The death car from the 1967 movie Bonnie & Clyde, which was last seen at the now-defunct Tragedy In U.S. History Museum in St. Augustine, Florida, is back on display again -- this time at the new Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum in Gibsland, LA. It's a more appropriate venue, as Bonnie & Clyde were killed down the road from here.

This new museum is the spawn of B&C fans and collectors Charles Heard and Ken Holmes Jr., and is managed by L.J. "Boots" Hinton, the son of Dallas deputy sheriff Ted Hinton, who was one of the six law enforcement officers who did the ambushing. The museum is housed in a building that used to be Ma Canfield's Cafe, the last place that Bonnie and Clyde ever visited. "They got two sandwiches to go, went down the road seven miles, and got killed," L.J. explains.

Business has been good. In its first month of operation, according to L.J., the museum has had 680 visitors from 35 states and 9 foreign countries.

In addition to the movie death car, the museum displays one of Clyde's shotguns, some swatches from his death pants, and a replica cemetery with Bonnie and Clyde replica tombstones. Although it is a touchy subject, L.J. concedes that rival B&C fan Ray Pagli has the real death car and Clyde's death shirt, which Pagli displays at his Whiskey Pete's Casino in Nevada. The shirt alone went for $75,000 at auction.

The gift shop here sells bricks from Ma Canfield's for $20 apiece, which include a certificate of authenticity. "Ain't nobody got them except us," says L.J., with pride. [07/28/2005]

February 10, 2012