The legendary duo, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, remain figures of fascination in American history, their crime spree during the Great Depression capturing the public imagination. Their story is inextricably linked to the vehicles they used, none more so than the bullet-ridden 1934 Ford V8 sedan, often dubbed the “Bonnie and Clyde death car.” This vehicle, their last ride, is a grim relic of their violent end, but where is the Bonnie and Clyde car today? The answer might surprise you, as this infamous automobile is not locked away in a museum, but rather on display for public viewing in an unexpected location.
To understand the car’s current whereabouts, we need to delve into its dramatic history. This particular Ford V8 was not originally “theirs.” Bonnie and Clyde famously stole it from Jesse and Ruth Warren in Topeka, Kansas. For weeks, this Ford served as their mobile base of operations, transporting them across state lines as they continued their bank robberies and confrontations with law enforcement. Its notoriety was sealed on May 23, 1934, when Bonnie and Clyde were ambushed and killed by police in Louisiana while driving this very car. The vehicle was sprayed with over 160 bullets in a hail of gunfire that ended the Barrow Gang’s reign of terror.
Alt text: Peter Simon, a young casino owner, poses with the Bonnie and Clyde death car in 1973, highlighting its acquisition as the world’s most expensive antique car at auction.
Following the ambush, the bullet-riddled Ford V8 was returned to its original owners, the Warrens in Kansas. Instead of being scrapped or forgotten, the car embarked on a second, equally unusual journey – as a morbid roadside attraction. For decades, the “death car” was exhibited at fairs and carnivals across the United States, drawing crowds eager to witness the tangible remnants of the Bonnie and Clyde legend. This macabre tour continued until 1973, when its path took another unexpected turn.
In 1973, Peter Simon, a 22-year-old casino owner from Jean, Nevada (now Primm), purchased the Bonnie and Clyde death car at a Massachusetts car auction. His winning bid of $175,000 was a staggering sum at the time, making it the most expensive antique car ever sold. For context, this amount is equivalent to approximately $1.2 million today. Simon, owner of Pop’s Oasis casino, saw the car not just as a historical artifact, but as a unique draw for his business.
Alt text: A youthful Peter Simon, at 22 years old, stands proudly next to the bullet-ridden Bonnie and Clyde death car in 1973, after purchasing it for his Nevada casino.
Simon constructed a museum at Pop’s Oasis specifically to house the death car and other Bonnie and Clyde memorabilia. Located strategically on Interstate 15, a major route to Las Vegas, Pop’s Oasis and its unusual attraction became a popular stop for travelers. Between 1973 and 1975, over 100,000 visitors paid $2.50 each to view the car, generating significant revenue for the casino.
Alt text: Peter Simon showcases a scrapbook filled with Bonnie and Clyde photos and articles in 1973, part of the memorabilia collection displayed alongside the death car at his Nevada museum.
However, by 1975, Simon decided to sell the car. He felt that its sensational nature was no longer in line with the evolving character of the area, particularly with the construction of a women’s minimum-security prison nearby. In 1988, Gary Primm, of the Primm family who developed the area, acquired the car for $250,000 at auction after Simon liquidated Pop’s Oasis.
The Bonnie and Clyde death car then found a new home at Whiskey Pete’s, another casino in Primm Valley Resorts. Later, Barrow’s bloodied shirt was added to the display, further enhancing its grim allure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the car was temporarily moved to the Primm Mall entrance before finding its current and perhaps final location.
Today, to answer the question “where is the Bonnie and Clyde car?” directly, you can find it on display at Buffalo Bill’s Casino in Primm, Nevada. It is encased in a large glass box on the casino floor, accompanied by mannequins of Bonnie and Clyde, various pieces of memorabilia, and even Bonnie and Clyde-themed slot machines. This unique and somewhat unsettling artifact of American criminal history continues to draw visitors, ensuring that the legend of Bonnie and Clyde, and their bullet-ridden Ford V8, lives on.
Alt text: The former display location of the Bonnie and Clyde death car inside the Prizm Outlets at Primm Valley Resort & Casino, photographed on March 15, 2024, before its relocation to Buffalo Bill’s Casino.
