The famous armoured 1928 Cadillac Town Sedan owned by notorious mobster, Al Capone, will once again be brought to auction on July 28.
 Al Capone's Cadillac - now with full ownership history |
The V-8 engine car has been put back on sale after it was originally sold by the same auction house for $621,500 in 2006. It has now been consigned from the estate of the renowned car collector, John O' Quinn, who secured the winning bid six years ago.
However, the car's value is to receive a new boost in the July 28 sale, after fresh research resulted in a continuous history of the vehicle's owners since 1932. Since Capone placed it with a Chicago dealer shortly before his conviction in 1931, every owner of the vehicle has now been identified.
The car's already heightened price will also see a further increase, with it standing as one of the world's first armoured vehicles.
In 2008, Mr. Richard "Cappy" Capstran, now 93 years old, told a friend about the time when his father was asked to fit armour plating on the vehicle, explaining: "My dad said, 'we don't do that kind of work here' and they said 'you do now.'"
For Capstran's part in assisting his father with the work he was handed a $10 note by Al Capone himself, who showed up to pay the bill personally. He also paid Capstran's father twice his asking price, obviously impressed with his pioneering work.
The sale comes following another mobster auction on July 24, which will be selling items from the secret stash of Frank Calabrese Sr - a notorious gangster who belonged to most recent incarnation of Capone's Chicago Outfit.
Items with a grizzly past always fascinate collectors and this ensures strong results at auction. Paul Fraser Collectibles is currently selling this macabre memorabilia collection from Britain's most famous hangman, Albert Pierrepoint.
