My father, Walter “Corky” Dennis, was a homicide detective for the San Antonio Police Department in 1977 when he told me about the strangest burial he had ever seen. It occurred 48 years ago this week.

Sandra West’s burial was one of the most unusual and sensational events in San Antonio’s history. In her will, which she wrote in 1972, she had specified that she wanted to be buried in her lace nightgown, inside her powder blue 1964 Ferrari 330 America, with the seat slanted comfortably.

She also left instructions for the Funeral Director, Porter Loring, who had handled her husband’s funeral.

Loring was San Antonio’s most prominent Funeral Home Director in the 1960s and 1970s. To comply with her wishes, despite the legal and logistical challenges involved, he had to obtain a court order from a Los Angeles judge to allow the burial of a car with a human body inside.

● He also had to arrange for the transportation of the Ferrari by train from California to Texas, and hire armed guards to protect it from thieves and vandals.

● He had to design a special concrete box that could fit the car and the body, and dig a massive grave at the Alamo Masonic Cemetery that could accommodate it.

From my father’s notes, a lady from Vanderbilt, Texas explained that when she “was about four, my Dad was working for Magnolia Oil Co. in Kilgore, Texas, and was in the first group that was transferred to Vanderbilt to start up the oil lease on the West Ward Ranch. The ranch is located a short distance from Vanderbilt off Hwy 616.”

“The ranch was owned by Mr. Ike West, Sr. and his sister Mrs. Ward. Mr. West had two sons, Ike West, Jr. and Sol West. Ike West Jr., from Vanderbilt, was one year ahead of me in school. Ike would be seen, several times during the year, driving his fancy car around Edna High School at noon when everyone was hanging out during the lunch hour. He started dating Virginia Canerday from EHS. They were married in 1955.”

“I was fortunate to have worked on the West Ward Ranch for Magnolia Oil Co. for four summers while attending college. We were always on the lookout for Ike West, Jr. to see what fancy car he might be driving. During my first year of college, I worked part time for Parks Electric Service during the afternoon and on weekends as needed. One Saturday morning (around 1955), we had a service call to go to Ike and Virginia’s home to change out all the old electrical switches to the new silent ones. They lived across the street from the Booster Station on FM 1822 in the home now occupied by John and Jan Taylor. Ike slept late that morning, so we had to work around other parts of the house until he awoke. Later that morning, he slipped out and we were never able to see him.”

“Ike and Virginia divorced after few short years of marriage. Ike married Sandra Hara on June 5, 1965 in Las Vegas. They moved to California. Due to Ike’s health and drug use, he died in 1968. Sandra then began to make the Hollywood circuit. She knew Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and dated lots of entertainers,  including Englebert Humperdinck.”

“Due to injuries from an automobile accident or accidental drug overdose, she died in 1977. It was her will that drew attention all over the country. She stated she wanted to be buried in her powder blue 1964 Ferrari 330 America s/n 5055 in a white lace nightgown sitting behind the steering wheel. Her brother-in-law, Sol, was the executor of her will and at first refused to carry this out.”

“She was buried in a temporary grave in California. However, after three months, the judge in the case ruled Sol had to follow her wishes. She was buried in San Antonio, Texas, next to her husband Ike West, Jr. Due to worry of thieves, a large box was built to hold the automobile. She was placed in the automobile and after the box was sealed, it was covered in concrete. Simple markers show their graves.”

Like many Texas millionaires, Ike and Sandra had followed the “family business” and dabbled in oil but eager for a change they moved to Southern California in 1963. Ike began a securities trading syndicate and Sandra (by this time, a mother of two) entered the Beverly Hills social scene. With the new life came the trappings of 1960s excess, a Beverly Hills Mansion, flashy clothes, and fast cars. Shortly after her arrival, Sandra came to own the car that would make her famous, a 1964 Ferrari 330 America s/n 5055. Her blue America was imported by Chinetti Motors and appears to have been with the Wests throughout their stay in California.

The West’s lived the 60s fast life but it didn’t last for Ike Jr. He had a history of drug use and health problems caused by rapid weight fluctuation. He died under mysterious circumstances at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel in 1968. With his demise, his widow now became known to the press as “Sandra West, Beverly Hills Socialite and Heiress”.

Laid to rest in her nightgown behind the wheel of her light-blue Ferrari 250GT. The heiress, was only 37 years old. She left most of her $3 million estate to her brother, provided he made sure she was buried in her favorite lace nightgown and inside her Ferrari, with the seat slanted comfortably.

According to the Ferrari Registry, the car was originally purchased new by TV producer Burt Sugarman (The Midnight Special, Newlywed Game, and more). Though delivered painted Grigio Notte, Sugarman was known for having his Ferraris painted candy apple red metal flake by George Barris, the same guy known for making television’s Batmobile, the Munster’s Koach,  The Drag-U-La, and more.

Sugarman did meet Ms. West, and related to the NY Times she gushed about the car, telling him she wanted to be buried in it. “She was a piece of work,” he said. 

As Dad told it, there were several hundred curious onlookers who showed up to watch.

“Of course, this is the most unusual funeral I’ve ever handled,” Funeral Director  Porter Loring, Jr. told reporters at the time. “It’s been a tough battle trying to keep this as unsensational as possible.”

The 1964 Ferrari arrived by train on May 18, and was watched over by two armed guards at a private location while workers positioned West’s corpse.

Back in California, the widow left behind a $500,000 stamp collection, $500,000 worth of jewelry, a solid-gold fishing reel, two additional Ferraris and a Stutz Blackhawk, according to an April 13, 1977, San Antonio Express-News report.

The other Ferraris were sold to auction that summer, as well as a 4.97-carat and a 6.98-carat ring, which sold for $305,000 and $110,000, respectively, according to a report from June 15, 1977.

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