1.
GV Car on show
0.06

2.
SV Windshield ZOOM TO CU
0.14

3.
CU Pan interior of car
0.22

4.
CU Coachwork ZOOM OUT TO SV Car moved for auction
0.30

5.
SV Bidders in hall
0.34

6.
SV People
0.38

7.
SV Buyers
0.50

8.
SV Auctioneer announcing sale for 22,000 dollars
0.56

9.
SV Buyer & wife towards car
1.01

10.
SV People look on
1.04

11.
SV Buyer with car
1.09


TRANSCRIPT: The item in the collectors magazine described the 1923 Avions Voison in high fashion terms: "The classic is a two-tone grey-bodied C-5 sports type Victoria Phaeton with a tonneau windshield and wire wheels, maroon exterior trim compliments the plush leather interior". The rundown said Valentino bought the car to use on his honeymoon in 192??? His bride, of 1923 was Natacha Rambova. But in all the brochures, she got second billing. All the collectors could think about was Avions Voison. The crowd around the car...gaping...and waiting for the bidding to begin. They didn't have to wait long. The winner in the bidding was Jack Nethercutt of Los Angeles. Afterwards, he cut a swath through the middle of the sea of lossrs....and moved around his new purchase with his wife on one side an a photographer on the other.



This car, a 1923 Avions Voison, was original bought in the USA for twelve thousand dollars. But at a Hollywood, California auction on Saturday, it sold for nearly twice the price. Not just because its age put in the collector's vintage category, but because of the name of its first owner -- silent films idol Rudolph Valentino, once one of the world's most famous screen lovers.



Potential buyers and spectators thronged the auction hall for the event. The car was described more austerely than the excitement generated during the sale -- as "A classic two-tone grey bodied C-5 sports type Victoria Phaston with a tonneau windshield and wire wheels. Maroon exterior trim compliments the plush leather interior". PAUSE TWO SECS. For the romantic at heart an additional item -- the car was purchased by Valentino to go on honeymoon.



Thy buyer, a Los Angeles man, had his wife with him -- and was obviously proud of his new possession. He didn't say, however, what he planned to do with it.




Initials SGM/2200 SGM/2224


This film, showing the auction, is accompanied by a voice-on-film commentary in English. An alternative written commentary appears overpage.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A car bought in 1923 by silent films idol Rudolph Valentino -- one of the world's most famous screen lovers -- was sold by auction in Hollywood, California on Saturday (March 11). The successful bid -- twenty-two-thousand dollars -- was almost doubles the car's original price.

The car -- a sporting Avions Voisin Victoria Phaeton -- attracted large crowds to the auction. Valentino originally bought it to go on honeymoon.