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Couple selling what they say is Weaver's old truck

Alison Boggs
Staff writer
August 21, 2008

Discuss: Huckleberries Online

A Naples, Idaho, couple has listed on eBay a 1951 Chevrolet pickup they say belonged to Randy Weaver just before his August 1992 stand off with federal authorities on Ruby Ridge, 16 years ago Thursday.

Bret and Lori Skinner say they’ll include with the six-cylinder manual-transmission truck a registration certificate showing that Weaver owned it from September 1990 to May 1992. The eBay posting says the light-blue-and-rust flatbed has 131,854 miles.

“Yes, this is the ‘Real McCoy,’” the auction notice reads. “We would be proud knowing that it went to someone who would possibly put it … into a museum or establish a memorial somewhere as a reminder to what can happen.”

White separatist Weaver surrendered to authorities Aug. 31, 1992, following a shoot-out and 11-day siege by federal authorities that left Weaver’s son and wife and a deputy U.S. marshal dead.

The Skinners say they’d like to use any money from the truck sale to provide care for needy veterans, to help people who have “defended freedom.” Though a previous 10-day eBay auction garnered no bids, Bret Skinner said he thinks the truck could bring in a hefty sum, partially because of an erroneous report that said the Dodge Charger from the “Dukes of Hazzard” TV show sold for millions.

“I think they landed $8 million,” he said.

In fact, a replica of that car did bring in a bid of close to $10 million in May 2007. However, news reports showed several days later that the bidder’s account had been hacked and that sale did not go through. In February 2008, a replica of the Dukes’ General Lee did sell at auction for $450,000, according to the Web site worldcarfans.com.

A Coeur d’Alene human rights activist said he thinks it’s both “significant and encouraging” that no one bid on the truck the first time it was posted. “One should never try to make him (Weaver) into a hero,” said Tony Stewart, a member of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations.

Bret Skinner said he and his family have lived at Ruby Ridge for more than 20 years. He said Weaver sold the truck in May 1992 and it changed hands several times before the Skinners bought it from a friend. He said they offered first dibs on the truck to people involved with the incident, including Gerry Spence, the attorney who defended Weaver at trial. Spence politely declined.

The Skinners also have a business selling “memorial” rocks and walking sticks collected from Ruby Ridge. For $25, a buyer will receive a “golf-ball” sized rock, a short history of the incident, and quotes from the Bible. Larger rocks can be had for $35 to $50, Bret Skinner said.

Contact Alison Boggs at (208) 765-7132 or at alisonb@spokesman.com.

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