Celebrity Cars on the Auction Block: Exploring the Fascinating World of Celebrity-Owned Vehicles
No one has as much money to spend on cars as celebrities, and having a lot of money means they can buy and sell some of the wildest cars ever produced. While most people drive practical cars like those you might buy at local car auctions, others are drawn to the outrageous and expensive ones.
Celebrity Car Auctions
Here are some of the most recent celebrity cars to have hit the auction block in recent history:
2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition – John Mayer, Seller
Singer/songwriter John Mayer recently auctioned off his 3,460-mile Ford GT, one of 343 Heritage editions made, at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. The car went for $594,000 as Lot #1397.
1968 Ford Mustang “Black Hornet” – Carroll Shelby, Seller
It almost doesn’t seem right that Carroll Shelby has a car as slick as the Black Hornet, but even worse is that he decided to sell it. It’s a 4-speed manual with a 428ci V8 and painted a very high gloss black with a black interior. It was initially a tribute to the Green Hornet, only in black and has no fuel injection or indie rear suspension. It went for $451,000 as Lot #1348, also at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction.
2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Convertible – Rod Stewart, Seller
Only 448 Barchetta 550s were made, and singer Rod Stewart owned one of them. This car was sold with all of the extras like tools, books, covers, and helmets. An authorized dealer had recently serviced it, and it sold for $374.000. It was Lot #1415 at the same Scottsdale auction.
1961 VW Microbus with 23 Windows – Will Ferrell, Seller
This green and white original Volkswagen 23-window Microbus had been fully restored, and everything was upgraded before it went to auction. It had around 1,000 miles on it since it had been restored. It hammered at $192,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction—Lot #1061.
1971 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda Re-Creation – Alan Jardine, Seller
The co-founder of the Beach Boys, Alan Jardine, parted with his freshly rebuilt 1971 ‘Cuda equipped with a Shaker hood, Wilwood brakes, 727 transmission, and 426ci engine. It was Lot #1122.1 at the same auction as above, and went for $99,000.
2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – General Colin L. Powell, Seller
This Stingray was equipped with a 6.2L V8, automatic transmission, and was owned by former U.S. Secretary of State and former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Powell. 100% of the proceeds from the auction at the Scottsdale location went to America’s Promise Alliance. It sold for $220,000; Lot #3003
Other auctions included two cars owned by Simon Cowell, a 1969 Camaro once owned by Kyle Busch, a slingshot custom roadster, and a Shelby Super Snake.
Celebrity-Owned Car Allure
Fans like to own things that their favorite celebrity owned. Cars are no different than any other memorabilia. Buying a car that was once driven by your favorite actor, musician, or any other icon adds excitement and profit for collectors.
Historical Significance
A celebrity-owned vehicle can carry a rich history that goes beyond the vehicle’s actual worth as a drivable machine. The car that James Dean drove is well known as the car he died in, for example. According to stories and some legends, the “Little Bastard” Porsche 550 Spyder has a long history of being tied to death and destruction.
Icons
Some celebrity cars, even if they didn’t own them directly, have made a mark on culture, like the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond, or the pink Cadillac that Elvis Presley owned. Both of these cars are instantly recognizable as representing a lifestyle or personality.
Customizing
Celebrities like to stand out and want their vehicles to do the same, so it’s no surprise that they like to customize. Modifications can be as simple as performance enhancements or as extravagant as paint jobs. Rapper 6ix9ine paint splattered his Lamborghini Urus, a $200,000 plus automobile.
Record-Breaking Auction Prices:
The auction block is where the true value of celebrity-owned cars is revealed. Bidders worldwide eagerly compete to claim a piece of automotive history. Some of these auctions have witnessed staggering prices, shattering previous records. The 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, owned by the racing driver and actor Paul Newman, fetched a mind-boggling $48.4 million at auction, making it one of the most expensive cars ever sold. Such astronomical prices underline the desirability and investment potential of these coveted vehicles.
The world of celebrity-owned cars is fun to visit, expensive to live in, and leaves a lasting impression on the rest of the world. These cars tell stories about the owners, and everyone likes a good celebrity story. If you want a little bit of celebrity gossip then spend some time reading about the cars they own and why they own them. Jay Leno’s garage is an excellent place to start. The former late-night talk show host and standup comedian owns 180 cars and 160 motorcycles. His collection is valued at over $52 000,000. He rarely sells his cars, so if you see him running a car through an auto auction then it’s sure to be a show to watch.
