The Duke had a thing for Pontiac wagons.

In the mid 1960's I was employed as a bellman at the Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California. Mr. Wayne, his wife Pilar and their young son would spend part of their summer in one of the Del Charro's bungalows while the senior Wayne would attend multiple visits to the local Scripps Hospital for extensive checkups for his cancer condition. The family would usually drive down in the huge Pontiac station wagon which Mrs. Wayne would use during the daytime shopping chores. That left the hotel staff responsible for getting Mr. Wayne to the doctor's with one of the hotel station wagons which was usually drivin by myself. One summer day both station wagons and the Pontiac were tied up so I gave Mr. Wayne a ride over to Scripps in my personal car: an Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1300 cc sports car. I took the top down so that Mr. Wayne would have better ease of entry; which turned out to be a good idea since nearly the whole upper half of his form stood up outside the body of the rather small vehicle. There we were, me and actor John Wayne jetting up Torrey Pines Road in my Alfa complete with long stares from passers by. The Italian Racing Red sports car drew a modicum of attention as well. The always gracious Mr. Wayne said he enjoyed the short trip. The family of three would often enjoy their meals in the Del Charro dinning room or poolside where they were often approached by fans happening to be coincidentally on the scene. Mr. Wayne was surprisingly tolerant and always friendly to these people. As one can partially discern from the above text; I would never find the occasion where I would be comfortable calling Mr. Wayne by his first name or any such colloquial appellation as "Duke." Color televisions were a bundle of problems in the mid-1960's and I would often be called to tune the Wayne family's television in their bungalow. Their summer vacation and physical checkups over; hotel personnel including myself would pack up the huge Pontiac station wagon and they would be off until next summer at check-up time.

@radsk8rbigollies594

3 ай бұрын

That's a great story! Thanks for sharing . The imagery of the Duke in an alfa made me smile

@panders55

3 ай бұрын

Great story, hang onto your memories.

@tmmyjay

3 ай бұрын

That's a great story. You are so fortunate to have the experience.

@carlc5748

3 ай бұрын

Loved reading your story, thanks for sharing it here. About 15 years ago I was eating at a Golden Corral restaurant, in Gilbert, Az. I struck up a conversation with a gentleman, sitting at the table next to me. After talking together for about 30 minutes, he turned to me and said, "I'm one of John Wayne's bastard children". I immediately replied, "I believe you, you look just like him". He said that he only saw his dad 4 times, growing up, and that he was a bad kid, as a youngster. He told me "I've won 5, or 6 bets for $500, each time, when I told people this, and I proved it by having my dad's driver's license, and his birth certificate. His last name was Merriweather, and he gave me his phone number, and like a dummy, i misplaced it. He said that our conversation together was one of the best talks that he had had, in quite a while.

@tmmyjay

3 ай бұрын

I bet Duke nailed her in the back of the Pontiac.@@carlc5748

I never knew John Wayne ever had a car collection until now thanks for the video.

Nobody more Badass than "The Duke". What a Fantastic Collection".

@beeenn649

2 ай бұрын

"If you want that gun, pick it up, I wish you would." Total bad ass.

I seen John Wayne coming out of a diner me and my dad we almost crashed we couldn't believe it , we went around block and parked said hi and my didnt want to bother him other than saying hi . he drove away in a wood grained station wagon , he will always be a hero of ours I hope my dad is talking to him in heaven

Loved the firebird he drove in McQ.

I got the KIDS Dream of a lifetime, I got to meet him and shake his hand as a kid, He and his Grandson landed in the parking lot of Knotts Berry Farm in a helicopter, they came to be the first ones to ride the “New” Log Ride. My Grandma got me up to meet him, we watched them be the first to ride the Log ride, and then we rode it after them. Knotts Berry farm then opened the John Wayne Theatre and I watched many of his movies there, and loved seeing his costumes on display from the movies. What a great childhood dream!! Later in life, it turns out my father in law met him, when he came on a hunting trip to Montana, and he had helped with that hunt. What a small world.

@snoopydoo6504

2 ай бұрын

PS, the first movie I ever say in a theatre, was a John Wayne movie. And the first time I ever rode in an airplane, was from the Orange County Airport, now known as the John Wayne Airport. Knotts Berry farm and Disneyland was a part of my family life as a child. My parents were married at Knotts Berry Farm, I was born in Anaheim and my grandparents house was two blocks from Disneyland, and they lived there before Disneyland was built. My mom and aunt worked at Disneyland on their summer vacations, and if I was a good boy that day, Grandma would take me out at 9pm to sit on the electrical box by the curb to watch the Fireworks from Disneyland. Back then they would have special days for things like “Security Pacific Bank” days, where family members would get a wristband to ride all the rides you wanted, (didn’t need your ticket book, where they got the “”E”” ticket ride from), and at 5pm everyone without a wristband would have to leave and we with the wristbands had free reign of the park. My mom and aunt knew the original mouse a tiers. Southern California was a different place back then.

