Few people haven't heard of the infamous outlaw pair Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. This notorious couple—along with their gang—went on a two-year crime spree that included multiple murders and robberies. On 23 May 1934 in rural Louisiana, four Texas and two Louisiana law enforcement officers ambushed the couple, killing them and propelling the gunshot-riddled death car into infamy. Today, Bonnie and Clyde's death car is a Nevada tourist attraction in—where else?—a casino.
The Bonnie and Clyde death car is located inside Whiskey Pete's Hotel and Casino in Primm, near the California-Nevada border.
In addition to the actual car, this informative and historic collection contains several newspaper clippings and photographs of the notorious couple and the events that transpired on that fateful day in 1934, as well as the shirt Clyde Barrow was wearing at the time of his death, bullet-torn and bloodstained.
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow circa 1934, likely shortly before they were killed by police.
"Trails End" in rural Bienville Parish, Louisiana where Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed by law enforcement.
The V8 Ford following the shootout.
The car now sits inside Whiskey Pete's, protected by glass, with two mannequins depicting the ill-fated couple.
Ruth Warren, the vehicle's original owner, reported it stolen from her driveway by the criminal couple.
The officers unloaded their automatic rifles and shotguns on the vehicle. At the time of their autopsies, Bonnie had 26 separate entry wounds on her body while Clyde had 17.
In 1988, Gary Primm (for whom Primm is named) purchased the car for $250,000.
The car became an instant attraction for 30 years, touring flea markets, carnivals, fairs, and amusement parks. It also spent time at a Massachusetts auto museum, a Nevada race track, a Las Vegas car museum, an on tour across the county before finding its home at Whiskey Pete's.
You can see the bullet damage to the vehicle's interior as well.
The shirt Clyde Barrow was wearing when the outlaws were ambushed is also on display here with a certificate of authenticity.
An additional car is on display: gangster Dutch Schultz's 1931 Lincoln with bullet-proof glass. After Schultz's assassination by Lucky Luciano on 23 October 1935, the car was used by Al Capone's gang until it was seized by the Chicago Police Department and sold in auction. This car is also riddled with bullet holes; however, rumor has it that the casino owners did this themselves to make the car appear more authentic.
There are several fake vehicles on display across the country including the one in the Washington, D.C. National Museum of Crime and Punishment which is actually the car used in the 1967 Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway movie.
Have you seen Bonnie and Clyde's death car up close and personal? Please share your thoughts below.
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