The 1955 Ford Thunderbird that Marilyn Monroe and her husband-to-be Arthur Miller drove to her third wedding is up for sale for $500,000.
The beautiful car – the only ever to have been registered to be owned by the Hollywood star – was rediscovered this year after its whereabouts were unknown for the last 56 years following the Hollywood star’s death.
The vehicle has an impressive ‘Raven Black’ exterior, white interior, 225 horsepower V-8 engine and a top speed of 113mph, a canvas convertible top and a detachable hard top with ‘porthole’ windows.
It was purchased by Milton Greene, Monroe’s business partner and photographer, as a Christmas present for the actress on December 20, 1955.
She and Mr Miller drove it on the way to their civil wedding ceremony private wedding on June 1956.
Marilyn’s ride: The iconic late actress bought the black Ford Thunderbird in 1955 and images from the time shows her in the car with her then-husband, playwright Arthur Miller – and she drove it to their wedding in 1956. Pictured: The car’s interior is in immaculate condition, with this classy black and white finish still looking extremely fashionable to this day
Happy days: Marilyn Monroe waves from the Ford Thunderbird convertible as the newlyweds leave their Roxbury, Connecticut home for a picnic on the day after their wedding in 1956
Monroe owned the car for six years before gifting it to John Strasberg, the son of director Lee Strasberg, for his 18th birthday shortly before her death in 1962. Her initials ‘MM’ can be seen on the number plate of the vehicle
Road Trip: Shortly after their marriage, Monroe and Miller along with friend, photographer Milton Greene leave to take the car on a road trip to Connecticut. They are pictured here leaving 2 Sutton Place South building, New York, on July 2 1956 as they prepare for a road trip
Amy Greene, Milton Greene’s wife, said: ‘Marilyn liked to drive. We’d take the convertible and with the top down, we’d go sailing along the highway. Pictured: Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller sit in their Thunderbird convertable shortly after their marriage
The Thunderbird is accompanied by Monroe’s documents regarding the ownership of the car, which she owned for six years.
Speaking about the car in the past, Amy Greene, Milton Greene’s wife, said: “Marilyn liked to drive. We’d take the convertible and with the top down, we’d go sailing along the highway.
“We both liked to feel the wind in our faces and the warmth of the heater on our legs.”
The Thunderbird was later given as a birthday present to John Strasberg, the son of director and acting coach Lee Strasberg, a few months before Monroe’s death in the 5th of August 1962.
But it then went missing for 56 years before being discovered again by its current owner.
The current owner, who has not been named, said: “Finding this car, a classic two-seater model, after 56 plus years of its unknown whereabouts, was a singular event.
“No other car has been located and documented as owned by the incomparable Marilyn Monroe.”
The Thunderbird will be auctioned off as part of Julien’s Auctions annual blockbuster event ‘Icons & Idols: Hollywood’ in Los Angeles, California, USA, on November 17 with a guide price of $250,000 to $500,000.
Darren Julien, president and chief executive officer of the American auction house, said: “Once in a while something comes along that has a powerful magic about it, a charisma, because of everything and everyone associated with it.
“This wonderful black Ford Thunderbird is not only part of automotive history but comes with an aura of glamour, romance and tragedy of a true Hollywood legend.
“It will make the centrepiece of any classic car collection and be an object of fascination to millions.”
The car, which has a black and white interior and has clocked 30,399 miles since having its engine rebuilt, comes with a canvas convertible roof and a detachable hard roof with distinctive porthole windows.
Darren Julien, president and chief executive officer of the American auction house, said of the car: ‘Once in a while something comes along that has a powerful magic about it, a charisma, because of everything and everyone associated with it’
The car, which has a black and white interior and has clocked 30,399 miles since having its engine rebuilt, comes with a canvas convertible roof and a detachable hard roof with distinctive porthole windows.