Sandra West's eccentric Ferrari burial still a spectacle in San Antonio after nearly 40 years

A 1964 powder blue Ferrari 330 America is buried at a historic cemetery on San Antonio's East Side, but the concrete box that the classic sports car is entombed in is not alone.

Sandra West, a wealthy Beverly Hills socialite whose 1977 death made national headlines, was buried in the front seat of the Italian supercar in an elegant, white nightgown.

West, who requested the eccentric burial, lies near her oil tycoon husband Ike West at the Alamo Masonic Cemetery at 800 Center Street.

The bizarre burial gained national attention in 1977, after Sandra West overdosed from prescription pills, though conflicting reports say she died due to complications of a car accident.

In her will written four years prior, she requested that she be buried inside the car “with the seat slanted comfortably,” according to original reports.

At the time of her death, she lived among the rich and famous in Beverly Hills and was worth $5 million that was inherited from her husband after he died in 1968.

She and her prized Ferrari were flown to San Antonio to prepare for the unconventional burial at the historic cemetery two months later.

More than 300 guests visited the cemetery on May 18, 1977, as a crane placed the box into a grave measuring 19 feet long, 10 feet wide and 9 feet deep. Once the box was inside the grave, crews covered it with cement to discourage potential looters.

“I just wanted to see how it was done,” one guest told the United Press International, according to an article by The Register-Guard. “If you can afford it, why not?”

Almost 40 years later, the site has been visited by thousands of history buffs and sightseers hoping to catch a glimpse of the grassy patch that covers the mysterious coffin. Even so, the cemetery is a stop on many tours, including the San Antonio Neighborhood Tours, Eastside Cemeteries Tour and Go! Historic SA Guided Running and Walking Tour.

Other prominent residents include Clara Driscoll, who helped preserve The Alamo in the 1900s; John Lang Sinclair, composer of the “The Eyes of Texas,” the school song for the University of Texas; and Robert H.H. Hugman, designer of the River Walk.

rsalinas@mysa.com

Editor's note: This story is one in a continuing series celebrating the 150th anniversary of the San Antonio Express-News. To commemorate the milestone, mySA.com is looking back at the city's rich history with stories, photos, video and graphics, remembering some of the most noteworthy events that have taken place or were covered by this publication during those 150 years. To read more stories like this, visit the 150th anniversary section of mySA.com or the 150th anniversary section of ExpressNews.com.