Texas oil heiress loved her Ferrari so much when she died in 1977 she was buried in it
Published on Aug 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 30, 2025 at 6:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
This Texas oil heiress loved her Ferrari so much that she was buried in it when she died in 1977.
Sandra Ilene West was married to Texas oil tycoon Ike West, who passed away in 1968 and left her more than $5 million.
In her will, Sandra requested that she be buried near her husband’s grave in a powder blue 1964 Ferrari 330 America.
When she passed away in 1977 at the age of 38, she got exactly what she’d asked for.
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This Texas oil heiress was buried in her Ferrari
Sandra Ilene West lived a relatively short life, but the way in which she was buried has made her a talking point for decades.
When the socialite and oil heiress passed away in 1977 at just 38, she’d put a very specific request into her will.
She wanted to be buried near her late husband’s grave and inside her Ferrari, with the ‘seat slanted comfortably’.
And that’s exactly what happened.
The car was flown out to San Antonio and was placed inside a giant crate.
Sandra, dressed in a white gown, was seated behind the steering wheel of the car.
After a crane lowered the crate inside the large grave, it was encased in concrete to deter grave robbers.
As you might expect, this extraordinary burial attracted a lot of attention.
The Express-News reported at the time that more than 300 people showed up to watch the crate being buried.
Even to this day, the grave is a notable mention on tours for visitors to San Antonio.
Other cars have gone underground in the past
While Sandra’s story is certainly distinctive, this isn’t the first time that a car has gone six feet under.
Two kids digging in an LA yard uncovered a buried Ferrari, while an American put his BMW underground for two years.
But that’s nothing compared to this Plymouth Belvedere, which spent 50 years underground.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
