A beautiful Sendanca de Ville Rolls-Royce, which was commissioned for the then Lady Astor at the height of the Great Depression in America, is to auction this afternoon (January 17) at Bonhams, Arizona.
The elegant cherry and cream coloured Roller carries a $100,000-140,000 estimate ahead of the sale, which is also featuring two 1941 Lincolns that starred in 1972's The Godfather, as well as the Oldenberg car collection.
 The luxurious car was fitted with all mod cons, including an early radio in the plush back compartment |
Nancy Astor, Britain's first female MP to take her seat in the House of Commons, specified that a number of luxurious flourishes be added to the car during the commissioning process in 1935, which included having one of the earliest car radios fitted in the back compartment.
Bonhams' motoring specialist Rupert Banner told the UK's Daily Mail newspaper: "Lady Astor was well known for her wealth and her ability to purchase these very extravagant things.
"This Rolls-Royce was pretty much one of the best cars money could buy back in 1935 and this vehicle was the ultimate luxury of its day.
"It was big and luxurious and had a seven litre engine and was a great way to travel across the country in comfort. This would not have been used to drive around town."
Luxury cars with celebrity ex-owners have previously put in strong performances at auction. Freddie Mercury's Rolls-Royce brought £74,000 ($119,401) on January 12, making a 572.7% increase on its $11,000 high estimate, while a Rolls-Royce associated with the late Princess Diana's 1985 US visit sold for $122,322 in an eBay charity auction in November 2012.
A classic car provides an investment where you can fully enjoy your purchase without significantly diminishing its value. For more information on the market, visit our free guide to investing in classic cars.
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