John Dillinger's 1930 Ford Model A To Cross Barrett-Jackson Auction Block

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — A 1930 Ford Model A that was used by legendary American gangster John Dillinger and that also was resurrected as a key element of the 2009 Johnny Depp movie Public Enemies will cross the auction block at the 39th Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction here. The event takes place January 18-24.

"This car is a piece of American gangster history and as much a part of Dillinger's legend as his Tommy guns and Colt automatics," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson, in a statement.

The Model A was used in one of Dillinger's most noteworthy escapes from the law. It took place at Little Bohemia Lodge in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, on April 22, 1934. Dillinger, Homer Van Meter and John "Red" Hamilton escaped in the Model A coupe offered at Barrett-Jackson. "Dillinger, it is said, smashed the Ford's rear window with his Thompson [submachine gun] and sprayed his pursuers with bullets," said Barrett-Jackson in a statement.

The once bloodstained Ford was restored in 2007 to appear in Public Enemies, preserving the original bullet holes. The auction house says the car includes meticulous documentation, including "transfer paperwork, articles, books, before-restoration photographs and a selection of documents copied from the federal files."

Inside Line says: One of the showstoppers at Barrett-Jackson's January event and a must-have for fans of the infamous gangster. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent