President Johnson's 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible to be Auctioned

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Dan Kruse Classics, a collector car auction house, announced the sale of what many historians call the car most associated with and former President Lyndon B. Johnson, his convertible 1964 Lincoln Continental that he drove until his death. The historical automobile will be offered as part of the Dick Burdick Museum Collection of antique, vintage and collector cars to be offered on March 3, 2012 in Rosanky, Texas.

AUCTION PREVIEW:

Friday, February 17 through March 2, 2012.
10am - 5pm (Sundays 12 noon - 5pm CST).

AUCTION DATE:

Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 10am PST
Located at the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History
2502 Highway 304 in Smithville, Texas

Absentee and phone bidding is available. Please call (866) 495-8111 for information or to register. All bidders must register.

The 36^th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, had a deep attachment for place and heritage as well as an abiding love for his great State of Texas. The LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas located about 50 miles west of Austin in the Texas Hill Country is where you could often find the President driving his beloved Lincoln Continental. During his presidency, the home became known as the Texas White House. It was at the ranch that the President was born, died and was buried.

As big as the man, as powerful as his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible sedan equipped with suicide doors became one of his signature vehicles during his time at the ranch. Johnson was often seen riding with the top down, wearing his recognizable cowboy hat and purveying his vast lands, over 1,500 acres. The large interior space and powerful engine allowed him to drive easily over the hills, fields and rough terrain around the ranch, now a historical landmark.  The ranch contains his boyhood home, his grandparent's log cabin settlement, the President's first school and also the Johnson Family Cemetery. The ranch is now operated by the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation.

The car had special recollections for Joseph A. Califano, the President's Special Assistant. On several occasions and often in interviews, he recalled the President taking his white Lincoln convertible, top down, for a drive around the ranch with Secret Service in tow. President Johnson drank Cutty Sark scotch and soda out of a foam cup. Periodically, Johnson would slow down and hold his left arm outside the car, shaking the cup and ice. A Secret Service agent would run up to the car, take the cup while another agent would refill it with scotch and soda.

The historical vehicle will go up for auction on March 3^rd, 2012 in Rosanky, Texas.  It is in original condition and is equipped with a 320 HP, 430 cid V-8 engine, and automatic transmission and is creamy white with a tan interior.  The presidential automobile has never been presented for auction before and is presently on display at the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History. It is being offered as part of the museum collection of Dick Burdick which goes up on the auction block the same day. Proceeds from the sale of President Lyndon B. Johnson's vehicle will go to benefit the Lyndon B. Johnson Foundation whose mission is to preserve the traditions and legacy of the President's life.

The historical auction event also includes a rare 1903 Stanley Steamer Runabout, a 1970 Silver Shadow Rolls-Royce Limousine owned by Johnny Cash, a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Town Car owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, a Lorraine & De Dietrich VDC Two Seat Racer from the Great Race and numerous others. For more information on the highly anticipated auction go to www.dankruseclassics.com and click on current consignments.

An online catalog is available at www.dankruseclassics.com or interested bidders can request a catalog by calling 1-866-495-8111 or emailing tiffany@kruseclassics.com