If you frequent this rag, you'll know that there are two things that I post about rather often: Edward Abbey and the Grateful Dead. So when I found out that Edward Abbey's 1975 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is being auctioned off on eBay and then saw that there was a Grateful Dead sticker on the back of the car, I was rather excited. It seems as though the car has seen a few owners (one of them being foolish enough to think that the license plate should read E ABBEY) and a few face lifts since Mr. Abbey passed, so who knows if the sticker was put on there by Ed himself. I highly doubt it, but holy hell would that have been cool.More info:
Ed purchased this car on March 8, 1984 just after his 61st birthday and owned it through the end of his life. After sitting for a while, Ernie Bulow, a book collector and author purchased the car from Abbey's widow and put on the New Mexico vanity plates "Hayduke". In 1995, another book dealer, Tony Delcavo purchased the caddie and began to restore it including the present day vanity plates "E. Abbey" from the state of Colorado. Since 2008 the car has resided in Moab, UT and is being sold by Andy Nettell, book dealer and owner of Back of Beyond Books, a store dedicated to Ed's memory.Purchaser will also receive numerous original signed documents (including the original signed application for title from the state of Arizona) relating to this car. Included is also the 8-track tape player that Ed purchased for the car, but alas it no longer works and has been replaced with a slightly newer radio.Proceeds from this sale will go to Confluence: A Celebration of Reading and Writing in Moab, now in its third year. See moabconfluence.org for more information on this festival whose first year was dedicated to Edward Abbey. We think Ed would appreciate his car funding a writers festival.Edward Abbey's 1975 Red Cadillac Eldorado Convertible can be yours! This 8 cylinder beast runs well and is sold as is. It has a new paint job and the previous owner replaced the ragtop and reupholstered the interior. New hood hinges are needed and various smaller items need some love, i.e. glove box knob has fallen off, interior aluminum strip is loose and back window is sticky. An issue in the electrical system sometimes drains the battery. The odomotor no longer works and the sun visors need attention. The top raises and lowers splendidly and I've had a hoot driving around Arches National Park with the top down. I'm sure Ed threw a few beer cans out while cruising.
MP3: Ed Abbey – Excerpt from “Freedom and Wilderness, Wilderness and Freedom”