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jalopnik.com/5392952/john-oquinn-lawyer-and-car-collector-killed-in-accident

"John O'Quinn was famous both for his skill as a lawyer -- securing $17.3 billion in a tobacco settlement -- and his incredible car collection. He was killed this morning when he lost control of his Suburban and crashed.

The son of a garage owner and car enthusiast, O'Quinn never lost his interest in automobiles and automobila. His collection rivals almost anyone's and includes hundreds of famous and well-known cars including half-a-dozen Duesenbergs, one of JFK's Continental limos, a Batmobile, FDR's Packard Limo, and a Ford Escort once owned by Pope John Paul II.

On a personal note, I've met O'Quinn and know his friends and they remember him as a big, powerful, gregarious man. He seemed every bit the big Texan his giant frame projected."

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that thing looks like it would be like driving my z3....nothing but HOOD in front of you.

Truly a horrific crash. It gives one pause, as they say, especially seeing that the air bags deployed...

From the obit:

"Neither man was wearing a seat belt, said the police sources, who asked not to be identified."

"The driver's side air bag, splashed with what appeared to be blood, was deployed, as well as others around the vehicle."

One thing that could help us all make sure these fellows' deaths were not entirely in vain is the message:

Never, ever, rely on airbags alone.

You're probably safer in a vehicle without airbags and wearing your belts than in one with airbags, but sitting on the buckles.

On another note-- where did you get the Packard pic? Is there a link to a site displaying the collection? There's probably no more fitting way to pay respects than to look at a guy's car collection.

Who says collecting cars won't get you remembered after you're gone?

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John O'Quinn tells the story of his Rolls Royce that Howard Hughes bought new at a Texas Packard Dealership!


A link to his prized 1962 Lincoln "Bubble top" JFK Car.

remarkablecars.com/main/lincoln/1962-lincoln-001.html

A link to a story about his collection. It states he had more than 800 cars!! &.... This guy had cars in his house!!!!

woodlandslifestylesandhomes.com/jul9W-O%27Quinn-Cars3.htm

what if JFK was in that Lincoln in Dallas that day and it was bullit proof (i am assuming it may have been bullit proof). things would have been different today i am sure.

There was a plexiglas bubble top for that car. It was suggested it be installed for the parade, as there was a chance of rain. Kennedy vetoed the suggestion, he wanted to be seen by the crowds.

If the bubble top had been on he probably wouldn't have been shot that day. Whether they would have gotten him later is another question.

I believe that link to the JFK car is incorrect. The limousine he was riding in when shot was a '61. And get this, it was completely modified afterwards and STILL USED "by five American presidents - John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Jimmy E. Carter. The custom coachwork on the original car was done by Hess and Eisenhardt Company."

The quote above is from this site, which includes pics of the modified limo. Unbelievable that they kept the car. It must have been a spooky damn thing to ride in.

remarkablecars.com/for-sale/showproduct.php?product=25329

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Actually the link is correct. John O'quinn didn't own the 1961 X-100 stretch limo (The one Kennedy was assisinated in and was refitted and used through the Carter Administration in and retired it in 1977). He owns the 1961 bubble top Lincoln which is not stretched. These are 2 different cars.

Ford Motor Company (Henry Ford Museum has it) owns the X-100 JFK lincoln . The X-100 had removable glass panels that could be attached to the limousine to make it an enclosed car. It did not have a soft top, just these glass panels that were kept in felt bags in the trunk.

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There was a story about O'Quinn's death in the Austin American Statesman today. With the story was a photo of the SUV. it was completely destroyed from the front of the rear doors forward. This was not a low speed impact. The article also talked about his life and issues. There was nothing about his automotive interests.

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Well, it wasn't correct insofar as the discussion of the limousine in which JFK was killed. The description of the link did not make this distinction regarding the " JFK Bubble Top Limousine." I think it would be safe to say that the only Lincoln limousine associated with Kennedy would be the one in which he was assassinated, and that the link and description given could have led to this confusion, which it did.

BTW, the film clip nicely shows off the dark blue of the stretch limo in the color photos. Wonder why they painted it black afterwards?

But even more so, why did they rebuild it at all? I still think it's creepy that they kept the car, much less put it back into service. It's like reserving Abe Lincoln's seat at Ford's Theatre for future presidents to use when they go to enjoy a play. Why?

Oh well, it's Halloween after all.