Christie's London revs up for first 2002 car sale

LONDON, March 22 Reuters is reporteing that Auctioneer Christie's is gearing up for its first London classic car sale of the year with a Muhammad Ali Rolls-Royce and a 19th-century two-seater runabout in mint condition set to grab bidders' attention.

The 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche, which comes with a warranty signed by the boxing legend, its former owner, is expected to fetch 12-16,000 pounds ($17-20,000) at Monday's auction.

``It could go for more than that but we can't factor in the celebrity factor,'' Rupert Banner, head of Christie's international motor department, said on Friday.

``We'll have to see if people get carried away or not. If they decide there's a premium to be paid because of its history, they'll push up the price.''

Christie's sold cars valued at a total 15.5 million pounds world-wide at auctions last year, including 20 from the collection of singer Elton John which fetched 1.9 million pounds.

An 1898 Hertel vintage two-seater runabout, thought to be one of only three in existence, will attract interest from British classic car enthusiasts who regularly take their antique motors out for a spin on classic car rallies.

The U.S.-made car, steered by a tiller rather than a wheel, is in top condition and expected to fetch between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds.

``I imagine it wasn't used very much. Within one or two years something more advanced would come along and the owner would have left it to one side,'' Banner said. ``There are very few cars that survive from that period, probably less than 100.

``For that reason it's a significant piece of motor history.''

Collectors are expected to travel from far and wide to bid at Monday's auction.

For some the occasion is a chance to offload unwanted possessions. An Australian collector hopes to sell a 1954 Porsche 356 -- the car he longed for as a schoolboy. ``You have these things, they sit there and don't do anything,'' he said.