If you are able to dream it, you are able to find it on eBay – and that involves Jack Kevorkian’s assisted suicide van. Now imagine what the seller is thinking now that eBay has pulled the listing. The online auction site has classified the auction listing as “murderabilia” and canceled the listing. Retired auto parts dealer Jack Finn, who owns the 1968 Volkswagen van, was understandably upset. Mr. Finn had hoped to take in at least $3,400 for his spring cleaning efforts, but eBay decided to get involved.
Kevorkian assisted suicide van: car of a ‘notorious murderer?’
Whether the term applies is up for debate, but eBay’s E-mail to the AP clearly states that they consider an artifact that glorifies murder. Whether a user sounded the alarm or not is unclear, but eBay has come forward and claimed listed violated their policy. They told Finn in no uncertain terms that “The listing was removed because it violated the eBay murderabilia policy.” Finn’s response, while masking shades of disappointment, was ultimately pragmatic: “I don’t run eBay, Craigslist or the world.” Now Kruse Auctions in Indiana can have to take care of the sale in mid-May.
Watch out for the assisted suicide van replica within the Kevorkian film
Dr. Jack’s ‘68 VW van is on display in replica during the HBO film “You Do not Know Jack,” which stars Al Pacino. The duplicate is in considerably better condition than the real thing today, as Finn indicates that the real Jack Kevorkian assisted suicide van is water-damaged and unsafe to drive. All parts in the original need overhaul, said Finn within the eBay listing. Although the car might actually move and stop under its own power, it is not being sold as a drivable bus.”
How did Finn get his hands on the classic VW project van?
The AP reports that Finn got it in 1997 when he was running a used auto parts company, Recycled Bugs. Dr. Jack had given it up that year for scrap. Instead of scrap it, Kevorkian’s body shop must have sold it. According to Mayer Morganroth – Kevorkian’s lawyer – Jack never wanted something like this eBay auction to occur. Finn is lucky that Jack Kevorkian isn’t really interested in pressing charges over this assisted suicide van auction ordeal, says the AP.
Resources for the article
Jack Kevorkian’s assisted suicide van
http://www.newser.com/article/d9fb3bho5/citing-ban-on-murderabilia-ebay-halts-sale-of-jack-kevorkians-old-assisted-suicide-van.html
