[MikeNoun]

Further proof that John Wayne was cool.

Mecum Monterey August 2014: http://www.mecum.com/lot-detail.cfm?...=CA0814-190651








- 1975 Pontiac Grand Safari John Wayne Wagon owned by Batjac Productions, Inc. (John Wayne's Production Company) customized in 1975 by Barris Kustom
- The last daily family driver used by John Wayne and was customized by George Barris at Barris Kustom, Mr. Wayne did not want to take his hat off to get into the car, so George Barris raised the roof
- Dash plaque that verifies this is a Barris Kustom and dated 1975
- Frame-on restoration, interior was removed and only the carpet was replaced
- Remaining interior was reinstalled, this was Mr. Wayne’s daily driver and one of the last car he touched
- Dash plaque that verifies this is a Barris Kustom restoration and dated 2014, front fenders also have the Barris Crests in place
- 455 CI V-8 engine, Turbo Hydra-Matic transmission, power steering and power front disc brakes
- Options include air conditioning, power windows and driver's seat, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM stereo with tape deck
- One of the rarest options available on Grand Villes and other full-sized Pontiacs during this period was the adjustable brake and accelerator pedals offered from 1974 to 1976
- 127" wheelbase and total length of 231"
- Curb weight is 5,300 pounds, 200 HP at 3,500 RPM
- This is the heaviest car built by Pontiac and has a Clamshell tailgate
- The car was designed by Bill Mitchell

[GOAT WHORE]

That us bad ass! Thanks for sharing Mike.

[Simple Man]

Nice ride!

[KS circutguy]

[77 TRASHCAN]

Mr. Wayne had very little hair, later in life, either from cancer treatments (which he had cancer more than once, smoking is good and good for you, NOT!).

You can easily tell in McQ and the Shootist that none of that hair is real...who cares, though...Another real man!!!

[herdswoman]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

Mr. Wayne had very little hair, later in life, either from cancer treatments (which he had cancer more than once, smoking is good and good for you, NOT!).

Smoking was the least of Duke's worries. In the mid-1950's, he starred in "The Conqueror", a film shot in the Nevada desert - on top of a former nuclear test site. The death rate from cancer among cast and crew was nearly half.

Read about it here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049092/trivia

[77 TRASHCAN]

Yeah, I forgot about that situation. One of John's sons has had cancer issues also, can't remember which one, he was on the set w/ dad. Agnes Moorehead (who played the mother in law character on bewitched) was in that movie, she died of cancer also, many more as you mentioned...

Glad he was able to have such a car built for him, wouldn't want to see him having to adjust his hair...

[pontiac1981]

The roof looks like a vista cruiser.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

Yeah, I forgot about that situation. One of John's sons has had cancer issues also, can't remember which one, he was on the set w/ dad. Agnes Moorehead (who played the mother in law character on bewitched) was in that movie, she died of cancer also, many more as you mentioned...

Glad he was able to have such a car built for him, wouldn't want to see him having to adjust his hair...

Michael. He passed away a few years ago.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Michael. He passed away a few years ago.

Thanks, I didn't know that.
The movie was "The Searchers", Buddy Holleywrote his song, "That'll be the Day" after having seen the movie......

[GT182]

Smoking wasn't the cause of his death... but it helped. He actually died of stomach cancer June 11, 1979. "The Shootist" was his last film in 1976.

His given name was Marion Robert Morrison, born on May 26, 1907. His middle name was changed from Robert to Mitchell when his parents decided to name the next son Robert.

We still miss ya "Duke".

Edit: Something not readily known and taken from Wikipedia.

He requested that his tombstone read "Feo, Fuerte y Formal", a Spanish epitaph Wayne described as meaning "ugly, strong, and dignified". The grave, which went unmarked for twenty years, is now marked with a quotation from his controversial 1971 Playboy interview: "Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday."

[77 TRASHCAN]

Another Iowa farm boy that did well!!!

[Ron Landis]

just learned that a 75 year old Wyatt Earp worked as a non-paid advisor in the film industry and took a special interest in a 17 year old stage hand...named Marion Morrison. John Wayne later states that nearly every role he played as a lawman was based on the tales told to him personally by Mr. Earp. No wonder he was so convincing!!!