10 DAYS UNTIL SCOTTSDALE: “I LOVE LUCY” PONTIAC STAR CHIEF
This 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible is one of more than 140 vehicles from the Ron Pratte Collection crossing the block at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction in January.
This ’55 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible (Lot #2004) was given away by TV LAND in Hollywood and is fully restored as the car that appeared in the 4th season of “I Love Lucy.”
Episode 109, titled “Lucy Learns to Drive,” aired on January 3, 1955. In this episode, as part of a product placement deal with General Motors, the Ricardos buy a new car and Lucy wants to drive it around the block. After giving her one driving lesson, Ricky is a beaten man, but Lucy is so confident that she offers to teach Ethel Mertz how to drive and the result is a complete fiasco.
This same car was used in several subsequent episodes: Episode 110, titled “California Here We Come,” first aired January 10, 1955; Episode 111, titled “First Stop,” first aired January 17, 1955; Episode 112, titled “Tennessee Bound,” first aired January 24, 1955; Episode 113, titled “Ethel’s Hometown,” first aired January 31, 1955; and Episode 114, titled “LA at Last,” first aired February 7, 1955.
This 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible (Lot #2004) will cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Ron Pratte’s prestigious collection of automobilia will kick off the 44th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction beginning Saturday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. and running through Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. Pratte’s vehicles first cross the block at 4 p.m. on Tuesday with lot numbers 2000 through 2109 and will continue with lot numbers 2500 through 2530 on Saturday, Jan. 17.