A Tragic Love Story: Inside Bonnie and Clyde’s Death Car

The death of Bonnie and Clyde is an iconic moment in American history. The couple, who had been on the run from law enforcement since the beginning of 1934, were finally stopped in a hail of bullets on May 23rd, 1934. The car they were traveling in was riddled with over 100 bullets and teir bodies were found inside the vehicle.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow had become notorious for their bank robberies, car thefts, and murders throughout the early 1930s. As their fame grew amongst law enforcement officials in multiple states, a bounty was placed on them. On May 23rd, 1934, two Texas Rangers tracked them down to a secluded area near Sailes, Louisiana. When they attempted to arrest Bonnie and Clyde, the couple attempted to flee in their Ford V8 sedan. As they drove away, the officers opened fire with a barrage of bullets which left over 100 bullet holes in both sides of their car.

When their car finally came to a stop after crashing into an embankment, Bonnie and Clyde had both been killed by the gunfire. Inside the vehicle investigators found numerous firearms including shotguns and rifles as well as stolen goods from various robberies throughout the country; including clothing items, license plates from other states and money taken during bank robberies.

It is estimated that Bonnie and Clyde were each struck by over 50 bullets each as they sat inside their Ford V8 sedan during the shootout with officers. After news spread about their deaths people began flocking to Sailes to catch a glimpse of their bodies; some even took pieces of clothing items or other memorabilia from around the car as souvenirs.

Today, Bonnie and Clyde’s death car is still around for people to see; it is currently located at at Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum in California where it is part of an exhibit titled “FBI: From Al Capone to Al Qaeda” until February 2022. Whenever visiting this exhibit you can still see all 112 bullet holes surrounding the vehicle; it truly serves as an iconic reminder of one of America’s most notorious criminals ever captured by law enforcement officials.

What Was Discovered in Bonnie and Clyde’s Car?

The remains of Bonnie and Clyde’s car, which was riddled with 112 bullet holes, have been preserved as a museum piece. Inside the car, visitors can find the blood-spattered and torn shirt that Clyde was wearing at the time of his death, signed by his sister. Additionally, there are several oter pieces of memorabilia related to the outlaws found in and around the vehicle, including bullet casings from the shootout between them and law enforcement officials. For example, visitors may also find fragments of glass from broken windows caused by gunfire, a Bible belonging to Bonnie, and a typewriter used for writing letters home by Clyde.

bonnie and clyde bodies inside car
Source: nypost.com

The Final Resting Place of Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie Parker’s body is buried at the Crown Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. Clyde Barrow is buried nearby at Western Heights Cemetery. Both cemeteries are located in the Oak Cliff district of Dallas, approximately 5 miles apart. Bonnie and Clyde were laid to rest separately, despite their wishes that they be buried together.

Parading Bonnie and Clyde’s Bodies

Yes, the bodies of Bonnie and Clyde were paraded aftr their deaths. On May 23, 1934, the notorious criminal couple was ambushed by six police officers in a remote stretch of road near Gibsland, Louisiana. After a gruesome gun battle, both Bonnie and Clyde had been struck by 50 bullets each and were declared dead at the scene. In order to assure public safety and put an end to the couple’s crime spree, their bodies were displayed to the public in two different towns—Arcadia, Louisiana and Dallas, Texas—as a warning against similar criminal activities. In Arcadia, Bonnie’s body was laid out on a white sheet in an open car for thousands of onlookers to view. Then both corpses were transported to Dallas where they were laid out side by side in an open-air hearse for all to see; photographs taken of their bullet-ridden bodies would become iconic images in American history.

The Fate of Bonnie and Clyde’s Car

The car that Bonnie and Clyde died in has been relocated from Nevada to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum in California, where it is currently part of the “FBI: From Al Capone to Al Qaeda” exhibit until February 2022. This iconic car was discovered abandoned near Sailes, Bienville Parish, Louisiana on May 23rd 1934 ater a shootout between law enforcement and Bonnie and Clyde. The car was a Ford V8 Model B Deluxe Roadster which was manufactured in 1932. It was extensively damaged by bullets during the encounter and had to be heavily restored before being put on display at various museums and exhibitions throughout the years.

