Carters attend Peanut Festival in style with 1946 Ford convertible

What do you get a former president of the United States and his wife, who have everything?

How about a license plate?

Former President Jimmy Carter, 97, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, 95, made a surprise visit to the annual Plains Peanut Festival in style Saturday.

Riding in the back of a red 1946 Ford convertible, also known as a ragtop, the couple was the toast of the festival’s parade as they made their way through Plains.

“It was a surprise,” said Jill Stuckey, superintendent of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Site. “People were not planning on seeing them, because they don’t get out much. So everyone was delighted to see them and everyone had a blast.”

The Carters’ ride through town also had great points of symbolism.

The car was given to them in 2021 as a 75th wedding anniversary gift from country legends Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. It is similar to the car the couple rode off on for their honeymoon on July 7, 1946.

Earlier in the week, a member of Carter’s Secret Service detail was browsing eBay when he came across a 1976 license plate reading “46 RAG.” Besides 46 marking their wedding year, 1976 was also special, being the year when Carter was elected president.

He thought it would be perfect for Carter’s car, but didn’t know how to bid, so he told Stuckey, a self-proclaimed eBay expert.

Miraculously, the seller was located in Suwanee.

Stuckey purchased it for about $56 and on Thursday, Carter’s granddaughter drove the two hours to pick it up, rather than have it delivered.

Just in time for Saturday’s parade.

“What are the odds that you can find something like this?” Stuckey marveled. “And the Carters absolutely loved it!”