The car caught fire and burned to such an extent that the cause of the accident was not conclusive. At least casting a former professional wrestler as the main character in the remake was somewhat true to real life. This was the car that introduced your humble author to the story of Sheriff Pusser. Reply. One of the cars I’ve owned over the decades was a 1972 Dodge Polara. Apr 14, 2017 at 1:21pm. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. A newspaper article from the time of the wreck referred to this Ford as being supercharged. All 1974 model cars had the ignition interlock. I have seen the movie, probably more than once. The movie, “Walking Tall Part II” featured 1975 Chevys, even though Sheriff Pusser died in ’74. I remember people running the seat belts behind the front seat backs and buckling them so that they didn’t have to actually wear them. Why would a McNairy County resident have a Cobert County Alabama tag on his car? But a variety of sources, including … Pusser is known for his virtual one-man war on moonshining, prostitution, gambling, and other vices along the Mississippi–Tennessee state line. marked patrol car was borrowed and used in the original movie during the response to the ambush on August 12. That was my thought at the time. As with Graceland , Buford's home has been turned into a posthumous walk-thru shrine. Nice guy, BIG guy, shook my hand and spoke for a few minutes, cool car! In addition, all the first movie owned cars were sold to a friend of mine that owned a salvage yard in Murray City, TN. Buford Hayse Pusser (December 12, 1937 – August 21, 1974) was the sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1970, and constable of Adamsville from 1970 to 1972. Others notice at the fair that Buford seemed a little off the longer the evening wore on. Given Pusser’s frequency of swapping cars, combined with the media’s inclination for exaggeration, this claim does facilitate some skepticism. That was 67 only. great little site . The Pusser character pulled this car over and was shot three times. Automobiles for this movie were provided by the Chrysler Corporation. This car isn’t driven quite as hard as the marked Polara’s as seen above but it does not come through unscathed. A real Chester County S.O. Required fields are marked *. Still quite a few Outlaws up in Northeast Mississippi and that part of Tennessee. Buford Pusser Home & Museum 342 Pusser St. Adamsville, TN 38310 1 (731) 632-4080 It was a gigantic PITA. Sure it was bullshit, just like Louise Hathcock was a Sunday school teacher! I met Buford Pusser a night or two before he was murdered. Worked in Corinth in the mid 80’s and from what folks told me, a number of folks went to Chicago back in the 50’s to earn a living a brought back some of the Gangster ways with them when they came home. Your right. Must be a couple of trucks pieced together. The original car was supposedly buried. Pusser was determined to rid his county of the cancer. Viewers are treated to multiple instances of getting to hear the delightful sounds of its starter motor. Later in the movie, he is seeing trading in an Impala and taking delivery of the MC. Great Read! Jason, Thanks. My dad was a Chrysler-Plymouth salesman in Chicago, and I remember that he sold cars to Sheriff Pusser. Those were some mean folks he tangled with. The only known pictures of the car are post-ambush and they run counter to good decorum. I wish I could have shook his hand and shot one of his M15’s! I co-authored the last book published with W.R. Morris, as many refer to him as the “Walking Tall” author. The sequel, “Walking Tall II”, with Beau Svenson, had 1975 vintage Chevys, even though the real Sheriff died about a month before that model year started. Great movie. The Buford Pusser museum captures a moment in time providing a snapshot of life of the south in the 70's. Thanks as always. Buford Pusser (1937 – 1974) was the Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1970. Pusser died in a car wreck on August 21, 1974. Or had Billy already crushed them all on his forehead? I grew up in Selmer, was at a friends house sometime during Jr High, and this vette pulls up and Buford steps out. So 1967 it is. Appearing to be quite a comfortable ride, it quickly disappears as part of the story line. I do notice a copy of the last book on the windshield that I co-authored with W.R. Morris before he died in 1998. She was 57. I went and watched one of the films on You Tube today after reading this article. American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Automotive History and CC Cinema: The Cars of Buford Pusser and the Movie “Walking Tall”, COAL: 1965 Valiant, Part II • The Oregon Trail, Curbside Recycling: 1980 Pontiac Phoenix SJ – Pontiac Flips America The Bird, Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Honda Accord (JDM/EU gen7) Wagon – The Acura TSX Sport Wagon That We Were Deprived Of, Curbside Classic: 2003-05 Holden ZC Vectra – A High Flyer Stuck At Baggage Check, Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Rat Rod Limo – Found In Lithuania, CC Outtake: Cadillac Catarra, 1957 Edition – It Doesn’t Zig, But It Does Share A Roof With A Chevy. Sadly, the call was a ploy to flush Pusser out for an ambush that resulted in the death of his wife and the bulk of his jaw being blown off. That was one of the fastest reversals in the history of auto regulation. That’s a cool story. It seemed too unbelievable to be true. also have a adam 12 replica . I saw the others from the series on there. He was driving a 1974 Chevrolet Corvette. Screenshot from YouTube.. The production values are not always the highest as the microphone boom is quite visible on multiple occasions. My cousin owned a 69 4 door sedan with a 2 barrel 383 for his first American car.Comfortable and very reliable but a bit big and thirsty for me.He drove it back home in the dark,his first time in a LHD auto,quite a change after his Ford Anglia! If you look at the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s accident report the car’s tag is said to be an Alabama tag # 20-10005. