Image via Bonhams
Auctioning this weekend is a rather rough-looking 1961 Land Rover Series II which just so happens to have been owned by the late Marilyn Monroe and her husband Arthur Miller. Even in its current state with heavy patina and a ripped-up, crackled interior, we expect interest in this vehicle will be high simple because of its Hollywood ties.
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Adding to the excitement is the fact when Lot 130 crosses the auction block at Bonhams auction in Scottsdale on January 25, it will be sold without reserve. That’s sure to help whet the appetites of collectors.
Fans of Land Rover already know the Series II helped refine the rather Spartan off-roader, although it wouldn’t be termed “civil” by today’s standards. Still, the more rounded body panels and some mechanical nips and tucks helped keep the off-roader relevant in the fiercely competitive automotive market of 1958 when it debuted.
All that must have appealed to the young Hollywood actress and her Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright/author husband, because they snatched one up just three years after the Series II launched.
Miller kept the Land Rover long after his marriage went the way of the dodo. In fact, even after his death the British rig was retained in the Miller family, until now. This is the first time someone not related to him will have a shot at ownership.
The Land Rover is represented as completely original. Obviously, it hasn’t been restored. After sitting for many years, it also doesn’t run, so the new owner will have to address that as well as decide if the rig should be preserved or fully restored.
Included in the sale are plenty of items helping establish the celebrity ownership of this ride, like the title and factory invoice. This will be an amazing addition to someone’s collection.
See the lot listing for yourself here.
Images via Bonhams
