A 1950 General Motors Futurliner, one of the stars of the Ron Pratte collection, will be sold in January 2015 at Barrett-Jackson auctions.

One of 12 built and nine known to still exist, Pratte purchased the Futurliner at Barrett-Jackson.

A veteran who served with the US Army’s 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam during 1968, Pratte will donate all proceeds from the Futurliner to the Armed Forces Foundation. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to supporting and advocating for active-duty military personnel, National Guardsmen, Reservists, military families and veterans.

One of 12 built by GM, the Futurliner is a self-contained display and transport vehicle created by the GM design staff under Harley Earl’s direction. It was the centerpiece of the “Parade of Progress” touring exhibit that complemented the GM “Motoramas” from 1940 through 1956.

One of only three survivors restored in their original “Parade of Progress” configuration, this Futurliner underwent a comprehensive re-restoration after Ron Pratte purchased it as a fully restored example in 2006, making it clearly the finest example in existence. It is fully functional and toured Canada in corporate promotions before it became a part of the Ron Pratte collection. It is a symbol of the American auto industry at the height of its power and influence.

Pratte, a Chandler, Arizona, developer and philanthropist, built the majority of his collection at Barrett-Jackson auctions. His collection, featuring cars, trucks, motorcycles and other rarities including the Futurliner, will be on the docket at Barrett-Jackson’s 44th Annual Scottsdale Auction taking place January 10-18, 2015.

GM Futurliner