celebrity cars

A 1978 Ferrari 512BB Berlinetta Boxer owned by British Formula One driver Jenson Button is to be sold by Bonhams at its sale of Collectors' Motor Cars at the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK on the 11th of April. The car, which was bought last year by Button, the then-reigning Formula One World Champion, has attracted a pre-sale estimate of up to $180,000.

The Husqvarna 400CR motorcycle pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August 1971 ridden by Steve McQueen, aka The King of Cool, will be auctioned off on May 14 at Quail Lodge in Carmel, California during Bonhams' sale of Exceptional Motorcycles & Related Memorabilia. McQueen's favorite motorcycle for a number of years, which he rode at the Elsinore Grand Prix among other events, it's sure to fetch a significant amount. The bike is featured prominently in the cool new edition of McQueen's Machines: The Cars and Bikes of a Hollywood Icon from Motorbooks.

The Husqvarna was originally purchased from the Steve McQueen Estate Sale in 1984 at Harrah's Auto Collection in Las Vegas. In addition to being impeccably restored and fully documented it comes with a wooden trunk marked "Husky" full of accessories. More McQueen ephemera will be offered at the sale including numerous racing trophies won by the legend of the silver screen and die-hard motorbike enthusiast. As we reported on March 10, McQueen's 1970 Porsche 911 is also headed for auction this summer.

Our favorite blueblooded British stunner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (above) turned heads and set pulses racing at the Daytona 500 recently where she put in an appearance as a Grand Marshall alongside her Transformers 3 colleagues Josh Duhamel and Michael Bay. The modified NASCAR stock cars of drivers Jimmie Johnson, Juan Pablo Montoya, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – featured as characters in the film – made their first public appearance at the event as well leading the 43-car field during the pace laps of the kick-off event to the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. In 2009 the movie's director Michael Bay piloted the official pace car at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race to promote the DVD release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and credits his vision to include NASCAR stock cars in the new Transformers film to the experience.

Some of the most precious gems in famed fashion designer Ralph Lauren's incredible car collection will be exhibited for the the first time ever in Paris this spring. Lauren's collection, in our opinion the finest one in private hands on the planet, features impeccable examples of the rarest and most valuable vehicles in the world. We can reveal exclusively that four of his exquisite automotive works of art, which have never before been seen in public, will be on view at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris from April 28 – August 28: a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM; a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti; a 1956/1958 Jaguar XKSS; and a 1931 Alfa Romeo Monza 8C 2300.

13 other Lauren cars will also be on display during the exhibit, entitled The Art of the Automobile: Masterpieces from the Ralph Lauren Collection, including an amazing 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa (above), a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and a 1938 Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic Coupé. The last two alone are worth about $30 – $40 million each, and are among the world's most expensive cars. The Paris exhibit will focus on European models created between the 1930s and the 1990s, "illustrating the evolution of car design in the 20th Century." They were selected by curator Rodolphe Rapetti and will be arranged by scenographer Jean-Michel Wilmotte, with the "kinetics" and sound of the vehicles conveyed by means of various films and recordings. The museum will also be producing a luxe book to celebrate the occasion.

As part of the 125th anniversary celebrations for Mercedes-Benz, a 1965 Mercedes 600 Pullman landaulet (above) custom built for Pope Paul VI will be on display at the 16th Annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Florida on March 11–13. The historic vehicle is making its first appearance on U.S. soil as part of a featured Class of Mercedes-Benz 600s at the prestigious event. The 600 Pullman was originally presented in September 1963 at the Frankfurt International Motor Show and quickly became the vehicle of choice among the world's wealthy elite; in addition to the Pope, Elvis Presley, John Lennon, Hugh Hefner and Coco Chanel owned one. The luxe limousine was equipped with Mercedes' first ever V-8 able to reach 0-62 mph in 10 seconds.

This vehicle built for the Pope was specially constructed with an individual seat for the pontiff that could be raised and lowered during the car's procession through crowded streets. An elevated roof, extended rear doors, and raised floor were also fitted along with other special equipment such as bulletproof glass. Over two decades, the car was used by three popes including John Paul I and John Paul II and was returned to Mercedes-Benz's Stuttgart, Germany headquarters in 1985. It comes to Amelia courtesy of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart where it is one of many famous and priceless cars in its collection.

Land Rover and Range Rover added an extra dose of style to two of Fashion Week's hottest shows with a fleet of vehicles for VIPs. The new Land Rover LR4 was the starring attraction at the Rag & Bone show in Soho, sponsored by the famed UK SUV marque, where beauties like model Jessica Stam (above) and Mad Men's Jon Hamm made the scene. And at the presentation by Marchesa, designed by Georgina Chapman, Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports provided luxe transportation for the likes of actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Michele Trachtenberg, musician Eve, socialite and TV personality Olivia Palermo, and model Irina Lazareanu. At both venues the vehicles sported the designer's logos, and when lined up impressively outside got nearly as much attention as the scenesters themselves.

"Land Rover is expanding its marketing profile with, for the first time, supporting a fashion house, Rag & Bone, during New York Fashion Week," noted Stuart Schorr, vice president of communications and public affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America. "The Rag & Bone brand, led by Marcus Wainwright and David Neville, is admired for its refined and versatile aesthetic. Both Land Rover and Rag & Bone were born in England and enjoy massive global appeal. The Land Rover LR4 has evolved a distinct design heritage that is rooted in both authentic luxury and rugged capability. Similarly, through Rag & Bone, Marcus and David have established a legacy through high levels of skill and craftsmanship." Might we dare to hope for a Ltd. Rag & Bone Edition LR4 edition in the near future....?