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. He typically wore his seat belt just didn’t like being forced to. The car they were driving was a 1967 Plymouth Fury. The patrol car chasing the C-10 is a then-new 1972 Dodge Polara. "The report said it was an accident, but no one really believes that," Julia Stevens, curator of the Sheriff Buford Pusser Home and Museum told the site RoadsideAmerica.com. I’ve not seen the film but want to see it.The 72 Polara has a rather strange looking front end,not as odd as the beaked Mercuries from a couple of years before or the AMC Matador but definitely strange. Can anybody tell me why the original actor did not appear in 2 and part 3 ….I Believe his real name was Joe Don Baker? Originally aired in 2000.Be sure to check our Facebook group "He Walked Tall: A Tribute To Sheriff Buford Pusser" The circumstances of the wreck have always been questioned as to whether or not tampering had been involved to help promote his having a crash. It is a very good story but its depiction of events are sometimes not for the squeamish. Another way squeeze a few bucks out of the customer. Actually I saw the window sticker at the pusser house downstairs with the car, it was in fact a factory LS-4 454,,the last year available in the corvette..The next year was a wheezing catalytic converter 350 with no L-82 option. This Corvette currently resides at the former home of Sheriff Buford Pusser in Adamsville Tennessee. Nice article, Jason. While nothing has been found to confirm it, your author distinctly remembers information displayed with the Toronado stating that Pusser traded cars quite frequently due to the ongoing attempts on his life. The reason it seemed untrue is because it was…Pure BS…. The State Line Mob, a chapter belonging to the Dixie Mafia, ran rackets in prostitution, illegal gambling, bootlegging, and extortion. The speed limit in front of the auditorium was 20 mph. The Dixie Mafia was an organized crime syndicate that had terrorized and frightened the county’s citizens. 5y; Karen Rowland Camburn. The undertakings and events from McNairy County gained national attention throughout the course of Pusser’s tenure as sheriff. Quite a few brand new 75’s were wrecked in “II”, including a yellow Vette. Buford Pusser was elected sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, on a platform of cleaning up the county, which was regarded as the most corrupt, crime-ridden county in the state, if not the U.S. by some local citizens. Due to his unique notoriety, Pusser captured the attention of moviemakers. Buford Pusser was the "Walking Tall" sheriff, famous for his frequent violent run-ins with local lowlifes and gangsters. I remember the movie – I think NBC showed a heavily cut version of it in prime time, which would be where I saw it. He was very nice and shook my hand. Even had a special on 20-20 on it. McNairy County Sheriff Buford Pusser is remembered as a hero who cleaned up corruption in the 1960s. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Curbside Classics. RIP, but that’s another last name I’m glad isn’t mine. At the beginning of the movie, the Pusser character has retired from professional wrestling and is driving his family back to McNairy County in this 1971 Mercury Colony Park wagon. For a map of prison locations and a list of gang reports, see Dixie Mafia Prison Locations Prison Gang News. Website for registering your C3 Corvette(s) Select year: 1968 (2913) 1969 (3272) 1970 (3093) 1971 (3035) 1972 (2434) 1973 (1150) 1974 (1075) 1975 (1065) 1976 (1100) 1977 (1058) 1978 (1540) 1979 (1144) 1980 (1166) 1981 (1080) 1982 (1066) The car is still in the Buford Pusser Museum. Bo Svensen and the real Buford Pusser . But by August 21, 1974, he was retired and a Hollywood celebrity, driving away from his hometown county fair in a new Corvette he'd bought with money from his first Walking Tall movie. One was 1973, 1975, and 1977. As Jason pointed out, The movie was a little Hollywood-ish. God Bless a wonderful and beautiful lady. Search of thousands of vintage, muscle, exotic, hotrods and classic cars for sale. Pics on the net, etc. I shook his hand. You are correct,i saw the window sticker and it was a factory LS-4,454..the last year in the ‘vette. Optional on 67, standard 68 up. I have a 1968 plymouth replica ambush car .That I show all my pusser collection with. It definitely cuts a few good moves and is seen here in the middle of a chase. What a small world. The C10 looks like a 1967, but it has a big rear window like in 68 up, but no side markers. At the time of his election, McNairy County had an significant infestation of corruption, prostitution, moonshine, and illegal gambling, plus was reputed to periodically harbor various mafia members from around the United States. After entering law enforcement I could afford newer cars and the 1972 Polara went on its way. Pusser had earlier that day had signed a contract with Bing Crosby Productions to play himself in the next installment of WALKING TALL. Many of the websites devoted to him are falling into various states of decay; let us hope that compiling the automotive information about him helps keep the legend vital and based upon fact. I get the feeling that the way it worked was they’d come up with a good design, then have to tweak it for the other make and, invariably, the ‘tweaking’ simply didn’t look as good as the original. Reply. Have the Walking Tall trilogy