Diamond-encrusted Hot Wheels: Do NOT lose under the couch
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It’s bling, in teeny-tiny letters. This week, at the Petersen Automotive Museum’s Hot Wheels Gallery, Mattel is displaying a one-of-a-kind, $140,000, diamond-encrusted miniature (a Dodge Charger, I think) that will be auctioned off on Saturday by Bonhams and Butterfields to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.
The Saturday event, the sixth annual Bonhams and Butterfield’s motoring sale at the Petersen, will also feature effects once belonging to Steve McQueen, from the private collection of his former wife, Niele McQueen Toffel. (A pair of Persol sunglasses said to have been McQueen’s went for $75,000 a couple of years ago.) Cars owned by Bruce Willis will be headlining the list of vehicles offered, including a 1968 Shelby GT-500 convertible, 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 convertible and a 1957 Chevrolet Corvette convertible.
Mattel’s diminutive, diamond-slathered toy was commissioned to celebrate the 40-year heritage of Hot Wheels and the production of its 4 billionth die-cast vehicle. According to the news release: ‘The car is adorned with $140,000 worth of white diamonds, colored diamonds, and rubies set as taillights. The car’s body is composed of 18k gold, white gold and enamel. Covering the vehicle are nearly 3,000 round brilliant and baguette cut diamonds, with a total weight of 22.94 carats, designed and set by Jason Arasheben, president and CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills.’
The car includes a custom-built presentation case embellished with 40 bezel-set diamonds and designed with a rotating base on which the car rests. If that’s not enough, an LED display in the case projects images of the car’s production.
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-- Dan Neil
The Petersen Automotive Museum is located at 6060 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90036-3605. Enclosed parking and the museum entrance is just south of Wilshire on Fairfax Avenue. For general information, call (323) 930-CARS or visit the museum’s website at www.petersen.org