Cars from the Ron Pratte Collection
Editor’s note: This is the 21st in a 30-day series featuring cars from the Ron Pratte Collection that will be sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction in January.
This ’55 Pontiac Star 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) is scheduled to cross the auction block in Scottsdale on Tuesday, January 13.
The Ron Pratte Collection will begin being auctioned at the 44th Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction with automobilia from Saturday, January 10 at 9 a.m. (MST) through Tuesday, January 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 continue with lot numbers 2500 through 2530 Saturday, January 17.
when i first came to ca in 1975,i was hanging out at his riverside drive shop, he and his painter pete made me fee at home, a great guy,he will be miss joe