Former Texas Congressman Ron Paul’s 1979 Chevrolet Chevette to go to Biggest Donor

A donor to a political organization can own a notable former Texas congressman’s vehicle.

Ron Paul will give his green 1979 Chevrolet Chevette to the person who makes the highest pledge of a donation to the Foundation for Rational Economics and Education, founded by Paul in 1976.

The car caused a stir due to a “cheeky photo” of the small car taken next to former Democrat Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill’s Lincoln during a time when O’Neill was advocating for gasoline rationing.

“Tip O’Neill, the Powerful House speaker, was advocating gasoline rationing for the rest of us, while he was chauffeured around in a Lincoln, all at taxpayer expense,” said Paul. “And no waiting in gasoline lines for him, nor paying for it: he had his own pump in the House garage.”

Paul says that the photo caused O’Neill to block all pork-barrel funds for him, “which I was not seeking anyway.”

The car now has 69,000 miles on it and has been garaged for the past decade, though Paul says that it still starts and runs.

The proceeds will go to fund the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. The winner will also get a congressional license plate that was on the car.

The pledges can be mailed to FREE at 837 W. Plantation, Clute, TX 77531, emailed to free1776@comcast.net, or by phone at 979-265-3034.

Paul’s complete remarks regarding the giveaway are included below.

In 1979, when I was headed to DC for my first full term in Congress, I bought a car to keep there. It was a 1979 Chevrolet Chevette. But this compact 4-door soon proved to be controversial. Tip O’Neill, the powerful House speaker, was advocating gasoline rationing for the rest of us, while he was chauffeured around in a Lincoln, all at taxpayer expense. And no waiting in gasoline lines for him, nor paying for it: he had his own pump in the House garage.

So my little car—which I paid for myself, of course—was parked next to the Tip behemoth for a cheeky photo. Well, you would have thought I was Ed Snowden. There was a huge blow-up. Tip even levied the ultimate punishment: he blocked pork-barrel funds for me, which I was not seeking anyway.

So this little car has some history to it. Yet it has only 69,000 miles on it. It was repainted after my youngest daughter used it at college, and has been garaged for the last 10 years. But it starts and runs, and is as cute as when Tip wanted to bomb it.

And you can own it, and aid the cause of peace and prosperity at the same time. The person who makes the highest pledge of a tax-deductible donation to the FREE Foundation by October 15, 2013, and redeems it, will own this historic little vehicle. The proceeds will be used to fund the work of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. That’s the one that outrages the neocons, so you know it is important.

We’ll have a nice turnover ceremony at the FREE office in Clute, Texas, that we’ll photograph, and I’ll also present you with a Congressional license plate that was actually used on the car.

So drive history forward, and make your pledge, mailing it to FREE, 837 W. Plantation, Clute, TX 77531 or email it to free1776@comcast.net or phone 979.265.3034.

See you in the driver’s seat.