The Number of Bullets in Bonnie and Clyde’s Car

Bonnie and Clyde’s car was riddled with 167 bullets in less than 20 seconds during one of history’s most famous shootings. This gruesome incident marked the end of the couple’s romanticized criminal careers during the Depression era, and the destroyed car subsequently became a bizarre attraction that toured around the country.

bonnie and clyde bodies inside car
Source: texashighways.com

Clyde’s First Crime

Clyde’s first crime was a burglary that occurred sometime in January 1930. According to reports, Clyde had broken into a grocery store in Dallas County, Texas. He was soon arrested and sent to jail but managed to escape with the help of a gun smuggled to him by Bonnie. Unfortunately, he was eventually recaptured and returned to prison.

The Absence of Toes in Clyde

No, Clyde did not have no toes. He had chopped off two of his toes while in prison, which permanently crippled his walking stride and prevented him from wearing shoes while driving. However, he was released on parole six days later and still had ten toes in total.

Estimated Amount of Money Stolen by Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde are estimated to have stolen an estimated $2 million in goods, including cash, during their two-year crime spree. They robbed gas stations, restaurants, small-town banks and more across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Missouri. However, it is believed that the total amount of cash they were able to steal never exceeded $1,500 per robbery. Therefore, the total amount of money Bonnie and Clyde are estimated to have gotten away with is approximately $1.5 million.

The Legacy of Bonnie and Clyde: Did They Have a Baby?

No, Bonnie and Clyde did not have a baby. Despite many claims by individuals who purported to be children of one or both of the notorious Depression-era outlaws, there is no evidence to support these allegations. According to Bonnie Parker’s family, she had no children. Bonnie and Clyde achieved notoriety when they embarked on a crime spree that lasted from 1932 until their death in May 1934. During this time, they robbed banks and stores across the central United States, but there were no reports of them having a child together.

bonnie and clyde bodies inside car
Source: pumpjackpress.com

The Number of Bullet Holes in Bonnie and Clyde’s Bodies

Bonnie and Clyde had a total of 43 bullet holes between them. Clyde had 17 entrance wounds, while Bonnie had 26. The bodies were so badly damaged that the funeral home had difficulty embalming them.

The Cause of Clyde’s Limp

Clyde Barrow walked with a limp due to a horrific incident that occurred while he was incarcerated in the Eastham State Farm prison in Texas. While imprisoned, he was brutally tortured by the guards, and in an effort to escape them, Clyde cut off his own toe with an axe. His leg never healed properly from the trauma of the attack and he was left permanently with a limp.

The Number of Toes on Clyde

Clyde originally had five toes on each foot. After two of his toes were chopped off in prison, he had three remaining on one foot and four remaining on the other. Ultimately, Clyde had seven toes total after the second incident where he had his left big toe and part of his second toe chopped off.

The Location of Bonnie Parker’s Grave

Bonnie Parker’s grave is located in the Crown Hill Memorial Park in northwest Dallas, Texas. The cemetery is situated at the intersection of Ft. Worth Avenue and Neal Street in north Oak Cliff, and is open to visitors between 9am and 5pm on Saturdays.

bonnie and clyde bodies inside car
Source: rhsrumbler.com

Clyde’s Surrender: Did He Give Himself Up?

No, Clyde did not surrender. He and Bonnie were killed instantly by automatic-rifle fire — 150 rounds in 16 seconds — and given no chance to surrender. Clyde had stopped at Ma Canfield’s in Gibsland and bought sandwiches to go, but whether he realized the police were nearby is unclear. Witnesses reported that there was no attempt to negotiate or discuss a surrender before the shooting began, leaving Clyde and Bonnie no time to react. Their own guns were still in the back seat when they were killed, indicating that they had not been used prior to the shooting.

Conclusion

Bonnie and Clyde’s legacy as notorious outlaws lives on to this day, even more than 80 years afer their deaths. Their daring crime spree captured the public imagination, and the duo quickly became folk heroes in some circles. Despite the fact that their lives ended in a hail of bullets, Bonnie and Clyde remain an iconic part of American history. The bullet-riddled car they died in is now on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum in California until February 2022, where it serves as a stark reminder of their violent end. Regardless of what one thinks about Bonnie and Clyde’s crimes, it is clear that they have left an indelible mark on American culture.

Photo of author

William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.