Winter Auction 2016 Closing January 30th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/31/2016
The first image that comes to mind when thinking the fateful day of November 22, 1963 is the long black Lincoln limousine that carried Jack Kennedy to his fate. Now often referred to as "the death car", the iconic auto was actually a 1961 Lincoln model 74A specially modified to Secret Service specifications and given the codename "SS100X". Featuring retractable steps and handles for the President's body guard to ride along, the car was powered by a custom 350-horsepower Ford MEL engine that was started by wider of the two keys featured in this display. The thinner key was used to open the car's trunk and glove box. The two metal keys are just over two inches long and are embossed with the Lincoln Motor Company's logo. The pair show good use with some surface wear. The keys are mounted with a color 8x10 photograph of the car and its occupants on that fateful day in Dallas. Along with a card bearing the car's code name and "DALLAS - NOVEMBER 22, 1963" the keys and photo are professionally matted and framed to 14 1/4" x 17 1/4". This stunning piece of history comes with a provenance in the form of a notarized statement from R. Steven Turner that reads: “This is an original set of keys to the Presidential limousine (SS-100-X) that President John F. Kennedy rode in on November 22, 1963. I obtained them from the Secret Service motor pool, while I was a criminal investigator with the Department of Justice.” Also comes with a Certificate of Authenticity from Erik L. Dorr of the Gettysburg Museum of History.