A Quick Disclaimer:

For the next couple of passion blog posts I am going to try something a little bit different. In all of my previous posts, I have highlighted a car make or model and focused on the historical significance that model had on not just the automobile industry, but the world. However, starting this week I will focus on an individual car and elaborate on the role that the specific car and its owner played in history. Please mention whether you would like me to revert back to the original format or continue on with this new format in the comments section below. I will take all feedback into advisement.

Today’s post will focus on one of the most notorious cars in American history, Bonnie and Clyde’s 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan.

Now, I previously stated that this was Bonnie and Clyde’s car, but that is not true at all. This car was not originally owned by either Bonnie or Clyde. In fact, this car was stolen by Bonnie Parker at around 3:30pm on April 29th, 1934 from the home of Ruth and Jesse Warren in Topeka, Kansas.

Keep this starting point in mind, because Bonnie and Clyde would proceed to embark on a 7,000 mile odyssey of driving and stealing in this car. They essentially used this car in a 7,000 mile car chase that spanned five midwestern states.

After stealing the Ford Deluxe Sedan, Bonnie and Clyde began one of the most famous car chases in American history. On their last ride, Bonnie and Clyde basically drove in a giant circle, skirting the edges of five Midwestern states (specifically Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Louisiana). The Texas Rangers that were in pursuit of Bonnie and Clyde believed that the couple did this in order to exploit the “state line” rule, which prevented officers from pursuing a fugitive into another state’s jurisdiction. At first this plan worked spectacularly. Bonnie and Clyde had the Texas Rangers so confused and discombobulated that they never got within a hundred miles of the couple’s 1934 Ford Deluxe. What ended up being the duo’s downfall was the route’s redundancy. After weeks of going in circles, it was only a matter of time before the Texas Rangers realized what was going on. The Rangers proceeded to chart the path that Bonnie and Clyde took and in doing so they realized that the route centered around family visits.

The Texas Rangers finally caught up to Bonnie and Clyde in Western Louisiana, where the couple has a scheduled visit with Clyde’s brother and his family. The Rangers set up an ambush on a rural road in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. The Rangers concealed themselves behind bushes and proceeded to open fire on the 1934 Ford Deluxe. Despite this act of aggression, Bonnie and Clyde refused to surrender and what ensued was one of history’s most famous last stands.

Despite the severe damage to the body of the car and the plethora of bullet holes that ordained the body, Bonnie and Clyde’s 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan was still operational. The car was towed from the scene of the ambush to Arcadia, Louisiana (main office of the Louisiana state coroner) where when thoroughly inspected, was deemed fully operational. Miraculously, this car’s journey comes full circle. After everything took its course this 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan was returned to their rightful owners, Ruth and Jesse Warren.