john f. kennedy

JFK Ambulance Sold for $120,000 Despite Authenticity Doubts

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Avid Luxist readers may recognize this vintage ambulance from our article earlier this month. The 1963 Pontiac Bonneville is one of only a handful converted to an ambulance and commissioned by the U.S. Navy. It was said to have carried out the solemn duty of transporting the remains and bereaved of the assassinated president John F. Kennedy, and was slated for the auction block under the auspices of Barrett-Jackson at its recently-concluded auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The story sounded credible and straightforward enough, but before the auction took place, reports surfaced to question the authenticity of the vehicle's provenance. It seemed, according to the reports, that the vehicle that actually carried JFK's remains and grieving widow and brother from Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital was actually destroyed several years ago.

Authenticity notwithstanding, Barrett-Jackson elected to auction the vehicle just the same, where it promptly sold for a high bid of $120,000 – less than it probably would have fetched if not for the question of its provenance, but more than if it were indeed just an ordinary ambulance. The buyer stated her intentions to donate the car for display at the Smithsonian, but to make the story all the stranger, ended up reportedly selling it for little more than she paid for it to the daughter of a limousine collector in Colorado whose father is presently incarcerated for bribing Alaskan legislators.

Gallery: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance

Tags: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, 1963 pontiac bonneville ambulance, 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance, barrett-jackson, jfk, John F Kennedy, john f. kennedy, kennedy, pontiac, Pontiac Bonneville, pontiac bonneville ambulance, scottsdale

Kennedy Ambulance up for Auction at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Few if any U.S. presidents have elicited the kind of following that JFK did in his life, and arguably even more so in his death. Collectors obsess over Kennedy memorabilia, and this will surely be one of the most coveted pieces.

The vehicle you see here – a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance commissioned by the Department of the Navy – was tasked with the solemn duty of transporting the slain president's casket (along with his widow and grieving brother who would vie to succeed him) from Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base to Bethesda Naval Hospital and then on to Capitol Hill.

Preserved in original condition, the vehicle will be going up for auction under the Barrett-Jackson gavel in Scottsale, Arizona, from January 17-23.

Gallery: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance

Source

Tags: 1963 Pontiac Bonneville, 1963 Pontiac Bonneville JFK ambulance, barrett-jackson, jfk, john f. kennedy, kennedy, pontiac, pontiac bonneville

Rare Hermès Crocodile Briefcase for $30,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

The Sac à Depeche crocodile skin briefcase from Hermès of Paris is one of the famed French luxury goods house's most coveted and exclusive items. The ultimate gentleman's business accessory, the elegant model has long been a favorite of aristocrats, royalty, the international jet set and heads of state. The Sac à Depeche was first introduced by Hermès in 1937, and one of the first purchasers was the Duke of Windsor. John F. Kennedy famously carried an example in black crocodile given to him by Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, which he took with him on that fateful trip to Dallas in 1964. Kennedy's briefcase sold for $700,000 at auction in 1998. The Sac à Depeche in crocodile remains available by special order – with a 4-5 year waiting list. However, a rare and authentic 20th century crocodile Sac à Depeche is now being offered for sale by London's Pullman Gallery for about $30,000. Finished in tan Crocodilus Porosos, the very finest crocodile skin in the world, the exquisite case is in perfect mint condition, and comes complete with a key fob and two keys, signed Hermès, Paris.

[via JustLuxe]

Tags: briefcase, crocodile, Duke of Windsor, exotic leather, Hermes, John F. Kennedy, luggage, mens style, Paris

Maltese Falcon Designer's 1920s-Style Superyacht Inspired by JFK

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing

Ken Freivokh, designer of the famed Maltese Falcon, the world's largest, most high-tech, beautiful and costliest sailing yacht, has gone classic for his latest project, the 1920's-inspired superyacht Sycara IV (above). The 151-ft. luxury yacht, built by the Burger Boat Company in Wisconsin, is designed to cruise the Great Lakes in high style and is partly inspired by John F. Kennedy's yacht the Honey Fitz. The aluminum-bodied craft resembles a classic wooden motor yacht with a schooner bow and fantail hull. The Art Deco-inspired interior woodwork is a masterpiece of handcrafted mahogany and madrone burl, with ebony, sycamore and padouk accents highlighted with stainless steel details in scores of inlays and moldings. Lalique bathroom fixtures are the finishing Deco touch. Of course she's also equipped with every bit of state-of-the-art tech you'd expect in a modern superyacht.

[via JamesList]

Tags: Art Deco, ArtDeco, Great Lakes, GreatLakes, John F. Kennedy, JohnF.Kennedy, Ken Freivokh, KenFreivokh, Lalique, Maltese Falcon, MalteseFalcon, superyacht, Wisconsin, yacht

The Classicist: At The Carlyle Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Classicist

When Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week hits New York City this Friday, the hip downtown hotels will of course be flooded with fashionistas. The ones who value refinement and elegance over mere trendiness however will head to the Upper East Side's Carlyle Hotel, a luxurious landmark since it first opened in 1930 and one of our favorite places to stay in the world.

French Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld recently declared that the Carlyle is her favorite hotel as well, and with the addition of a luxe new spa next month, with its "sleek palette of slate, charcoal and black complemented by finishes in nickel, chrome and glass and rich molding," others are sure to follow suit. Not that the Carlyle lacks for high-profile guests; since it opened nearly 80 years ago, the hotel has played host to an endless procession of movie stars, millionaires and high society.

The Art Deco masterpiece was the perfect setting for both stylish philanderer John F. Kennedy, who owned an apartment on the 34th floor, and legendary cabaret singer Bobby Short, who hung his top hat at the swank Café Carlyle for decades (Woody Allen has also been known to hoist a clarinet there on occasion).

Gallery: The Carlyle Hotel

Tags: Bemelmans Bar, BemelmansBar, Bobby Short, BobbyShort, Caf Carlyle, CafCarlyle, Carine Roitfeld, CarineRoitfeld, Carlyle Hotel, CarlyleHotel, Central Park, CentralPark, French Vogue, FrenchVogue, John F. Kennedy, JohnF.Kennedy, Ludwig Bemelmans, LudwigBemelmans, Mercedes-Benz, New York City, New York Fashion Week, NewYorkCity, NewYorkFashionWeek, Nick Foulkes, NickFoulkes, Woody Allen, WoodyAllen

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Iconic French Tennis Shoe Arrives in U.S.A.

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes, Men's Style

La Tennis Bensimon, the iconic French sneaker that was a favorite of John F. Kennedy and super-cool musician Serge Gainsbourg, is finally arriving in the U.S. for fall. The classic tennis shoes, rendered in cotton canvas, leather and suede, have long been a favorite of stylish fellows who tracked them down in Europe and Japan. Designer Serge Bensimon, whose grandfather began the business by importing American Army surplus clothing following World War II, says that "For me, creation is a sensitive and eclectic dialogue between art, literature and travel." The men's collection, which will now be available at Bloomingdale's, is "classic and simple yet luxurious, reflecting the essence of Parisian style." Canvas Sneakers have been given the Men.Style.com seal of approval for summer. We're partial to the navy canvas version pictured above. See the gallery for more examples.

[via Kempt]

Gallery: La Tennis Bensimon