Celebrity Cars Hit the Auction Block

The fifth annual Auctions America by RM Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event will include the sale of collector cars featuring celebrity provenance, including a 1957 Chrysler Imperial Convertible (estimate: $120,000 - $140,000) once owned by Howard Hughes, and the Batmobile (estimate: $200,000 - $275,000) from the 1995 film 'Batman Forever'.

These and some other 400 quality automobiles will go under the hammer at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center March 4 – 6, 2011.

"This year's Fort Lauderdale event is shaping up to be one of the best offerings in my 30 years of hosting collector car auctions in Florida," said Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America. "Over 100 of these high-quality cars are being offered without reserve and there truly is something for every collector's taste and budget."

A 1957 Chrysler Imperial Convertible is a rare find yet few, if any, have the celebrity status of the fine pastel blue example on offer in Fort Lauderdale next month. It was purchased new by the late Howard Hughes in 1957, driven for a short period of time and then stored until 1976 when it was purchased by the second owner.

The Batmobile featured in this sale was built as a promotional vehicle for Warner Brothers' 1995 epic 'Batman Forever', starring Val Kilmer. It is a running and driving example with a fiberglass body and a custom tubular chassis. It was used on various promotional tours around the world and was eventually acquired in 2007 by a well-known private collector.

“The Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale auction is known for its comprehensive offerings, spanning American classics, Detroit muscle and European sports cars,” a statement from the auction house reads.