Marlene Dietrich's Rolls Royce Phantom rolls into Bonhams' Scottdale auction

Marlene Dietrich was a world famous actress and singer who was named as being the ninth greatest female film star of all time by the American Film Institute a few years after her death in 1992.

Now, Bonhams has announced the Scottsdale Sale of Exceptional Motorcars on January 19th, 2012 in Scottsdale, Arizona, with one of the star lots being a prize piece of Dietrich memorabilia.

For its first-ever automotive sale during the famous Scottsdale Car Week, Bonhams has teamed up with the exclusive AAA Four Diamond Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in the heart of Scottsdale, near Phoenix.

Highlights of the sale include Marlene Dietrich's former 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformable Convertible Sedan that is estimated to sell for $300,000-400,000.

Marlene Dietrich former 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom
Marlene Dietrich's 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom

The screen goddess' personal car was a gift to her by director Josef von Sternberg of Paramount Studios in likely tribute to her role as 'femme fatale' Lola Lola in the classic German/English film Der Blaue Engel.

Von Sternberg also collaborated with Dietrich in the movie Morocco, in which this very car is featured.

A 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow owned by pop culture icon Andy Warhol is estimated to sell for $40,000-60,000.

Warhol, perhaps the most famous artist of the 20th Century, whose paintings can command $100-million, purchased the Silver Shadow new and owned it until his untimely death, 13 years later, in 1987.

Sold by the artist's family approximately a year after his passing, the Rolls-Royce has only had two subsequent owners and comes with a copy of the original New York Certificate of Title bearing Warhol's name.

Further highlights include a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan (est. $650,000-750,000), a 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8 Torpedo Tourer with custom coachwork by Carrozzeria Sala that has been the subject of a professional 4,000-hour restoration (estimated $425,000-525,000) and a 1932 Packard Model 904 Custom Convertible Victoria with coachwork by Dietrich ($600,000-700,000).

Adding to their roster of successful motorcar auctions in the US - not to mention around the world - is a natural succession for Bonhams' renowned motoring department.

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams CEO in New York comments, "The new Scottsdale sale will be a worthy and welcome addition to our worldwide portfolio of blue ribbon sales and has been much anticipated by international collectors for quite some time.

"It is a pleasure indeed to make this announcement and we look forward to working with the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa."

High quality pieces of memorabilia related to both Warhol and the history of film are highly coveted. We are particularly proud to be offering Andy Warhol's very own black polo neck jumper from our stock. That's right - it's available right now!

From the world of film, we have previously sold the autographs of the likes of Ingrid Bergman and Bette Davis, and now have this signed photograph of Hollywood couple Bebe Daniels & Ben Lyon for sale.


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