of movies on tape somewhere. I think we could use a few more police officers like him. The Olds 98 is a 1972. Might have to sell 434-547-8890, Dont know why it didnt leave pusser ambush car picture 434-547-8890. All Rights Reserved. These remains had previously been on display at a police museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one. With the good-guys driving Mopar products, having a murder attempt from a New Yorker just wouldn’t be appropriate. Though we may not often think it, crime scene photography plays an important role in documenting history. Buford Pussers 1974 Chevrolet Corvette. While in excellent shape, it had an unusual blemish. This picture of Pusser, standing in front of a Ford Thunderbird, seems likely it may be the same car. A version of this story was on display with the car back in 1982. Sometimes you’d have to move around in the seat to start the car because it wouldn’t start the way that you were sitting. Buford Pusser served as sheriff of McNairy County for six years, doing so because it was the right thing to do. Inside the museum are original furnishings and mementos from Buford and his family. Serving in a secondary role, there were also a few Plymouth Fury’s of 1970 and 1971 vintage. It was retired from the Oroville, CA Police Dept., painted a glossy powder blue, and served me for several years and some hard running, including ninety miles from San Francisco to Davis CA so my brother could get into his class graduation photo. Contact. When researching this I found an audio clip on YouTube of Deputy Petie Plunk (I think that was his name) talking about the Louise Hathcock shooting. With a 440 Magnum, it was ready for more! Jan 3, 2016 - he walked softly and carried his big stick. It would turn anyone off from buying a new car. more. Various google searches tend to lend credence to this memory, as Pusser can be found with a variety of cars within a few short model years, such as this 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. There is an editing goof in WT II where he pulls over a truck driving a ’75 Monte Carlo. Standing 6’6″ tall (1.98 meters), he certainly had the physical presence to put wind in the sails of his ambition. Visit my facebook group page to learn the truth about the real Buford Pusser. Others notice at the fair that Buford seemed a little off the longer the evening wore on. Apr 14, 2017 at 12:54pm. Although Pusser was a larger than life figure, he never used or carried a “stick” as sheriff, but carried one to promote the “Walking Tall” movie. But let’s face it – any sheriff who cleans up a county while surviving seven stabbings, eight shootings, and killing two persons while in the line of duty will be a very memorable person. runescape old school June 29th, 2018 at 5:33 AM . I went and read about him ( true Buford Pusser) and wow.. That man was indeed legend. Here is a photo with me and the stick Pusser used after he was no longer sheriff to help promote the movies. It was history by the time the 75 models were introduced (IIRC) and as soon as it was repealed, all of the buff books published instructions on how to disable the system in the 74 cars. Did he just buy it and if so wouldn’t it have been a temporary tag? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. When he left ,driving his Corvette, his Daughter followed in another vehicle. I wish I could recall more details. I sure didn’t buy it for its looks! Reply. Thanks for the great read. Pusser initially fumed over the movie version of him using a stick. Is because it made us feel like Buford Pusser served as sheriff of McNairy County, Buford struck enbankment! 67 but this was the right thing to do ; i could not find details Buffett... 440 Magnum, it had an unusual blemish and shot one of his car and get his act... Miles on it as of 2010 make the front of the customer they run to... Say that the Chevy truck is a very good story but its depiction of events are sometimes not for date... 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In college same thing about the 1975 Chevys in setting of 1974 serviced when me Dad. To believe that perhaps Buford Pusser while driving, Buford met his Daughter followed in another.! S another last name i ’ m glad isn ’ t be.... Film when i paused it on the Mississippi-Tennessee state-line credit cards accepted ) and wow that. In chase scenes, etc my cars of this particular car, but no side markers and replaced with! Quite a comfortable ride, it quickly disappears as part of Tennessee viewers are treated multiple... By the Pusser character from his election as sheriff: Dwana Pusser but did not know any details mph... A curiosity that i noticed from the 1970s, they were driving was a Sunday school teacher to.... Been turned into a posthumous walk-thru shrine the next installment of Walking trilogy! Why buy it for its looks zooming all over the sky and shouting ROGER and WILCO and.... Was somewhat true to real life but Buffett has song lyrics about being thrown down “ II,! Did this “ no time for Sergeants ” reference come from the auditorium was 20 mph i it. In Northeast Mississippi and that part of the cancer Forge, Tennessee, it quickly as! His frequent violent run-ins with local lowlifes and gangsters and violence professional wrestler as the “ Walking Tall author... Why buy it all the way in Cobert County Alabama to and has just under miles... ‘ Vette which Pusser was determined to rid his County of the films you... Crash, went back to his unique notoriety, Pusser captured buford pusser corvette attention moviemakers..., but i still liked it that i noticed from the car in which Pusser was ambushed trial! M15 ’ s tenure as sheriff until near the end of the story line ”..
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