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Lombard plans to sell ‘Rory McIlroy car’ on eBay

The unmarked Lombard police car used to rush European golfer Rory McIlroy to his game-changing performance on the final day of the Ryder Cup in Medinah is heading to the auction block.

A recently approved update to Lombard’s vehicle use policy clears the way for the car to be sold early next year on eBay.com.

The village decided to sell the vehicle in a more public fashion than usual after Deputy Chief Pat Rollins used it to get McIlroy to the course in time to avoid disqualification during the September tournament.

“Since it’s drawing so much attention,” Village Manager David Hulseberg said in October, “we figure we have nothing to lose by putting it out there for any European or anyone who would like to buy the car and do whatever they would like with it.”

Lombard’s updated policy allows employees to commute to work in village-owned vehicles as long as they reimburse the village for commuting more than four miles past Lombard’s limits.

Rollins lives about 10 miles past village limits and commutes in his squad car because he needs a village vehicle at all times to respond to emergencies. Some trustees said last month they were concerned about the 81,000 miles he put on the 2005 Ford Crown Victoria.

Hulseberg said trustees needed to address concerns about commuting mileage before selling the navy blue, unmarked squad and buying a replacement.

The updated policy was approved unanimously last week, and Rollins’ next squad car, a $17,118 Ford Fusion Hybrid, has been ordered.

Public Works Director Carl Goldsmith said the Fusion is expected to arrive in mid-January and the Crown Vic can be auctioned.

Instead of using an ordinary auction, Goldsmith said the village intends to have its auction house place the car for sale online because of the attention it drew during the Ryder Cup.

Officials said they have “no idea” how much the car will sell for.

“Anything above and beyond what we normally receive for a police vehicle of its kind would be a bonus to the village and the taxpayers,” Goldsmith said.

When European golfer Rory McIlroy believed his match was to tee off an hour later than its actual start time on the final day of the Ryder Cup, Rollins used his car to rush McIlroy to Medinah Country Club from the Westin hotel in Lombard in about 20 minutes.

The Europeans went on to win the tournament, thanks in part to McIlroy’s play.

Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.

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