It was five o’clock somewhere for the winning bidder of Jimmy Buffett’s Ford Falcon at a car auction over the weekend. The late singer’s 1963 Ford Falcon Convertible stood out as the top attraction among the nearly 800 cars at the annual GAA Classic Car Auction in Greensboro, North Carolina on Saturday.
Johnny Ransom, renowned for sourcing cars nationwide, discovered it during a visit to a client in Florida. “I didn’t even know he had it,” Ransom recalled per FOX8 News. “He went over there, pulled it back, and showed me… Then he showed me the title, whose name it was in. Oh wow, my teeth just about fell out! This is great!”
“James William Buffett of Key West Florida”, the title read. Known as Jimmy Buffett to friends, family, and a legion of fans, the iconic beach music figure passed away in September 2023.
Ransom knew right away that Parrotheads worldwide would be interested in Jimmy Buffett’s car. “They really connect with him, they follow him around…didn’t matter if you lived in Greensboro and he was in Charlotte, you were going to Charlotte to see him,” Ransom explained. “I mean, they were just very loyal to him.”
The Falcon is truly distinctive. Equipped with a roll bar typically found in sports cars, Buffett added it to accommodate his surfboard. The car featured several additional upgrades. Buffett enjoyed Australian sheepskin seat covers and a luxurious sound system. Additionally, he installed a 4 Barrel Intake and a Holley Carburetor.
He bought it on May 24, 2002, when it had 8,578 miles on it. The legendary singer enjoyed driving it from time to time. Presently, the odometer shows 11,845 miles, per the listing from GAA Classic Car Auction.
After shelling out $258,500, a lucky individual is claiming the coveted Parrothead prize. As an extra treat, it includes one of Buffett’s surfboards and a guitar autographed by the man himself.
“We’ve sold some million-dollar cars, and that’s been great,” Ransom said. “But for me to be able to sell a Jimmy Buffett car, still titled in Jimmy Buffett’s name, his guitar, and surfboard goes along with it all in one package deal with the authenticity saying this is his signature on the guitar… It’s great, it’s a great day.”
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