Fillmore County Flashback – Always Go Forward – Preston’s “Two-Headed” Car

By Joanne Hall

Preston Historical Society

In 1965, LaVern Knoepke, who worked at Jerry’s Body Shop in Preston, was approached by the Preston Booster Club with the idea of making a “clown car” for parades.  There were several of the same type of “clown cars” at that time, so they were looking for something a little different.  It is not clear who suggested the idea of a “two-headed car,” but it probably was the result of a few local men discussing the ideas. 

Clyde Boysen worked at the National Bushing and Parts store in Preston – a car parts supplier for the area.  Clyde is remembered as one who helped LaVern with the engine construction of the car.  

It took about five weeks to build the vehicle.  The two front halves were 1952 Oldsmobiles and welded together to provide the body of the car. The first half originated from a junk yard and the second half was LaVern and Betty Knoepke’s wedding car.  The rear end drive was from a 1947 Dodge power wagon. There was one engine and one accelerator in the front.  It could be steered from either end in order to go in a circle or parallel park the vehicle. The rear steering could be locked with a pin so the vehicle could only be steered from the front and driven safely down the highway. There were flip-out taillights on one end of the vehicle.  

Motorists who encountered the “two-headed car” on the highway en route to parade sites were more than startled!  LaVern painted the car and Allen Rustad did the lettering on the sides. It was used as a parade entry in many events around the area for several years before it was “lost.”  

The car was resurrected and repaired for the Preston “Coming Home” celebration parade in 2005, but it only ran from the fairgrounds to the Fillmore Street east bridge before the journey ended.  It didn’t complete the anticipated parade appearance, to the disappointment of many.  The car was eventually purchased by Jon Haugen of Preston.  He donated it to the Preston Historical Society in 2021. It is now located in Preston at the Depot Museum and Riverfront Center – not far from the Fillmore Street bridge, where its last run ended.