The Classic Car Market Records Stellar Results

Of course, car-as-art isn’t new: Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Frank Stella have all decorated cars as part of BMW’s Art Car program, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. But a sports car customized by a superstar singer? That’s a first. “I think it illustrates two things,” observes Maximilien Gagnebin, classic car expert at Bonhams, a pioneering auction house in this field. “First, the growing appetite for personalization, which is becoming a real market for a clientele seeking exclusivity — people who want to drive cars that reflect their personality. Second, the association between an iconic brand and a popular star attracts a younger audience, or buyers who might not otherwise have considered collecting cars. A Porsche is as much a dream for a teenager as for a 60-year-old man. But a Porsche designed by Dua Lipa could also appeal to music fans who never imagined making such a purchase.” The “Dua Lipa Rennstall GT3 RS” ultimately sold for €365,000, with all proceeds donated to the Suny Hill Foundation, the singer’s charity supporting arts and culture in Kosovo, her country of origin. That was just shy of its €400,000 estimate.