Just which vehicle is history’s most infamous? JFK’s 1961 Lincoln Continental? Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow’s 1934 Ford? Princess Diana’s 1994 Mercedes-Benz S-Class? Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac? It may be impossible to name the most infamous vehicle, the one that’s high up on that list for the most outlandish circumstances is undoubtedly the 1993 Ford Bronco, specifically in white.
Introduced in 1966 as one of the pioneering sports utility vehicles, the Ford Bronco existed as a prosperous, but largely uncontroversial vehicle for most of its 30 years of production. That would all change on June 17, 1994, when broadcast on live-television in front of tens of millions, former professional football player and actor, O. J. Simpson led police in a bizarre slow-speed chase through Los Angeles after failing to turn himself in on the charges of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Now a fugitive on the run, police were able to locate Simpson around 6 p.m. that evening through phone calls he had made on his cell phone. The now-infamous white 1993 Bronco used as O.J.’s “getaway car” was owned and driven by his friend and former NFL player, Al Cowlings.
After one squad car approached the Bronco, Cowlings yelled out that O.J. was in the back seat with a gun to his own head. Police backed off, but as many as 20 police cars continued pursuit of the Bronco for nearly an hour, as Cowlings drove it on the freeway and eventually though neighborhoods until they reached O.J.’s home in Brentwood, California.
Covered by all major networks and CNN, this was the first mass-televised police chase of its kind. As word of the pursuit spread, crowds began to form on highway overpasses and sidewalks to catch a glimpse of this now historic event. After arriving back at his home, O.J. surrendered himself to police, and a lengthy trial soon pursued – I needn’t say what happened with that.
As for Al Cowling’s actual Ford Bronco, he sold it for a reported $200,000 to three California men who were initially hoping to quickly resell it for even more money. But this ultimately did not happen, and the Bronco sat in storage until 2012, when through mysterious connections, the owner of a sports memorabilia shop at the Luxor in Las Vegas had it displayed in the hotel’s lobby. Hotel management soon had it removed due to the car’s criminal connections, and it went back into storage.
Naturally this Bronco is not the infamous “O.J. Bronco”. Yet even 21 years later, seeing one, let alone a white one immediately evokes thoughts of that infamous day, exactly 21 years ago today.
If the glove don’t fit, you can’t convict.
“If the glove don’t fit, you must acquit.”
“If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit!”
No need for the additional jive. The quote was “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
This makes me think of the phony phone call on Howard Stern to Peter Jennings and Al Michaels, the ” I see OJ and he looks scared, bababooey to y’all call” I love Al saying, “Peter that was a totally farcical call, lest you think otherwise” Radio gold!
I was married on June 17, 1994 and I certainly remember seeing the chase on the TV above the bar at our reception, as I’m sure most of our other guests do.
Happy 21st anniversary!
Gosh I remember I was watching the NBA Finals and was shocked to see a bunch of police cars chasing a white Ford Bronco, I always think of OJ Simpson everytime I see a Ford Bronco of this vintage.
Our parents generation all remember where they were when Kennedy was shot. We remember where we were for the OJ chase. Nobwonder the world’s going downhill…
But if you lived in the Houston area you should remember. The Rockets were on their way to their first (of two) NBA championships. On our way (or so I read) to being the third largest city and I cannot remember winning anything else. I was not a happy camper when they cut away from the game and don’t know anyone else that was.
I was in my daddy’s store
There’s an awesome ESPN 30 for 30 on that examines the OJ chase in the context of the other sporting events that culminated that day.
Hey Brendan,
I just ran a Carfax on that white Bronco featured in the pictures. It’s actually a 1995, not a 1993 like Cowlings’. Also, I could tell it was a ’95 because of the center high-mounted stop lamp on top of the roof.
Looks like the cops lined up Chevy 1st, Ford 2nd. Did they want things to look nice and neat for TV?
The Caprices got there first. Aero ‘Vics aren’t exactly fast, even in police spec.
If you look closely, there appears to be a box Caprice on the second row, and there are two square-body ‘Vics all the way at the back.
Definitely one of the indelible moments of the 90’s.
I was born in 1989 and have no memories of this nor the Oklahoma City Bombing, but early 90s Yellow Ryder trucks and those Caprices that look like the D.C Snipers’ one give me shivers more so.
Have not seen an O.J Simpson jersey since I left Buffalo Bills land.
My BIL is a born and raised Denver kid, and naturally he LOOOOOves his Broncs. I goofed on him viciously during Super Bowl XLVIII. Even though I’m a diehard NY Giants fan, the hawks are the home team and as a concerned BIL, could I do less than rake him over the coals? The best was this meme:
Somebody in my town has a really nice white one with the personalized plate ‘NOT OJ’
Here’s one I caught a few years ago near my house in Reno.
I remember where I was when I heard about the Lincoln and JFK. I also remember where I was when I heard about the Mercedes and Diana. And, I also remember where I was when I heard about the Bronco, OJ and Al Cowlings.
And, oh… I remember where I was when I heard about a white Jaguar Mk 2 and…
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=toonces&FORM=VIRE9#view=detail&mid=767384E9C1F460B5D688767384E9C1F460B5D688
Ah O.J….such great 90’s memories. I always thought it was interesting that the “murder” Bronco and the “chase” Bronco appear to be the same vehicle. However, it was just that Al Cowlings and O.J. had virtually identical Broncos. O.J.’s was found by police a couple hours after the bodies were discovered parked slightly crooked on the street in front of his house with blood visible near the door handle and interior and a trail of blood spots leading up the driveway. That Bronco was immediately impounded by the police, while A.C. used his a few days later to help O.J. in the run of his life.
I like that generation of Bronco. It’s funny how SUV’s went from only available as 2 doors to within a few years being almost all 4 doors.
“Just which vehicle is history’s most infamous?” For those of us who grew up in the 50’s, I’d say James Dean’s Porsche Spyder should be on the list. SS-100-X had so many photo ops that it is forever embedded in the collective memory.
I remember O.J.’s most excellent ride as hugely disruptive to LA westside traffic while trying to get home from work that night. Not a good time. Glad to hear that no one is making money from displaying this vehicle.
CC Effect strikes again. A few days ago, I drove several blocks beside a Bronco of this vintage, first I had seen for awhile. Solid black. My first thought was that the black Bronco was the exact opposite of OJ’s solid white one. It was even driven by a caucasian woman. Almost like a photographic negative.
The “Juicemobile”!!!