Auctions America’s eagerly awaited California sale to be held July 17-18 at the historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica

• Auctions America’s eagerly awaited California sale to be held July 17-18 at the historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica
• Multi-day event presents diverse roster of 300 quality collector cars and select memorabilia
• Latest highlights led by an exquisite 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster
• Auction features series of cars with important and celebrity provenance, including a pair of former Presidential parade limousines
• Full event details and digital catalog available online at http://bit.ly/1f1zbrf

CULVER CITY, California (July 1, 2015) – With just over two weeks until the return of Auctions America’s California sale, July 17-18, the team is busy with final preparations for what is sure to be a thrilling event. Held at the historic Barker Hangar in Santa Monica  - a venue that plays host to some of southern California’s most exclusive events – the upcoming auction will lift the gavel on a diverse roster of approximately 300 collector vehicles and select memorabilia.

“We’ve received tremendous early interest in this year’s Santa Monica sale, and are proud to be presenting our finest California offering to date. From early Brass era cars to coachbuilt European classics and sports cars, American muscle, customs and a terrific selection of contemporary supercars, the offering truly spans the spectrum of the market,” says Alexander Weaver, Car Specialist, Auctions America. “Attendees can also expect to see a number of vehicles with interesting histories and provenance, such as a pair of former Presidential parade limousines, as well as a select assortment of motor cars with Hollywood ties – a great fit to the sale’s SoCal venue.”

Leading an impressive string of recently confirmed entries is an exquisite 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, a model that represented the height of luxury and sporting elegance in period. Set to make its auction debut in Santa Monica, the 540K recently underwent a five-year, frame-off restoration by marque specialists, and is beautifully presented in a metallic wine red paint, representing Mercedes’ color of the period, with a tan leather interior. In its first showing since restoration, its stunning color and sweeping lines earned it ‘Best of Show’ at the Forest Grove Concours d’Elegance. More recently, it received the ‘Most Glamourous Car’ award at the Niello Concours at Serrano (Estimate Available upon Request).

“Combining sheer beauty with outstanding performance, nothing compares with the Mercedes-Benz 540K supercars of the 1930s. Dripping with elegance, they are fantastic cars to drive and their supercharged engines provide great power for cruising the countryside or for keeping up at speed on the autobahns as they were intended,” comments Matt Malamut, Car Specialist, Auctions America. “The example on offer is a stunning display of design and craftsmanship, and with the model seldom publicly offered for sale, it represents a very special ownership opportunity”.

The Special Roadster leads a group of no less than 22 Mercedes-Benz automobiles handpicked for  this month’s sale, spanning 68 years of production. Also taking center stage in Santa Monica is a matching-numbers 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, previously enjoyed by several notable former owners, including legendary Hollywood studio executive Ned Stone Tanen of MCA Records (Est. $1,200,000 - $1,500,000); and a meticulously presented 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster, stunning in Light Green Metallic paint and the recipient of a complete frame-off restoration by factory trained Mercedes-Benz experts in Germany (Est. $250,000 - $325,000).

Beyond Mercedes-Benz, the auction will present a broad variety of the world’s most admired marques, with over a century of automotive history set to go under the gavel. Reflecting the breadth of the offering, other recent entries include:

• a timeless, dark-blue with red interior 1967 Jaguar E-Type Series I 4.2 Roadster, one of no less than 13 Jaguars included in the sale and boasting incredible performance with looks to match (Est. $220,000 - $280,000);
• a highly desirable big-block 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Convertible, restored to NCRS standards and striking in Rally Red over red with black convertible top and black stinger (Est. $175,000 - $225,000);
• an iconic 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25^th Anniversary, one of the most widely recognized supercars ever produced and showing just 6,500 miles from new (Est. $350,000 - $380,000);
• an as-new 2003 Saleen S7, designed to run head-to-head with the world’s most exotic sports cars and presenting a rare opportunity to own of America’s first true supercars (Est. $350,000 - $400,000); and
• an all-original 2005 Ford GT in single-ownership from new and showing just 1,000 miles (Est. $275,000 - $350,000).

The two-day auction will also shine the spotlight on a number of vehicles with important ownership and celebrity provenance. Among highlights:

·        a pair of Presidential parade vehicles, including a 1962 Lincoln Continental Presidential Town Limousine,which in addition to President Kennedy and the First Lady, carried such passengers as Lyndon B. Johnson, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco (Est. $150,000 - $200,000); and, a 1955 Cadillac Series 75 Presidential Parade Limousine, specially ordered for Mamie Doud Eisenhower, the wife of the 34th President of the United States and used both daily and as a formal and parade vehicle when needed (Est. $100,000 – $150,000);

• an imposing 1917 Pierce-Arrow Model 48B Series Four-Passenger Touring, one of the finest automobiles in America for its time and first owned by Broadway legend, George M. Cohan (Est. $300,000 - $400,000);
• the unique 1955 Ford “Beatnik Bubbletop” Custom, a hot rod that started out as a 1954 Ford, and with great planning and execution was transformed into the world’s largest bubbletop custom car by Gary “Chopit” Fioto. Offered from the private collection of eclectic collector and star of A&E’s “Storage Wars”, Barry Weiss, this car is inspired by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s original “Beatnik Bandit” ($150,000 - $250,000);
• a remarkable 1941 Lincoln Continental Coupe, believed to have been previously owned by Hollywood actress and dancer, Rita Hayworth (Est. $150,000 - $200,000); and,
• a 1967 Shelby GT 500 ‘Eleanor’ Tribute Fastback, created for the hit movie Gone in 60 Seconds featuring Angelina Jolie & Nicolas Cage (Est. $90,000 - $120,000).

Auctions America’s California sale will be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, July 17 – 18 with a full-day preview on July 16. For further information or to view the digital catalog, please visit www.auctionsamerica.comor call toll free 888.990.3910 (or +1 310.842.3910 outside North America).

AUCTIONS AMERICA CALIFORNIA – EVENT DETAILS

Sale dates:                             July 17 - July 18, beginning at 10:00am PT            

Preview dates:                      July 16, doors open at 10am PT

     July 17 - July 18, doors open at 9am PT

Location:                               Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90405

Admission:                            $20 for a weekend pass (July 16-18)

Digital catalog:                     http://www.auctionsamerica.com/catalog/2015/CA15/