almost positive was the Caddy that had been for sale a few months earlier that had originally belonged to Grier Garson. I didn't get a chance to ask the owner. But it was really, really gorgeous. A huge glistening black cabin cruiser of a car.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Ed -- I am curious. Were you able to purchase that truck because of the museum's move to Branson, MO? I read that there were lots of vans that had to haul the museum stuff from Victorville to Branson and that many of their museum stuff was sold or auctioned off at that time.

I visited the museum in late 1991 and do not remember seeing your truck, but, frankly, there was so much stuff there, it could be that I don't recall. There were rooms and rooms of stuff: writings, mementos, awards, one whole room of cowboy boots, costumes, saddles (including a parade saddle that was probably worth a small fortune), a room dedicated to the deceased children of Roy and Dale, lots of stuffed animals heads (Roy liked guns and was a hunter, hunted wild animals with Clark Gable in Africa), plus, of course, soem vehicles and the mounted famous horses and dog.

Oh, somebody tell me the difference between mounted and stuffed!??!

Reminds me of a story -- off topic, I don't care, it's late and I've had two martinis -- when Roy Rogers had Trigger and Bullet et al mounted for display, a reporter asked Dale Evans what she thought of that. She said, "When I found out what he had done, I knew I had to outlive him."

karol

 

[Bebop]

What a cool and wonderful truck to have. Whatever you paid, you did well. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Ed Bass]

Karol,
The sale of this truck from the Roy Rogers estate predates the museum move to Branson. It was purchased directly from the ranch in the early 70's. That owner kept it until the person I bought it from purchased it in the late 80's. From the time he bought it until I received it in '07, it just sat and sat in a well sealed garage in the warm southern California climate.

I have had many vintage cars. I usually prefer sedans from the 30's, although I've had almost 50 Corvettes, and many 60's muscle cars. (not all at once of course) This one was a little out of step from what I usually get into, but with the paper trail and provable history, I just couldn't pass it up.

Being in SoCal it isn't difficult to come across celebrity owned vehicles from time to time. If I hear of one I usually check it out. Most of the time it's just a good story with no paper trail. For instance, there is a fellow just a couple of blocks away from me that swears he owns Bing Crosby's Cadillac limo from the early 60's. I have viewed the car several times. As the story goes his father got it from a guy, who got it from a guy....but no proof or paper work. So it just makes for an interesting story.

Another fellow I spoke with this year in L.A. is positive he has one of Chuck Norris' cars from the early 60's . He is a very believable sort. He has known the car for decades and purchased it several years ago. His asking price was fair and I tended to believe this man but again, not a scrap of paper work.

A documented Laurel and Hardy movie car came up for sale here last year. I jumped right away.....but it was gone. That would have been great!

I can't tell you how many people have told me they have one of Marylin Monroe's previous cars. NONE of them EVER have a paper trail, but if you believe all the people who claim to have one of her limousines she had to have been one of the most prolific limo collectors of all time. Usually what they have are just old funeral limos with a real cock and bull story. It's amazing how people can get sucked into this.

I remember about two years ago there was a home for sale here in Palm Springs and the real estate agent said in the listing that Miss Monroe had stayed at the house many times. But the house wasn't built intil 1964! lol

I don't know what I'm going to do with this truck in the long run. But I have decided that I am going to maintain its condition rather than restore it. Obviously the engine rebuild, brakes and tires were necessary, there is one cracked window which I'll replace, but other than that, I think it's best to maintain it in an "as found" condition. I'll probably drive it for a while and then trade it off when I find something else I just have to have.

Best, Toots

 

[Ed Bass]

Hey, why is there a little "thumbs down" above my post? I must have inadvertantly clicked it. oops!

 

[Girl Friday]

SWEET!
That is totally awesome. Old pick up trucks are my dream cars, that one looks to be in exceptional condition. :eusa_clap

And extra cool for the history!

 

[imoldfashioned]

That must make you smile everytime you look at it--great truck!

 

[Ed Bass]

That must make you smile everytime you look at it--great truck!

It does.
Thanks, "iof"

Best, Toots

 

[ssubialdea]

great find Ed. :eusa_clap