Two cars from the entertainment world will be sold in an on-line auction starting on Sunday 4 September to coincide with their appearance at Chelsea AutoLegends.
The Pink Panther car (as featured in C&SC) is the original late-1960s Jay Ohrberg creation for the Pink Panther Show, which ran until 1976 in the USA. Using Oldsmobile Toronado running gear, the car was last sold at Coys in 2007 and raised nearly £90,000. This time around – being sold as a non-registered non-runner – it has a wide estimate of £50-100,000.
The second film-related offering is less original, but is road legal. Just six of the sensational Chitty Chitty Bang Bangs were built for the 1968 Dick van Dyke movie, but this is said to be a fully sanctioned replica – complete with supporting paperwork from MGM's solicitors – built by Tony Green.
It has the nearly correct numberplate of GEN 22, measures 18ft long and is powered by a 3-litre Ford V6. It was previously sold in 2007 when it is believed to have made £250,000 – and original should be at least four times that – but this time that mark is the high estimate.
Both auctions will run until 14 October, see www.robsonkay.co.uk for details.
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car