If Winston Churchill's dentures go for £40,000, how much is his car worth? We'll find out on Dec. 4 when the UK's Historics at Brooklands auctions off this gorgeous 1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupé that the great statesmen used on several occasions before and after the Great War. The auction house has conservatively estimated it at £200,000 – £250,000, or about $325,000 – $400,000, but it could well fetch much more. One of only eight built and the only known surviving example, it comes with numerous photographs of Churchill perched on the rear seat. Finished in smashing silver over black coachwork with a contrasting three-position cabriolet hood in a rich chocolate, it has a luxurious dark green leather interior and wooden dashboard. It also features a full set of Jaeger LeCoultre instruments.

A rare 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder (above) formerly owned by both baseball great Reggie Jackson and famed daredevil Evel Knieval is expected to fetch up to $1 million at RM Auctions' annual Automobiles of Arizona sale in Phoenix on January 20 – 21. The car is one of a number of stunning Ferraris on offer in the stunning auction taking place at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (previewed by my colleague Noah Joseph), including a gorgeous 1966 Ferrari Superfast Series I, estimated at $900,000 – $1 million; a fully-restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter Berlinetta, est. $400,000 – $600,000; a well-known 1995 Ferrari F50 Show Car, est. $600,000 – $800,000, the very first F50 built; and a stunning jet black 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC. Other classic European thoroughbreds set to cross the block include a 1921 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Phaeton, est. $350,000 – $475,000; a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Sport Phaeton, est. $300,000 – $450,000; and a 1958 Aston Martin DB2 Mark III, est. $200,000 – $250,000.

Back in June we reported on the historic offering of the iconic 1964 Aston Martin DB5 driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in Goldfinger during RM Auctions' upcoming Automobiles of London sale on Oct. 27. Now another eye-catching Goldfinger vehicle has just joined the lineup: famed Bond Girl Pussy Galore's 1960 Hiller UH -12 E4 helicopter (above). Expected to fetch up to $650,000, the historic aircraft has been completely restored to the highest standards and is in full flying condition. Also up for sale is the 1998 Jaguar XKR driven in the famous ice hotel chase scene by the villain Zao in 2002's Die Another Day. The car, fitted out with some wicked "weapons systems", is currently the property of the Jaguar Heritage Trust and is estimated at up to $55,000.

A 1962 AC Aceca Coupe (above), once owned by James Bond's creator Ian Fleming, will be offered by Bonhams at its Goodwood Revival sale in Sussex, UK on Sept. 17. One of only six surviving Ford-powered Acecas in the world, the dashing sports car worthy of 007 has attracted a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 – $200,000. The two-seater, which is dark blue with a burgundy leather interior, was purchased by Fleming the year he wrote The Spy Who Loved Me. Also on offer at the auction is a 1988 Jaguar XJ-S V12 Convertible that belonged to Sarah, Duchess of York, estimated at $30,000 – $38,000, though the highlight is undoubtedly a 1953 Jaguar C-Type, the same make and model that won Le Mans 24-Hours race twice in 1951 and 1953, which could fetch up to $1.5 million. Extensively restored between 1985 and 1991 it's described as "outstandingly usable and potentially extremely competitive." See the gallery for pix.

A stunning 1966 Aston Martin DB6 that belonged to singer and movie star Bing Crosby will be auctioned off during Mecum Auctions' sale on August 14 at the Hyatt Regency in Monterey, California during Monterey Classic Car Week. The mint condition car features an original black leather interior and cherry wood steering wheel and new silver paint, while some mechanicals have been rebuilt to original specifications. The left hand drive beauty is powered by the famed British marque's 4 liter OHC straight 6 engine rated at 282 hp. Mecum have not released an estimate on the vehicle, but a copy of the title with Bing Crosby's name on it is included with the winning bid.

The other day we told you about the Sultan of Brunei's incredible 7,000-strong, multi-billion dollar car collection, boasting among other things some 450 Ferraris. Apparently the collection has been reduced by at least one – the filthy rich ruler's custom 1996 Ferrari F50 has just been listed for sale via global online luxury marketplace JamesList. The price is undisclosed but we expect the rare auto, one of only two right hand drive factory-built F50's in existence, to be worth at least $1 million. Custom made for the Sultan, one of only 359 F50s ever produced, it has 5,000 miles on it. The F50's V12 engine kicks out 513 hp at 8,500 rpm with a torque of 470 nM. It does 0–60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 202 mph. Don't worry too much about the Sultan losing one the prize pieces from his collection, however; according to reports he should still have two more F50s in the garage – not to mention the 600 Rolls-Royces....

As Autoblog mentioned previously, a 1960 Lincoln Mark V limo belonging to Elvis Presley will be on the block at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 14-22. That lot isn't the only music-related car up for bid. Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar from Van Halen are putting some of their cars on the block. The car shown here is Sammy Hagar's 1967 Shelby GT500. It was rebuilt in 1992/93 and has a solid lifter 427 Tunnel Port motor and Detroit locker. Sammy Hagar is including with this car one of his personal guitars and a signed case of Cabo Wabo Tequila in the trunk.

Whose baby is this? According to the eBay auction listing, this 2002 360 Spider was the toy of a "very famous" TV star. The car was driven under 7,000 miles and has a Formula 1 transmission and shiny chrome wheels. Last time we checked bids were hovering around $156,000.