At least it wasn’t a used hankie…
I’m always amazed at how much people will fork over for items previously owned (or simply touched) by a big name star. A stained dress, broken lipstick, old socks, an empty dog food container that bring in thousands of dollars at auction always makes me question the buyer’s sanity… and source of income.
But this next item is a bit easier to swallow: A classic Ferrari once owned by Steve McQueen sold for $2.31 million last night at auction.
According to reports, an anonymous car collector threw out the winning bid (via phone) and now McQueen’s 1963 Ferrari Berlinetta Lusso is his (or hers). The rare car drew more than 800 people to the auction and reportedly sparked a bidding war. (The car’s estimated pre-sale price was $800,000.)
As you probably gathered the reason the car sold for more than $1 million was because of its previous owner’s status.
“I couldn’t be happier for the car and the legacy of Steve McQueen,” the car’s seller, who restores vintage vehicles, told reporters. “Without his ownership, it never would have received this value.”
McQueen died in 1980, at the ago of 50. But before he did he starred in such films as “The Great Escape,””Bullitt,””Le Mans” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.” The actor got the Ferrari as a gift from his first wife; he then special-ordered the Lusso’s brown metallic paint and beige leather interior.
Another piece of pop culture memorabilia raking in the dough is not nearly as large as McQueen’s Ferrari. In fact, it’s so small it could fit on the tip of your finger.
But as one Elvis fan can tell you, big things come in small packages. It’s the rationale one Wisconsin dentist is using to justify purchasing an unusual bit of Elvis memorabilia – a porcelain crown that covered a gap in the King’s teeth and the plaster mold used to make it.
The crown came with affidavits from the Presley family dentist and a signed letter from Elvis’ manager, Joe Esposito.
Lewis Weiss said his father took care of Elvis’ teeth and kept a mold and spare crown in case the singer needed one in an emergency. According to Weiss, that happened in February 1971, when Elvis cracked his crown on a microphone while performing in Las Vegas.
After Elvis took the spare crown, Weiss’ father reportedly made another. The same one that was just sold to the Wisconsin dentist who admits he spent a bundle on the artifacts, though wouldn’t reveal the exact amount.