Marilyn Monroe’s Ford Thunderbird heads to auction for the first time ever

Take home some Hollywood wheels this November

They don’t make ’em like they used to – and they don’t come more classic than this: a 1956 Ford Thunderbird convertible finished in Raven Black.

Oh, you’re here for its famous former owner? Well, this pristine T-bird did indeed belong to Hollywood superstar Marilyn Monroe – and it could be yours this November.

Set to go under the hammer at Julien’s Auctions’ ‘Icons & Idols: Hollywood’ sale on 17 November in Los Angeles, it’s expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000 (£230,000-380,000).

Pretty reasonable, right? Especially when you consider that it was stabled with Monroe at the height of her ’50s fame. Here’s the whole story.

Serious stocking filler

It all began on 20 December 1955, when the Thunderbird was purchased from Westport Motors in Westport, Connecticut by Marilyn Monroe Productions. 

It’s reported that the desirable drop-top was a Christmas gift from Milton Greene, Monroe’s business partner and photographer. Talk about festive generosity.

Enjoying the open road

According to Greene’s wife, Amy, “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.”

Kitted out and capable

Finished in Raven Black with a black and white trimmed cabin, the Thunderbird made good use of a 225bhp V8 motor, which could propel the car to an impressive top speed of 113mph – more than enough to make things breezy.

More to the point – and befitting someone of Monroe’s international superstardom – it was graced with a host of desirable options, including power steering, electric windows and powered brakes.

Room at the back

It shipped from the factory with both its convertible roof and a detachable hardtop option – complete with nautical ‘porthole’ windows.

And, being a 1956 model, its spare wheel came mounted in a flash ‘continental kit’ on the tail, leaving more room in the boot for luggage and the like.

Ceremonial duties

Six months after receiving the car, Monroe married her third husband – playwright Arthur Miller.

According to a contemporary report, the couple drove this very Ford to their civil ceremony on 28 June 1956 – and also used it for their private wedding two days later.

Coming of age car

Monroe would keep the convertible cruiser for some six years before gifting it to one John Strasberg – son of acting coach and director Lee Strasberg – for his 18th birthday in 1962, just months before the movie star’s tragic death.

Tracked, found and restored

Years later, the Thunderbird was traced and found by the current owner, using documents received by Lee Strasberg when he inherited much of Monroe’s estate.

“I found the vehicle in lovely show condition,” the current owner reported – though the machine still underwent an exacting restoration, with great efforts made to maintain its originality.

A true one-off

“Finding this car, a classic two-seater model, after 56 plus years of its unknown whereabouts, was a singular event,” the owner continued.

“No other car has been located and documented as owned by the incomparable Marilyn Monroe.”

Star power potential

Darren Julien, President/CEO of Julien’s Auctions, agreed: “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.”

And that kind of provenance almost guarantees a big sale price when it goes under the hammer on 17 November. Will it hit half-a-million dollars? We’ll have to wait and see.