If you ever drove those old wagons you'd know why he liked them. They rode like you was floating on air! I mean nothing made like it since.

@choppergirl

2 ай бұрын

I nailed some wheels to a couch someone threw out on the curb, and it rides pretty much the same. So yeah, I made that, and it was only last Tuesday.

The Duke was a decent guy and it took a lot of cancer to finally get him but he lived , he actually lived a full life and enjoyed it for the full ride...

Loved all his movies I never knew he had a car collection

When I moved to Iowa, I went to see his museum. It was awesome.

At 2:37 "TH400" (Turbo-Hydramatic 400) is the transmission model, not the engine model. And the engine was NOT just 180 horsepower. In 1970 the 400 Cubic Inch engine was rated at 340 (Gross) horsepower and the 455 was even more powerful.

I’d visit my dad’s family in Pittsburgh as a kid as they all had GM cars ha. My favorite aunt got a new “Grand Safari” every year! Super fond memories of riding in the flat back area all sprawled out with blankets, snacks, and toys ha. I’ve been a “wagon guy” ever since and I still despise SUVs lol.

I think you can say He rounded up the wagons.

@melmortimer1545

3 ай бұрын

Yes old marion Ramsey really did round up the wagons ...very very overated actor ..when I see him try to act ..he always comes across as a bully and very arrogant...that's the sense I got with him..

Love the John Wayne westerns -

Dad was in the Navy so we traveled from one location to another. During that time we had station wagons. The last one was a ‘62 Buick Invicta with the 445 Wildcat engine and automatic. That was the car I used to learned to drive.

The Duke wasn't going to get squashed in some little sports car he liked them big Pontiac sleds with all the horsepower he could get, it was also cool how he put the custom rims and rubber on them he was way ahead of his time there

I didn't know that John Wayne had a car collection. They always said that he was very family oriented. The station wagon 's show it. Thanks for the video.

John Wayne making $50 million in his film career pre 1980 is crazy money back then. my father and grandfather were huge Duke fans. I remember watching all those films as a kid over and over in the 80's. was a good time. miss my grandfather a lot, and miss watching old westerns with him. Sparks Motor Co. and Robbie Layton just did a clone of his bronco last year for a giveaway. Both are a good series to watch on YT

Duke would of had low tolerance for the current EV craze, you bet.

We use to live in Newport and would see Wayne driving the wagon around town.

I can just picture The Duke, Cruising down the Highway at 140mph with a Big Cowboy Hat and big Smile.

In the seventy’s my wife met the duke and she got her pitcher taken with him and also his Good luck John Wayne autograph at his 26 bar ranch which we just saw on recent trip to Arizona. There was a cattle auction there that day and when word got out that he was seen taking a photo with my wife people flocked over to him and pushed kids out of the way to get to him. That made him upset and he said he would only sign autographs for the children! She was only 10 years old at the time but just remembers how big he was.

Who would have thought Wayne was a station wagon guy.

"If you want that gun, pick it up, I wish you would." Total bad ass.

For 4 generations, our family have only bought American made cars. My great grandfathers first car was a 1909 Maxwell.

Love the Warwagon!

@paulbourgeois4491

3 ай бұрын

Love it too, especially because it was 4wd and had a clutch AND power take off for the winch! War Wagon Indeed!

John Wayne is awesome one of the best actors in the business God bless him. One of my favorites was the sons of Katie elder.

The Duke liked those full size Pontiac wagons apparently. I didn't know he kept them in a collection.

The War Wagon used to be kept in Don Laughlin's Car Museum at the Riverside Resort and Casino in Laughlin Nevada . Been years since I have been there , but I have seen it there . Don passed away about a year ago but the War Wagon might still be there .

I loved John Wayne on Mr. Rodgers.

I didn’t know the Duke had a penchant for Pontiac wagon. I thought I’d once heard that Bill a Ruger had ventured into a 427 Ford-powered sports car and Wayne bought one. Incidentally, since at least the 70s, us car aficionados referred to the Turbo Hydramatic 350 and 400s as “Turbo” 350# or 400s, not “tee hache.” But the video was interesting. Never new he had a 53 Vette either.

Duke would of had low tolerance for the current president, you bet.

