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Sinatra Reprise–The Very Good Years. |
Frank Sinatra owned a house designed
in 1947 by Palm Springs architect
Stewart Williams. It came complete with a piano-shaped pool
in which Ava Gardner, Greta Garbo, and Lana Turner splashed.
It's easy to picture the Avanti that Sinatra owned parked beside
the sleek modernist masterpiece. Sinatra was associated with
a variety of cars in addition to the Avanti over the course
of his long career. In the early 1980s, Lee Iacocca leaned on
old friend Frank Sinatra for assistance to rescue the then-ailing
Chrysler Corporation. A special Sinatra edition of the Chrysler
Imperial was built, and the singer did a TV commercial for payment
of $1. After his death, as often happens when a celebrity passes
on, Sinatra's 1956 Thunderbird coupe gained stature as a collector's
item. It sold for an unexpected $152,000 at the Barrett-Jackson
auction in Phoenix, a good $50,000 to $75,000 more than expected
for a similar car without the celebrity history. |
| His 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400S
is probably the most famous Sinatra car. It took the stage at
Rockefeller Center in New York City before heading to the auction
block at the second annual Christie's Collectors' Car Auction
& Exhibition at Rockefeller Center, on June 5, 2003. Mr. Sinatra's
sensational sports car was among more than 40 rare and vintage
motor cars displayed on the Rockefeller Plaza red carpet prior
to the auction. The car is distinguished by its orange metallic
paint, wild boar skin interior, orange shag carpeting and 8-track
stereo player—all specifically requested by Mr. Sinatra. |
Frank Sinatra's Lamborghini Miura 400S. |
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