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Diana Dors sports car fetches $3m at auction (Beautiful auto, car lovers must see)
BBC ^ | August 15, 2010 | BBC

Posted on 08/15/2010 12:14:11 PM PDT by I still care

A sports car once owned by the late British actress Diana Dors has sold for $3 million (£1.9m) at a California auction.

The 1949 Delahaye Roadster, which some have dubbed the most beautiful car in the world, was given to Dors when she was 17.

The sky blue car has been described by auctioneers as "extravagant and outrageous - a rolling sculpture".

Dors, who was seen as the British Marilyn Monroe, died in 1984 aged 52

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: History; Hobbies; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: automobile; automotive; britain; delahaye
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To: I still care

Good post.
Hot chick and a really hot car!


21 posted on 08/15/2010 12:54:01 PM PDT by goseminoles
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To: I still care

Whew!! Almost got a woodie just lookin’ at the photo! Certain model Sea Ray yachts (which I’ve never owned) have the SAME effect. ;oD


22 posted on 08/15/2010 12:55:58 PM PDT by Tucker39
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To: I still care

No 4 cylinder under the hood of that sum bitch. That’s a beauty!


23 posted on 08/15/2010 12:57:48 PM PDT by goseminoles
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To: I still care
According to Dors's autobiography, she was once asked and readily agreed to open a fête in her home town of Swindon, England. Prior to the festivities, Dors lunched with the local vicar, during which she informed him that her real name was Diana Fluck.

The vicar became somewhat worried about his planned speech. After lunch, they arrived at the fête at the appointed time. The vicar, totally unnerved about mispronouncing "Fluck", introduced Diana with these immortal words:

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I introduce to you our star guest. We all love her, especially as she is our local girl. I therefore feel it right to introduce her by her real name; Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the very lovely Miss Diana Clunt.” Wikipedia

24 posted on 08/15/2010 12:58:13 PM PDT by x
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To: Liz

Richard Dawson?! Was he the putz who hosted Family Feud for years? And married to HER?! Just proves that LIFE AIN’T FAIR!


25 posted on 08/15/2010 12:58:36 PM PDT by Tucker39
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To: I still care

I saw a British-racing-green 1958 Austin Healey with shiny wire wheels, spinners, wood dash and tonneau cover sitting on a trailer the other day, which made this car look silly with its exagerated lines.


26 posted on 08/15/2010 12:59:20 PM PDT by 353FMG (ISLAM - America's inevitable road to destruction.)
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To: I still care

Interior shot. And this is 1949. Amazing.

27 posted on 08/15/2010 1:01:36 PM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
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To: I still care

Most all the Delahayes were very swept back and aero in an Art Deco way. To each his own, some think they’re stunning and some think they’re cartoonish. I waver back and forth.

Viewed purely as “car” in the American idiom, they’re somewhat nonsensical. Not that we didn’t produce a few “boutique” vehicles ourselves along these lines.

The French do what they do for their own reasons, always have and always will. Seldom does it match our own expectations or aesthetic sensibilities, but when they hit a homerun it’s really something else. This roadster is one of them, as is practically any DS19 through DS21.

I think it’s great, a masterpiece of craftsmanship in steel, chrome, wood and leather. Is it practical at all? No, not really. But, for the right person of means, with the persona to pull it off, this no doubt was a conveyance without peer for making an entrance.

I’m glad it’s been cherished and maintained for us to enjoy. Thanks for posting the photo.


28 posted on 08/15/2010 1:06:56 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: I still care

But where do you plug it in?!


29 posted on 08/15/2010 1:08:46 PM PDT by Erik Latranyi (Too many conservatives urge retreat when the war of politics doesn't go their way.)
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To: Liberty Valance
Is that a pic of the car? That is an absolutely gorgeous 1949 interior. I need to drive it and use that little thumb shifter to the left of that superb wheel.
30 posted on 08/15/2010 1:11:14 PM PDT by Seven plus One
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To: Tucker39

Yup-—he’s the one. They had two kids together.


31 posted on 08/15/2010 1:15:47 PM PDT by Liz
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To: stephenjohnbanker

I have a 63 Dodge. It gets 9 mph. So you are probably not far off.


32 posted on 08/15/2010 1:15:57 PM PDT by I still care (I believe in the universality of freedom -George Bush, asked if he regrets going to war.)
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To: Liz

“Once married to game show host Richard Dawson”

Interesting! He was a cutie pie himself. You only mention his game show career, he was also in Hogan’s Heroes, one of my faves.


33 posted on 08/15/2010 1:17:46 PM PDT by jocon307
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To: TommyDale

She does look a bit like Marilyn.

34 posted on 08/15/2010 1:20:04 PM PDT by Liz
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To: jocon307; Tucker39

Dawson later married one of the contestants on Family Feud.


35 posted on 08/15/2010 1:23:32 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Liberty Valance
My favorite is the Delahaye Type 135, from 1938:

Free Image Hosting

36 posted on 08/15/2010 1:26:22 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: 353FMG
Tastes change

Lagonda 1939

Lagonda 2009

37 posted on 08/15/2010 1:26:27 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (a 16 year old Australian girl already did it. And she did it right. - WWJD)
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To: I still care
Obviously the inspiration for the '58 Bulgemobile:


38 posted on 08/15/2010 1:27:11 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Ditter
I think it is beautiful. Granted, the lines are extreme. But many of the things we think are beautiful have such over the top styling. The Chrysler building comes to mind. Or even old Hollywood fashion.

The grill of the vehicle is a little much for me (I respond more to the side view) but it seems to match its owner.

Here is another extreme car.

They horribly repainted it for an ad, but it is from a famous movie.

A hint (paraphrased): "Cosmo, get out of the hideous thing. You look like a whatnot".


39 posted on 08/15/2010 1:34:39 PM PDT by I still care (I believe in the universality of freedom -George Bush, asked if he regrets going to war.)
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To: RegulatorCountry
Is it practical at all? No, not really...

A guy at work drives a '73 Citroen SM, in very good condition. I'll bet he'd have a spaz attack viewing this car. Practicality is out the window when taste is in charge. And a taste which leans toward French design... Besides if plain old utility had the final say, none of us would ever be allowed to like anything. It would be a plain, generic, boring world with no place for Industrial Design, or Diana Dors, or the French for that matter. When it comes to impractical cars, I'm more of a TR3 kind of guy. But there's something about this car...

40 posted on 08/15/2010 1:36:22 PM PDT by Seven plus One
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