John Dillinger 1930 Model "A" Ford Coupe

[ericr]

Although not a devotee of Model "A" Fords, preferring faster, more expensive makes, this is a '30 Coupe Dillinger supposedly used to escape from the FBI at the Little Bohemia Lodge in Wisconsin.

[1930artdeco]

That I think is the most expensive Model A out there. It sold at Barrett Jackson for six figures if I remember correctly. I think they left it pretty much alone, including the bullet holes.

Mike

[SeaSlugs]

BTW Public Enemies is a great movie showing Dillinger's life and alot of action in it. (and great cars of all kinds including A's)

[FordToughChevyStuff]

Originally Posted by 1930artdeco

That I think is the most expensive Model A out there. It sold at Barrett Jackson for six figures if I remember correctly. I think they left it pretty much alone, including the bullet holes.

Mike

I'm a Dillinger buff so I have done lots of research on this.

While this car matches the FBI file on both engine number and frame number of the car Dillinger stole, everything else has been restored. Dillinger stole this car after escaping the bureau of investigation at Little Bohemia and later dumped it for a faster flathead V-8. So in reality, it was only associated with Dillinger for about 300 miles until he swapped cars again.

This car was returned to its owner who deemed it was too "mangled" to fix up due to numerous bullet holes, so it sat in a barn until someone bought it. The car was then fully restored and used in the movie Public Enemies, a movie based on the life of John Dillinger and his gang. Some people say this car still has bullet holes and some say it even has blood on the seat from one of Dillingers gang members, but this isn't the case. There are plenty of articles you can read that might embellish this car but it is FULLY restored.

This would still be a fun car to own due to its history but I think it would be even more fun to own if it was in its original condition. Imagine the stories you could tell about the car?

[Mike V. Florida]

The Ford was carefully restored in 2007 to appear in “Public Enemies”, preserving the original bullet holes and dimples under body filler and carefully documenting the original appearance including the upholstery soaked with blood.

It sold for $165,00 including buyers premium.

[Steve Wastler]

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It's just another restored coupe! They ruined it and removed ALL the visual history that made it special. The buyer at 165k must like being bent over! The bullet holes are supposed to be there, but who's gonna dig out the bondo on a restored car, what a shame.

[Mitch//pa]

i have this article hanging in my office:::

[Phil]

Isn't this the one they could verify from photos? Not only from the bullet holes, but by the rear glass was cracked. I read an article about it it being restored by some highly respected Model A restorer. He was not going to weld up the bullet hole, just bondo it. I thought what idiot would restore such a historic car. Sone one said it correctly above it was a very historic car now just another Model A coupe.

[itsa52]

If I could afford 165K for the car I could probably pp for a few more to dig out the bondo and restore the original patina.
However since it his car it's his option..

[ericr]

Originally Posted by FordToughChevyStuff

I'm a Dillinger buff so I have done lots of research on this.

While this car matches the FBI file on both engine number and frame number of the car Dillinger stole, everything else has been restored. Dillinger stole this car after escaping the bureau of investigation at Little Bohemia and later dumped it for a faster flathead V-8. So in reality, it was only associated with Dillinger for about 300 miles until he swapped cars again.

This car was returned to its owner who deemed it was too "mangled" to fix up due to numerous bullet holes, so it sat in a barn until someone bought it. The car was then fully restored and used in the movie Public Enemies, a movie based on the life of John Dillinger and his gang. Some people say this car still has bullet holes and some say it even has blood on the seat from one of Dillingers gang members, but this isn't the case. There are plenty of articles you can read that might embellish this car but it is FULLY restored.

This would still be a fun car to own due to its history but I think it would be even more fun to own if it was in its original condition. Imagine the stories you could tell about the car?

well since we are on the subject, here is his favorite car:

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by Steve Wastler

It's just another restored coupe! They ruined it and removed ALL the visual history that made it special. The buyer at 165k must like being bent over! The bullet holes are supposed to be there, but who's gonna dig out the bondo on a restored car, what a shame.

They ruined it. Little Bohemia Lodge did NOT fix the bullet riddled lodge room including a bathroom with fixtures broken due to machine gun fire.

[31 Model A]

Originally Posted by FordToughChevyStuff

The car was then fully restored and used in the movie Public Enemies, a movie based on the life of John Dillinger and his gang.

I did not know that................

I have the movie "Lawless" and I watch that just to see the cars.

[Slowplane]

An excellent argument; illustrating that "They're only original once"

[TonyM]

Hudson Terreplane

[burner31]

Restored or not, bullet holes or not, the fact that "public enemy number one" drove this makes it special.
I would not kick it out of my garage. I would drive it and my lady would wear red.

[TonyM]

Lady in Red was NOT Dillinger's girlfriend. She is the person who put the finger on him. He was never romantically linked to the Anna Sage, the so-called Lady in Red.

The Lady in Red was romantically linked to one of the East Chicago, Indiana, detectives who did the shooting on July 22, 1934.

[RonC]

I read the car did not end up being in the movie. It was cut

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Yes It was a another coupe that was used in the movie, the Dillinger car used which was another black coupe , wound up on the cutting room floor.