AUBURN, IND.- Auctions America will shine a spotlight on an exciting series of celebrity rides when its annual California sale returns to Burbank, July 31 August 2. Leading a superb roster of cars with Hollywood pedigrees are comedian Lucille Balls 1988 Bentley Mulsanne S Saloon, British rock star Rod Stewarts former 1990 Ferrari F40, a 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 once owned by King of Cool Steve McQueen, and a 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible believed to have been used in the hit film Rain Man, starring Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman.
Comedic icon Lucille Ball and her husband, Gary Morton, purchased the 1988 Bentley Mulsanne S Saloon at Beverly Hills Rolls-Royce just one year before her death in 1989. Morton sold it to its next owner in 1991. Presented in impeccable condition, the car today boasts just over 30,000 original miles, and is estimated to fetch between $25,000-$35,000.
British singer/songwriter and car enthusiast Rod Stewart is said to be a former owner of the 1990 Ferrari F40 that will go across the auction block on August 2 at the Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel. Widely known around California as the Rod Stewart Car because of the rock legends former ownership, it shows just 7,900 original miles on its odometer (Est. $1,000,000-$1,300,000).
A 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 in Hugger Orange paint (the only known example delivered in this color) was owned by screen icon and car enthusiast Steve McQueen. Believed to have been gifted to McQueen by General Motors for promotional reasons, the legendary actor and racing car driver owned the El Camino from new until his untimely death in 1980. The vehicles second owner purchased the car from McQueens estate in the early 80s and kept the actors name on the title to preserve its ownership provenance. (Est. $100,000-$150,000).
Theres no better place to offer celebrity cars than here in Southern California, the home of Hollywood, and were excited to present a great roster of celebrity rides at our upcoming Burbank sale, says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, Auctions Americas West Coast Division. There is a natural fascination with celebrity cars and depending on the star, the ownership is a key part of the vehicles provenance, and can sometimes positively impact value.
Among others boasting Hollywood ties and slated for Auctions Americas Burbank auction podium are:
a 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible believed to have been featured in the 1988 Oscar-winning film Rain Man, starring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise (Est. $200,000-$300,000)
a black on black 1989 Ferrari Mondial T Cabriolet, originally owned by Michael Douglas first wife, Diandra Douglas, and boasting just over 19,400 miles (Est. $30,000-$50,000)
a 1997 BMW 850 CI Coupe once owned by Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 420SL Four-Door Sedan said to have been owned by baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio (Est. $18,000-$25,000)
a 1970 Jaguar E-Type Series II 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe, a historic L.A. car owned by the late, esteemed Los Angeles-based architect Edward H. Fickett, who designed Dodger Stadium, The Nethercut Museum and Edwards Air Force Base among others (Est. $30,000-$40,000)
a 1944 Ford GPW Jeep, formerly owned by Paramount Pictured and featured in several films, including Hell is for Heroes, starring Steve McQueen, as well as Is Paris Burning?, written by Gore Vidal and Francis Ford Coppola (Est. $35,000-$45,000)