GEORGE BARRIS CUSTOMIZED SONNY & CHER MUSTANGS OFFERED AT RM’S COLLECTOR CARS OF FLORIDA EVENT

RM Auctions will offer a star-studded line-up of classic cars at their ‘Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale’ Florida auction event in February.  In addition to a magnificent collection of desirable classics, fast sports cars and exotic muscle cars, the February event will shine the spotlight on  a series of celebrity cars including the Sonny and Cher Mustangs and the famous black Lamborghini Countach as featured in the hit movie ‘The Cannonball Run’.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (November 18, 2008) –   Preeminent international auction house, RM Auctions, will bring a touch of Hollywood excitement to Fort Lauderdale, February 6^th- 8^th, 2009, as a series of celebrity cars cross the block at the highly anticipated Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale auction event.

 Regarded as Florida’s premier collector car event, the annual three-day sale at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center has offered numerous examples of celebrity cars over the years, from several versions of the Batmobile to the ‘General Lee’ Dodge Charger from movie Dukes of Hazard. The 2009 event, presented by AutoNation, will continue the grand tradition as a host of celebrity cars are presented for auction alongside a magnificent line-up of desirable classics, fast sports cars and exotic muscle cars.

  “Over the years our Fort Lauderdale event has carved a reputation as Florida’s preeminent classic car event thanks to its ability to draw a wide range of motor cars and collectors from across the continent,” said RM’s Donnie Gould, a 30-year veteran of the classic car industry.

 “With over 450 cars set to cross the block, our 2009 event – proudly presented by AutoNation – is set to be another exciting motoring weekend and cater to every automotive taste,” he added.

 Two of the star attractions of the Fort Lauderdale event will be a matching pair of ‘his and hers’ 1966 Ford Mustang Convertibles. Plucked from the San Jose assembly line, the Ford Motor Company commissioned the legendary George Barris to personalize these cars to reflect the flamboyant onstage personas of sixties entertainment icons, Sonny and Cher. Sonny’s car was finished in Murano Gold Pearl, adorned by dark brown side panel and with an orange and gold fade-away treatment over the wheel wells and grille openings. In contrast, Cher’s Mustang featured a hot pink pearl finish, blended with candy red, deep red side panels and a matching fade-away treatment. Inside, Sonny’s Mustang was upholstered with Bobcat fun fur and antique buffed leather trimmed with rustic suede, while Cher’s car featured white Ermine fur and blank antique Scottish leather upholstery, trimmed in hot pink suede. Both cars were fitted with opulent three-inch long Mouton fur carpeting, Sonny’s in gold and Cher’s in hot pink.

Upon completion, the cars were used for publicity purposes before going on to appear in Sonny and Cher’s feature-length movie, Good Times. Following the movie’s wrap, Barris recalled the Mustangs to tour the car show circuit before they were returned to Sonny and Cher. They have since undergone a recent cosmetic restoration to return to their original 1966 condition. Their offering at the Fort Lauderdale event marks the first time they have come to market in 25 years and will feature a special guest appearance by George Barris himself.

Another famous Barris creation set for RM’s Fort Lauderdale auction block is the 1969Volkswagen “Fire Bug”. Built by George Barris and Dick Dean in the mid seventies as a parade and promotional vehicle for the LA Fire Department, the Fire Bug was based on a mid-1960s VW Microbus. The big budget project included flames, pin striping and artwork by Bob Bond.  After retiring from the fire department, the Barris Fire Bug went on to play a starring role in the Saturday morning TV show The Banana Splits.

The curtain is also set to rise at RM’s Fort Lauderdale event on the famous jet black 1980 Lamborghini LP400S “Cannonball Run” Countach. Introduced at the 1978 Geneva Motor Show, the LP400S Countach went on to be one of the world’s most iconic supercars. In 1981 this actual car was chosen to lead an all star line-up for the hit movie, The Cannonball Run, a madcap adventure about an illegal race of characters across America. Directed by veteran Hollywood stuntman Hal Needham and written by legendary automotive journalist Brock Yates, the movie starred Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Farrah Fawcett, Jackie Chan, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Roger Moore, Peter Fonda and the vivacious Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman as the Lamborghini team.  The screenplay was based on Yates' actual series of real life Cannonball Run adventures while he was editor at Car & Driver magazine.  Of only 105 of this series built, this one being a rare two-owner car from new, has been passionately maintained and the star of several Hawaiian Tropic sponsored events.

In addition to all the auction excitement, RM will join forces with AutoNation and Heritage Fort Lauderdale during the Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event weekend for the inaugural Wheels fundraising benefit. To also be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center and coinciding with the opening night of the auction, this exciting charity gala on February 6^th will provide guests with a flashback to the days of chrome, steel, and whitewall tires as they party among the cars of the fifties and sixties. The evening will feature an exciting silent auction, along with a fifties inspired menu and entertainment. All proceeds from the charity auction will benefit Heritage Fort Lauderdale, incorporating Stranahan House, the Historical Society, the Seminole Museum at Okalee and the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

RM’s Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale auction event will be held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 6^th – 8^th, 2009. The event will open with a public preview on Thursday February 5th beginning at 9am and continuing through the weekend. The auction begins on Friday February 6th from 3pm until 9pm, Saturday February 7th from 10am until 9pm, and Sunday February 8th from 10am until 6pm. Admission to the sale is $20 for a day pass and $50 for a weekend pass.

The Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event will be closely followed by RM’s annual Automobiles of Amelia Island auction at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel on March 14^th, 2009.

 For further information, please visit www.rmauctions.com or call 800-980-7635 or +1-954-566-2209. For further information on the Wheels fundraising benefit, please call Stranahan House on +1-954-524-4736.

About RM Auctions, Inc.

Celebrating nearly 30 years in the collector car industry, Canadian-based RM Auctions Inc. and its associated companies are responsible for acquisitions, restorations and sales of the world’s rarest and most valuable vintage automobiles, including record-breaking sales in Maranello, Italy and London, England. RM’s restoration division achieved unprecedented accolades in 2006, when the Company earned “Best of Show” honors at the world’s top three collector car events in a single year.