Celebrity Cars on the Red Carpet at Fort Lauderdale Auction

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Collector cars featuring celebrity provenance, including a 1957 Chrysler Imperial Convertible (estimate: $120,000 - $140,000) once owned by Howard Hughes, and the Batmobile (estimate: $200,000 - $275,000) from the 1995 film 'Batman Forever', are among the over 400 quality automobiles on offer at the fifth annual Auctions America by RM Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale sale being held at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center March 4 – 6, 2011.

"This year's Fort Lauderdale event is shaping up to be one of the best offerings in my 30 years of hosting collector car auctions in Florida," said Donnie Gould, President, Auctions America. "Over 100 of these high-quality cars are being offered without reserve and there truly is something for every collector's taste and budget."

A 1957 Chrysler Imperial Convertible is a rare find yet few, if any, have the celebrity status of the fine pastel blue example on offer in Fort Lauderdale next month. It was purchased new by the late Howard Hughes in 1957, driven for a short period of time and then stored until 1976 when it was purchased by the second owner.

The Batmobile featured in this sale was built as a promotional vehicle for Warner Brothers' 1995 epic 'Batman Forever', starring Val Kilmer. It is a running and driving example with a fiberglass body and a custom tubular chassis. It was used on various promotional tours around the world and was eventually acquired in 2007 by a well-known private collector.

The Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale auction is known for its comprehensive offerings, spanning American classics, Detroit muscle and European sports cars.

ABOUT AUCTIONS AMERICA BY RM

Auctions America by RM was formed in July 2010 as a subsidiary of the world's largest collector car auction house, RM Auctions. It is headquartered in Auburn, Indiana at its 235-acre Auburn Auction Park and will host five multi-day events in 2011. The Auctions America by RM team, led by collector car expert Donnie Gould, specializes in American classics, Detroit muscle, hot rods, customs, and vintage motorcycles. To learn more about Auctions America by RM and its calendar of events, please visit www.auctionsamerica.com.

SOURCE Auctions America by RM