@whdbnrm3023

3 ай бұрын

Or the EV mandate

@melmortimer1545

3 ай бұрын

He hated everyone non American...very sad ...and arrogant man...Don't like his films .or him... And he didn't like Clint east wood apparently...I say he was just jealous of real acting talent ..and screen charisma..

@ronwallace6273

3 ай бұрын

I bet he wouldn't like trump either

@cybervision_1

3 ай бұрын

@@ronwallace6273 Trump is proud of America and wants to keep it a country to be proud of, John Wayne was also.

@ronwallace6273

2 ай бұрын

and trump

Great story

Wow Duke really liked his grand safaris. The old station wagon was the begining of the modern suv.

Definitely a car guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw a short video clip of John Wayne pulling out of the Lot, he wasn't in a Pontiac Wagon but rather it was a Beige colored Ford Wagon, no raised roof. The window was rolled down and he looked over at the guy with the Camera and said Hi and pulled out onto the Road, he did not have his hair piece on so I asked my mother to help me research about him being half bald and she found a lot of information about his hair piece. He had to problem being seen without it and even joked once, he has hair but he wasn't born with it and bought it.

Yep……. The Duke had a thing for road tanks !

he had class....

Pretty cool

John Wayne the last of the Great American Heroes he was true to the American way

Dang, that thumbnail! I can see why my dad and uncle were often mistaken for John Wayne, they looked almost exactly like him.

I remember the one with the landau roof and the one with the raised green glass windows.I saw him quite a few times at south Coast plaza

Very cool. I used to own a nineteen seventy five international travel with a 392 4 barrel It had the same roll down window in the back I love that truck

The Duke and his wheels. I missed the Dodge WC 52 from John's estate.

He also owned several Jeeps and Ford Pickups. I guess these wre considered working vehicles on his ranch and not personal vehicles.

I take it that Mr. Wayne did not like foreign cars .

Wayne was a big wagon man? Hell yeah

I had a friend in the 60's who had inherited, from his Father, a 1953 Corvette just like John Wayne's. The serial number of that car ended in 0003., the third one built. I heard that serial 0001 was in the GM Museum and 0002 was sold to a movie star, can't remember the name.

Well done and great, shows me he was a smart thinker!

Thanks, Enjoyed.

I love station wagons, is like owning a mule went you have horses , they was better the a truck

Whoa he sure loved them covered wagons

Nice!

My mom used to say that was her boyfriend 👀 mom and dad would have a 🍀good laugh 😄✌️

@paulbourgeois4491

3 ай бұрын

Simpler times, weren't they?

@haroldbirge6881

3 ай бұрын

@@paulbourgeois4491 🏆 absolutely👀 I need a 🍀time machine 😎✌️

I think John Wayne died when I was 11 years old I'm 54 now how come they didn't have this on KZread 20years ago

Loved the story of an American hero..

The TH-400 was the transmission powered by a big block 400 CI engine. Nice!!

My Father in Law was an LACSD Deputy and when ever John Wayne went to Catilina Island My Father in Law would be a body guard by way of going on walks with his Police Dog and even played cards with him on his converted mine sweeper boar. There are no cars allowed on Catilina Island on golf carts.

bonjour magnifique vidéo superbe collection de voitures cela correspond totalement a la l'acteur et la légende de géant qu'il a laissait derrière lui merci de se partage cordialement

He was a rancher actor good family man loved cars

Many travelAlls...had a Diesel. I have one. .

Que lindos autos.... Quien iba a imaginar que tenga tantos, siempre se lo veía a caballo al hombre. Saludos !

Where is his REO speedwagon from the Big Jake movie? Back in the 70's it was at the Carney restoration shop in Rolla Missouri. Carneys was part of Memoryville USA museum. They also restored a 1917 Federal truck for the Duke.

MDC knew what was up with John Wayne.

That’s right Duke a GM Man…. American made

True American he loved his country

Thought I heard once that he had a pretty rare 1966 Oldsmobile Starfire, Anone know for sure,?

The Duke really must of had some juice to get a 4-speed sutomatic in a Cadillac in 1959!

Superheroes

Tasteful is a matter of opinion brah 😐

Let's see his old Horse collection

So he was a GM man. I've always preferred Fords myself.

@sergeantmasson3669

3 ай бұрын

@JohnSmith-cf4gn, same here. No Ford, or MOPAR, ever left me stranded. Every GM I ever owned did.

@JohnSmith-cf4gn

3 ай бұрын

@sergeantmasson3669 Yea, I've had a few Chrysler products too and I think that Chrysler had better engineering than Ford or GM.

