![]() That's a hefty celebrity premium, but for fans of the famous sex symbol and of 1950s pop culture more broadly, it doesn't get much better than this. That's against a current market value of $76,000 for a 1956 Thunderbird in #1 condition, according to the Hagerty Price Guide. The pre-auction selling-price estimate is $300,000 to $500,000. Its black exterior is complemented by a black-and-white two-seat interior, period-correct wide whitewall tires, a black soft top, and a black hard top with a porthole window (which was new for '56). The car appears to be in excellent condition. Monroe died in August of that year at age 36. ![]() In 1962, after owning the car for eight years, Monroe gave the T-Bird as a birthday present to Jason Strasberg, the son of director Lee Strasberg, who was also Monroe's acting coach. Photos show Marilyn waving from the passenger seat with her husband at the time, playwright Arthur Miller, at the wheel, and the auction company reports that the pair drove the car to their wedding ceremony in 1956. Monroe's ownership is documented, and according to information provided by the auction company, she bought the car in 1955, perhaps as a gift to herself on the release of The Seven Year Itch. Specifically, Marilyn Monroe owned a Raven Black '56 T-Bird, and that car is now headed to auction this November as part of Julien's Auctions Icons & Idols: Hollywood. Today, both the T-Bird and the platinum-blonde movie star are among the most enduring pop icons of the '50s. Ford's original, first-generation T-Bird roadster, which debuted for 1955 and was produced through 1957, was one of the sexiest cars of its time, and Monroe was the pre-eminent sex symbol. Of course Marilyn Monroe drove a Ford Thunderbird. This iconic 1956 Ford Thunderbird is a distinctive icon and has all the features you love about the first-generation T-bird. That's not far from the most valuable Thunderbird ever sold: the first 'Bird to roll off the production line in 1954 sold for $660,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2009. It was a two-seater Thunderbird, but it was completely stripped down to bare metal and looked like the hulk of a car.UPDATE 11/19/18: Marilyn Monroe's Ford Thunderbird sold at auction last week for $490,000, almost reaching the Julien auction firm's top estimate of $500,000. But, when the cover came off, what was under the cover was a shock. Once the work was completed, he called his friends together for a great unveiling. To make sure his new purchase would be ready for road trips, Dan took the car to Jellybean Autocrafters for service and improvements. The acquisition of the Thunderbird would be dedicated to her memory. I called back two days later to discover the car was sold.”īoth Dan’s parents passed away in the last two years and fulfilment of his mother’s dream became a cause for Dan. ![]() “The owner and I were one hundred dollars apart and no one would give way. ![]() “I was serious about a light blue 1957 Thunderbird before I bought the Corvette,” Dan recalls. ![]() The Thunderbird Green, or Sage Green, paint job was done later in its life and was treated to a professional re-application only five years ago. For example, the fog lights were integrated into where the dual bullets were in the front grille. The Corvette means a lot to him because his mother was hoping he would buy an early two-seat Thunderbird – the car she always wanted. This 1956 Thunderbird was first restored approximately 25 years ago and includes a few upgrades. He keeps the car in top condition and it will never leave him. Collector Classics: 1966 Ford Thunderbird convertibleĭan is well known for owning his 1959 Corvette for more than half a century and driving it 450,000 miles on trips all over North America. ![]()
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