Barrett-Jackson 2011: JFK's 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance? *Update

Normally, events such as Barret-Jackson's annual soiree out in the desert of Arizona are newsworthy to those of us who obsessively cover the auto industry... and pretty much nobody else. But when the auction house roll out the ambulance that supposedly transported the body of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination, well, the rest of the world stands up and takes notice.

Adding more fuel to the fire of intrigue surounding this one-of-a-kind machine are questions as to whether or not this 1963 Pontiac Bonneville ambulance is legit. Did it really carry JFK? We have no idea, and there are a number of documents and plenty of speculation supporting both sides of the discussion – we're content to stay out of the debate. And either way, we're curious to see how it performs after a week's worth of national news.

In any case, all eyes are now on this controversy-filled auction. Check out the official listing page for the might-be JFK's ambulance and be sure to keep an eye on the live streaming feed at Speed.

Are you playing Speed's Online Fantasy Bid Game? If not, test your auction pricing mettle by guessing what a series of featured vehicles will end up bringing at the auction block – you could end up winning a prize, like an Apple iPad. Enjoy!

*Update: The ambulance ended up selling for $120,000... which we'd say means the bidders weren't convinced of its authenticity. Or, it means someone just scored an amazingly significant car at a major discount.

Photos copyright Jeremy Korzeniewski ©2011 /AOL