@sergeantmasson3669

3 ай бұрын

@@JohnSmith-cf4gnI highly disagree. How many owners has Chrysler had in their history? Chrysler also got a bailout whereas Ford didn't need/want one. Barfbag Odumbass sold off the GM and Chrysler bailouts in 2014 at a $13.5 billion loss.

@rogerdodrill4733

3 ай бұрын

​@@sergeantmasson3669thats odd only fords & Mopar abandoned me

@paulhoffman778

3 ай бұрын

I will go with Fords, and I will refer you to my 96 F-150 at 28 years of age she's on the road and looking good.

💪

The big Pontiac wagons were made between 1971 to 1976, not 1978. GM downsized their large cars including wagon for the 1977 model year.

👍

Thought he would've collected horse's instead of cars 🐎🦄

Wagons ho!

I thought he only rode a horse 🐎

what about the cars he owned from 1940's thru 1960's if any he died in 1979 i think

he had the original family trucsters

Pretty funny talking about a 59 caddy and its 0-60 speed and in the last photos, it's actually a 1960 cad speeding by!! Now that's FAST TO GAIN A YEAR IN SPEED,! LOL

pontiacs with oldsmobile roofs

Did he have a “collection” or is this just the cars he owned throughout his life?

too bad he didn;t keep the bruster green 73 trans am from the movie Mc,Q.

Hank Hill would approve, I tell you what.

All Beautiful Cars. ❤ 🇺🇸 But How Many Cars Does a Person Really Need? 👀 🤔

@PapaRic856

3 ай бұрын

How many do you have?🤔

@jnywd8450

3 ай бұрын

All of them. 🚕🚙🚗🚚🛵🛴

@MichaelNiemiec-ft3yv

3 ай бұрын

@sam, you sound like one of my EX girlfriends,asking how many cars does one person need. That's why she is EX!

@rogerdodrill4733

3 ай бұрын

About 30 if u have the room

@user-ht1xu4gv2u

3 ай бұрын

Ask Jay. Leno

The 76 grand safari is an a body. It’s lemans based

50 million form then is like 50 billion today..

It's Duke, not the Duke

John Wayne never hunted antelope from a 1966 IH Travelall lol... Definitely not in the US. A pronghorn is not an antelope. It's just called the "american antelope" because it looks like an antelope.

Cyber visionbritney. Mr. Wayne has been deceased approximately 45 years, how would you know that? (Just asking) 45 years ago, Jimmy Carter was The President at the time of Mr. Wayne's death. Now I agree, The Former President Carter wasn't all that great, jow can you claim that President Biden wouldn't be approved of by Mr Wayne? No one knows that only Mr Wayne and that would only be known by the rest of us if only he would disclose that. How old were you then in 1979?

John Wayne was the GREATEST war hero of WW2. He volunteered for the Flying Tigers. He built landing strips with seabees.He fought in the Philippines on a PT boat. He landed on the first wave at Iwo Jima. He commanded a Submarine, USS Thunderfish. He was a Marine corp aviator. Landed on the first wave on D-Day. Served in the Green berets in Nam.

@sergeantmasson3669

3 ай бұрын

@torcik, all FALSE. John Wayne never served in the US military. He was denied when he tried to serve because of his age and his young children.

@sergeantmasson3669

3 ай бұрын

@@williamglendye1692 Totally FALSE.

@thomasgirty6397

3 ай бұрын

he landed on IWO in one of those Pontiac tanks. game over.

@karenhill3970

3 ай бұрын

​@@williamglendye1692don't say that about Me Wayne ...don't ...a great American patriot🇺🇸

@billywatson118

3 ай бұрын

😂​@@thomasgirty6397

weird taste in cars

Who cares. I could care less about what car John wimp drove. People keep saying he's some kind of a national hero. I don't understand. He was an actor who made a damn good living acting like a tough guy. Never served in the military. Now if you want to call someone a hero, look at Charles Bronson. He started out as a coal miner in Pennsylvania, then served in the military. Where he proved to be a real hero. I'm sorry if anyone is offended, but I can't call someone who played a tough guy in make-believe Hollywood, a hero.

So, the only cool car he owned was a '59 Caddy? Maan, all the cool cars he COULD have had! Maybe you should have shown his horse collection.

I don't know about good taste .

.......those raised-roof Poncho wagons are just futt-bucking ugly.....take away slightly from my fond memories of The Duke.....

@robertcartwright563

3 ай бұрын

He was tall and needed head room.

Hunting antelope ? ,did he take that Jeep to Africa?

@rickytarkowski6564

3 ай бұрын

Pronghorn antelope, Montana.

He never had a good taste on cars