Monroe T-Bird sells for AU$620K

As previewed in JUST CARS #274, the car was bought new by ‘Marilyn Monroe Productions’ in December, 1955, and came highly specified with the ‘power pack’ 312ci V8, Fordomatic auto, power assistance for the steering and brakes, electric windows and power-operated seats.

Finished in Raven Black with a complementary soft top and removable hardtop with the distinctive porthole windows, the car was reportedly driven personally by Monroe on a number of occasions before it was gifted by the Hollywood star to a colleague’s son in 1962.

The car was restored by the consignor, but the ‘touch points’ were reportedly left unrestored before it came to the Julien’s Auctions ‘Icons & Idols: Hollywood’ sale on 16-17 November: the first time the car had been offered at auction.

With a broad pre-auction estimate of US$250,000 – US$500,000, the restored Thunderbird came close to exceeding that mark when it sold for US$490,000 (AU$620,650 approx.).

The hammer price is the highest achieved by a Thunderbird of any type for some time, but the top price still belongs to the first production Thunderbird from 1955, which sold for US$660,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2009.

While hardly in the league of the Monroe T-Bird, other vehicle consignments from this auction included a modified 1946 Willys-Overland Jeep belonging to Roy Rogers that sold for US$38,400 (AU$48,650 approx.) and a 2009 Nissan GT-R Premium Edition formerly belonging to Patrick Swayze that was passed in.

For full results and further details, go to: juliensauctions.com