Lot 192

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Description:

JFK Assassination Lincoln Continental Hood Ornament Attributed to Have Been on the Presidential Limousine

This hood ornament is attributed to have been on the hood of the Lincoln Continental presidential limousine in which 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Provenance: From the collection of Ron Hoskins, assassinologist.

The detached hood ornament is cast-metal, an octagonal and cruciform shape, dating from ca. 1958-1963. Light tarnish and corrosion, else very good. 4.5" high by 4.5" deep. Currently stored in a blue velvet draw-string pouch.

Kennedy's presidential limousine was a modified 1961 Lincoln Continental convertible used after June 1961. Given code name SS-100-X, the presidential limousine was a collaboration of the Ford Motor Company and coach-building company Hess & Eisenhardt of Cincinnati, Ohio. The vehicle was customized to allow for maximum viewing of the president during parades.

In December 1963, a 6-person task force comprised of government officials and civilian experts decided that the presidential limousine--despite its horrible associations and actual physical damage--should be salvaged. "Project D-2," or the "Quick Fix" began when the SS-100-X was transported back to Cincinnati to be cleaned and rebuilt by Hess & Eisenhardt. The price tag was $500,000 and the project wrapped up in the spring of 1964.

Provenance

Accompanied by a signed affidavit from D. Lilly of Silverdale, Washington, who acquired the hood ornament from the original collector, a veteran from Seabeck, Washington. According to Lilly, this unidentified serviceman, stationed in Washington, D.C. after 1962, had been tasked with accompanying the limousine to Cincinnati, Ohio for refitting following the assassination.

The affidavit reads in part:

"I bought the old suicide 1962 [elsewhere listed as 1958-1963] Lincoln Continental from the old man. The car and man lived in Seabeck, Washington…He told me how much he loved the car and started telling me stories about it and his military service and that the first time he saw one was when Mrs. Kennedy (Yes, Jackie Kennedy, A.K.A. First Lady) bought a white one and had it at the white house where he was stationed at the time (1962)…He told me that after the assassination that he was sent to accompany the X-100 to Ohio to set security at the place where the rebuild project, 'Project D-2' happened and he told me about how they took the car apart…He went on to say that paid one of the workers $15 to keep the old hood ornament and because it wouldn't fit on the thickened hood of the rebuilt X-100 the welder agreed to the deal..."

The print-outs of the original eBay seller's paperwork is provided from August 2006, as is the original transmittal envelope postmarked in mid-October 2006.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000