Iconic film cars in Debbie Reynolds Collection sale

Auction will be Saturday, June 18, in Beverly Hills

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Publish date:: Jun 14, 2011

LOS ANGELES - Two very iconic cars will be featured in the Debbie Reynolds Collection when it goes up for auction on June 18 at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills. The auction, run by Joe Maddalena of Profiles in History (and host of SyFy's Hollywood Treasure), will contain props, memorabilia and costumes that Debbie Reynolds has collected for forty years and collectively is a real representation of classic Hollywood.

The first car up for auction is a 1918 Ford Model T that was used in Laurel and Hardy Films. The car was restored to running condition by Debbie's father, Ray Reynolds, and remains so to this day. Laurel and Hardy used mainly Model T Fords in their films, including such classics as Perfect Day, Hog Wild, Towed in a Hole and Big Business. This 4-door example is one that survived the onslaught of abuse dished out by the comedic duo.

The second car up for auction, is a 1952, red MG TD, used by Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant in Monkey Business. It was bought in running condition and was placed in storage until Debbie's daughter, Carrie Fisher, took a shining to it when she started to drive. Unfortunately, Carrie never really mastered the manual transmission and Debbie took the keys away to avert impending disaster. The car was placed back in storage where it has remained ever since. In 2011, the engine and transmission were rebuilt and the car has been rejuvenated with new chrome and remains in nice running condition. The car has its original paint which exhibits light scratches in areas. The dent in the radiator occurred during filming when Cary Grant crashed into the fence in the film and it was kept in original condition. The car comes with the original folding convertible top and frame, but it was not installed during filming so it has been kept aside for the future owner. This is the only known film-used Marilyn Monroe car!

The Paley Center for Media will be open to the public for previews June 15-17, noon to 5 p.m. You can view the entire catalog online at www.profilesinhistory.com and during the auction you can bid online at www.icollector.com.

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