SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Little can be said about Frank Sinatra that has not already been said. A genuine American legend, he remains one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, having sold a remarkable 150 million records worldwide, and was also a box office powerhouse. During a career that extended over 60 years, he won an Oscar and no fewer than eleven Grammy Awards, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Lot # 4055 1976 Jaguar XJS Coupe "For Frank" – Offered at NO RESERVE
There's no question that Sinatra enjoyed good automobiles. As a man who could afford virtually anything and everything that he would ever want, he enjoyed many of the great cars ever produced during his lifetime. While he remained most faithful to Jaguar, it was no surprise, that when he married Barbara Marx on July 11, 1976, she decided to give him one as a wedding present – specifically, this 1976 XJS Coupe, the hottest and sleekest car in Jaguar's lineup. Documentation on file includes the original sales paperwork, title, and the original Palm Springs Airport parking pass, both of which were signed by Mr. Sinatra during his 19-year ownership.
Richly endowed with smooth, turbine-like V-12 power, good looks, luxurious appointments, and 150-plus mph top-speed potential, Jaguar's new XJ-S debuted in 1976 as the long-awaited successor to the E-Type, which was discontinued after 1974. Produced for 20 years through 1996, the XJ-S was more than a worthy successor to the E-Type and today, it remains the longest-running model in Jaguar's illustrious and storied history. Then, as now, the XJ-S was the object of automotive desire for the business and entertainment elites of the late 20th Century, including Mr. Sinatra.
Among the Jaguar's many excellent features, it retains the Panasonic RM-710 Cockpit overhead console car audio system, which represents an incredible high-end period feature as well as an in dash compass, and very early GE car phone. Outstanding documentation on file from new and confirming Mr. Sinatra's ownership of the car includes the vehicle's window sticker, owner's manual and original sale paperwork plus the car's California title, signed 12-1-95 by Frank Sinatra, and an original Palm Springs Airport parking pass issued to the Sinatra's. Its stunning green finish was reportedly chosen to reflect the green in Barbara's eyes.
Lot #4056 1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow "For Barbara" – Offered at NO RESERVE
"Old Blue Eyes" returned the favor with his own four-wheeled wedding gift to his new lady, the 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I. Ordered through his local dealer, Epsteen & Quaid of Palm Springs, its ownership is recorded on factory paperwork, copies of which are in the file, as "Frank Sinatra, 1041 South Formosa, Hollywood, CA" (Samuel Goldwyn Studio) and "Barbara Sinatra, 70588 Frank Sinatra Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA" (their home). It was finished as it is today, in Peacock Blue with Beige interior piped in Surf Blue (reportedly inspired in return by Mr. Sinatra's eyes), and a console specially covered to match the rest of the upholstery. Photographs on file show the Sinatra's enjoying their wedding, with Mrs. Sinatra posing proudly with her new Rolls-Royce.
As the most iconic and identifiable luxury car automobile of the 1960s through the 1980s, the Silver Shadow was introduced in October 1965 along with Bentley's T-Series and marked the adoption of monocoque or unit-body construction by Rolls-Royce. While the Silver Shadow of the mid-1970s outwardly appeared much the same as the introductory models did, some 2,000 detail improvements had been made through 1976. Predictably, the Silver Shadow was an unqualified favorite of Hollywood's ''A-List''. When planning his July wedding, "Old Blue Eyes" presented this wonderful Peacock Blue Silver Shadow as ultimate wedding gift and a most exclusive display of his love and affection for his new bride.
The current owner was eventually able to acquire both the Rolls-Royce and the Jaguar, reuniting the "Sinatra His and Her" cars in private ownership. They have been well-maintained, and are offered here in much the same condition in which they have been kept for their entire lives. Additionally, both Frank's XJ-S and Barbara's Rolls-Royce were both mentioned in the Kitty Kelley tell-all book, His Way: the Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra.
These very special NO RESERVE cars are irresistible souvenirs of an American legend and the lady he loved – ideal for the car barn of any Sinatra enthusiast or collector of Hollywood memorabilia and a can't miss opportunity to ring in the year of Sinatra's 100th birthday with a truly special set of critically important mementos of his history and the things he truly loved.
In addition, a multitude of documents and memorabilia also accompanies the sale of the Jaguar and/or the Rolls-Royce, with the highest bidder for either of these two cars also going home with this fantastic cache of irreplaceable items, including a Frank Sinatra Celebrity Invitational golf bag and umbrella and an original wedding day photo album featuring the Sinatras and many of the eras biggest celebrities with negatives complete with a signed letter of authenticity from the events photographer Chuck Scardina! What better way to celebrate the upcoming 100th birthday of Frank Sinatra – quite likely the world's greatest entertainer of the 20th Century!
Celebrate a century of Frank Sinatra with these incredible NO RESERVE automobiles and experience the refreshing Russo and Steele difference for yourself, as we continue to celebrate 15 years of the hottest nights in Monterey! Our Monterey '15 auction takes place August 13-14-15 on the waterfront near Fisherman's Wharf in Beautiful Downtown Monterey. Auction previews run daily from 10:00 AM Wednesday August 12th through Saturday August 15th. Be sure to contact us for advance bidder registration and accommodations or to register your premium consignment today! For updated information regarding our Monterey '15 auction and the exciting selection of featured collector automobiles we are busy assembling, visit our all new official website at www.russoandsteele.com.
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