Whether you’re presently in the dating pool, or can at the very least remember the last time you took a dip in it, do previous partners ever enter the picture if they have been someone of note? I mean, do you ever think to yourself I’m doing you-know-what with the same person that you-know-who you-know-whated not all that long ago.
The cult of personality is strong in many societies, and we offer up to celebrities, whether they are Hollywood heroes or sports legends a sort of fealty bordering on the fetishistic. It’s creepy, but we all do it so I guess that makes it okay. When it comes to our cars, that sometimes factors in as well, since celebrities sometimes buy cars and then get tired of them. Not Jay Leno mind you, that guy is an entire Hoarders episode wrapped in faded denim.
The idea of celebrity provenance was parodied in the famous Seinfeld episode, The Mom & Pop where Jason Alexander’s perennially also-ran George Costanza character thinks he’s hit the jackpot by buying what he believes to be actor Jon Voight’s Chrysler Le Baron, but which turns out to actually have been (Spoiler alert!) John Voight the dentist’s car. It’s yet another humbling moment for George, but it brings up the question for today, which is, would it have even mattered? There have been a ton of celebrities that have owned mediocre cars and trucks, when the opportunity arises to perhaps buy one of them down the road, should we even care? What would be a circumstance where you possibly might?
Image: Seinfeldism
Hooniverse Asks: Is There Ever Any "Celebrity Owned" Regular Car Worth The Extra Money?
By Robert Emslie
Mar 17, 2017
Jeff Glucker
Steve McQueen. Whoever found that Bullitt Mustang in the junkyard no longer has to worry how to afford retirement.
http://media.vanityfair.com/photos/54cad1aa7e4b004120bd31b1/master/w_960,c_limit/image.jpg
Except McQueen’s cars/trucks/bikes were anything but “regular”
My dad paid $100 for mine when I was 11. Of course, mine just had Krylon on the tank, and Von Dutch wasn’t the painter.
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15406/lot/808/
“Worth” as in the-world-is-crazy-and-it’s-a-good-investment? Yes. “Worth” as in you-get-more-than-you-pay-for? No.
There is no show on television that I loathe more than Entertainment Tonight. I hate People magazine. I frankly have absolutely no interest in anything celebrity related. I don’t care what they think, feel, eat or what kind of relationship they’re in or out of. I just don’t care.
So a long, rambling reason why no, I wouldn’t pay any kind of premium for a celebrity owned “regular” car.
Yeah, I’m not into celebrity worship, either, especially the current crop of celebrities.
“There is no show on television that I loathe more than Entertainment Tonight.”
TMZ?
I live a sheltered life, so I don’t know what TMZ is. I’m guessing that I’m better off not knowing.
Wait, TMZ is a TV show?
I thought it was a website/tabloid notorious for celebrity stalking …
(Note, the extent of my knowledge stems from Weird Al Yankovic’s TMZ song)
I don’t think it matters much to car collectors, but it does matter to people that collect celebrity memorabilia. Basically, if the person’s autograph is worth more than about $500, then their car is probably worth a premium too. I had a Bronco once that was owned by a Major League Baseball player, it was his spring training vehicle. I think he might have played a couple of games in the majors. Added $0.00 to the price.
There are some Elans I would like, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Clark, Emma Peep. Mostly I’d like to find them cheap to flip for some extra cash that I could put into my own Elan.
Emma Peep – you mean Emma Peel?
http://thatsnotmyage.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/emma-peel-03.jpg
And of course, everyone knows the origin of the character’s name, right?
From her appeel of course.
Who gives a Peep.
Yes. As much as I want to sneer and say no, there are certain vehicles which are enhanced by their provenance. Elvis Cadillac is not just any Cadillac. I’ve touched the steering wheel of Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS. I’ve touched the steering wheel of the 1911 Mamon Wasp that won the first Indy 500.
Now, not every celebrity car carries magic; Even Sarah Fawcett can’t help a Mustang II – it might as well be a bicycle for all you notice it in the photo https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/96684f4a98580b0223c1f3b732015a1e90cae1fa6d8ffa453a6be4c5ea1d330a.jpg
FARRAH Fawcett. She was a stunner. Died a few years ago.
I’d rather have Elvis’ Pantera than any of his Cadillacs. Complete with bullet hole in steering wheel. https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s–F46Vbqoz–/18n2nf5egaurtjpg.jpg
It wouldn’t start. He shot it.
Perhaps if the vehicle carried some cultural or historical significance due to the celebrity connection. Any vehicle for which the value is greater as a relic than as a vehicle. Bonny and Clyde’s V8 Ford wasn’t a particularly special car. Al Cowling’s white Bronco is really tied more to a celebrity who didn’t own it, but the celebrity connection/infamy adds to its value.
Is Ann Margret’s modified, electric-start Triumph “regular?” Because I’d break the bank to own it.
http://www.motocicliste.net/motocicliste/epoca2/69478_436985167006_589562006_5804872_6021994_n.jpg
A kick-start for my heart. Nice bike, too.
Job’s Porsche or Piech’s Bentley? Nope. OJ’s Bronco will make the worst dinner joint a success, though.
Edit: exactly the concept of the Hard Rock Cafe franchise.
I just bought Jamie Kitman’s ’63 Rambler, https://www.yahoo.com/news/1100-miles-one-old-car-many-epiphanies-144333500.html , but thank god there was no pricing premium as the attempt at a similar drive-it-home road trip was not quite as successful.
Herr Kitman hand-me-downs are way cool. Good job!
I own Annika Sorenstam’s old Volvo V70R and have the papers to show it. Seller didn’t let on about it until we sealed the deal, either!
That’s a cool seller.
Agree – I would have bought it anyways, but that was kind of a nice surprise. 1 of about 30 in the color combo imported that year so it’s actually quite rare.
The only one I would think matters is Trent Reznor’s ’78 Volvo: http://achewood.com/index.php/index.php?date=05102005
All others, meh.
Someone should make a gallery of all the cars featured in Achewood over the years …
Within the car community I would say like others Steve McQueen’s cars, James Dean, Elvis, Shelby.
If The celebrity was known for being a car guy, I can see it happening. Some of Jay Leno’ s stuff will be valuable I bet. Some random celeb’ s ruined supercar. Probably not.
Did anybody mention Hitlers Mercedes?
I didn´t. You started it! It´s all your fault.
http://cdn2.spiegel.de/images/image-620369-galleryV9-fezk-620369.jpg
Or Mussolini’s Lancia Astura Prezidenziale?
http://www.formulapassion.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Mussolini-Hitler-Quirinale-Lancia-Astura-Presidenziale.jpg
Go Godwin or go home!
Only if the celebrity in question is also famous for good quality restoration, maintenance or authenticity. Even then, not much of a premium.
A collector car is mostly about its story, not its utility. So Elvis’ Cadillac is worth some amount more than a run of the mill car. The question is how much more.
Conan’s ’92 Taurus SHO will be worth much more than your typical Taurus SHO.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hxut1
“I mean, do you ever think to yourself I’m doing you-know-what with the same person that you-know-who you-know-whated not all that long ago.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K8CQ4mEfNc