B-J Vegas auction will have star power

Some serious star power figures to be on hand at the 2nd Annual Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Collector Car Auction, where Bruce Willis and Don Johnson will sell vehicles from their private collections; and the “Father of the Mustang,” Lee Iacocca, will provide an exclusive chance to own one of only 45 limited edition Ford Mustangs. In a special charity auction, legendary TV host Jay Leno will donate proceeds from the sale of a one-of-a kind Yamaha motorcycle to Bailey’s Café, an arts education program based in Brooklyn, NY.

Ranging from a Lincoln Limousine used during the filming of “Die Hard,” to a powerful off-road SUV, a total of six vehicles from the celebrities will all sell at No Reserve from Oct. 7 – 10, at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Because no collector car auction in Las Vegas would be complete without a nod to the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley fans will also have the chance to own a race car used in the iconic 1964 motion picture, “Viva Las Vegas.”

“The ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ is the perfect city to offer some of the most exciting celebrity vehicles we’ve ever had,” said Barrett-Jackson Chairman/CEO, Craig Jackson. “Not only are some of the cars famous in their own right after appearing in some legendary films – but many have additional significance for personal and charitable reasons.”

Willis will sell his 1967 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 and 1988 Lincoln Limousine.

The Copper Maroon 1967 Corvette convertible (Lot #659.3) features a powerful 427-cid, 435 horsepower Tri-Power engine with a 4-speed manual transmission. Willis purchased the car in El Paso, Texas, while filming “Last Man Standing.” He later shipped the car to Sun Valley, Idaho, to enjoy during summer trips.

Also a convertible, the black on black 1968 Pontiac Firebird (Lot #659.2) hails from Willis’ hometown of Penns Grove, N.J., where he used to drive to and from the Jersey Shore with his father. Originally used to take Willis to the set of his TV series “Moonlighting,” his dark blue 1988 Lincoln Limousine (Lot #659.1) was also used during the filming of the blockbuster movie, “Die Hard.”

“Bruce Willis has owned some great American iron,” said Jackson. “Cars like his 1967 Corvette and ’68 Firebird helped define an era of motoring in this country that was built around power. The Lincoln Limo also tells a story as it was used during Bruce’s most iconic film.”

Iacocca, known as the “Father of the Mustang,” presented the Ford Mustang to the world during a dramatic press conference at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Now, Iacocca is selling one of the most anticipated limited edition versions of this iconic classic, the No. 5 Iacocca Silver 45th Anniversary Edition Ford Mustang (Lot #3000).

One of only 45 to be built, and nearly two years in the making, the Iacocca Silver Edition Mustang is a collaborative effort by Iacocca, designer Michael Leone, and Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters. The car is custom-built by a team of artisans using composite construction laminates, a reinforced material from the aerospace industry. Under the hood is a specially equipped 550 horsepower engine featuring a Ford Racing polished Supercharger and a 5-speed manual transmission.

The exterior is painted in a specially created Iacocca silver hue, while the interior is resplendent with luxurious touches that highlight the car’s special heritage. These include Iacocca Diamond Design leather seats with embroidery stitching, an Iacocca signature dash plaque with serial number, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with “I” badge and Iacocca-badged aluminum door sill plates.

Leno will sell his Yahama Star V-Max motorcycle (Lot #761.1) to benefit Bailey’s Café. The educational program based in Brooklyn, NY, uses poetry, theater, video, writing, music, dance, cooking and fine arts to build community and inter-generational understanding and respect in inner-city neighborhoods.

“Bailey’s Café is a wonderful arts program,” said Leno. “Since I didn’t have any Yamaha musical instruments to auction off, I thought I’d sell my Star V-Max, which is made by Yamaha, to support the program.”

The 200-horsepower Star V-Max is one of the world’s most powerful production motorcycles. This is a limited-production, built-to-order, one-of-a-kind motorcycle Leno customized with additional features using noted San Diego custom-bike designer Jeff Palhegyi.

A Movie star car and celebrated racer, the 1961 Ol’ Yaller VII I (Lot #709), is one of only nine Ol’ Yallers built by road racing icon Max Balchowsky, from 1956-1963, and appeared in the 1964 movie, “Viva Las Vegas,” with Elvis Presley. Assembled with spare components from fairly humble production automobiles, Balchowsky’s Ol’ Yallers became famous for their triumphs over road racing titans of the 1950s and early ‘60s. While the unusual design and bright yellow paint made them noticeable, it was Balchowsky’s remarkable engineering that made the Ol’ Yaller a force on the track. Famous drivers such as Dan Gurney and Carroll Shelby piloted Ol’ Yallers during their careers and raved about their capabilities.

Ol’ Yaller VIII is powered by a 350-cid, 350-hp V-8 engine with a Holley four-barrel carburetor, 4-speed manual transmission and independent front and rear coil suspension. While most of Balchowsky’s earlier creations were based on a tube-frame chassis, it was constructed on a Jaguar E-Type shell, making it one of the most aesthetically pleasing Ol’ Yallers ever built.

The car spent its early years in the SCCA West Coast Championship series. It was then modified by customizer Dean Jeffries and later became a show car for Grand Stand Amusements in 1972. Shortly after buying the car in the early 1990s, noted collector and vintage racer Gordon Apker commissioned a full restoration to return Ol’ Yaller VIII to its original configuration. Balchowsky meticulously supervised the restoration.

Don Johnson will sell his 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 (Lot #410), a specialized vehicle for trips off the beaten path. There are only 14,687 original miles, and the vehicle has been garaged in Aspen, Colo., since it was purchased new.