Supercars, a Fiat used by the Pope, and a Ferrari 'movie star' set for auction

(June 1, 2016) CULVER CITY, Calif. — Auctions America, a specialist in the collector car industry, will take "California coo" to a whole new level at its annual Santa Monica sale, June 25-26. In just three years, the event — held at the historic Barker Hangar — has emerged a new highlight on the SoCal automotive calendar. The upcoming sale will continue the tradition, lifting the gavel on some 300 collector cars and select automobilia.

"Our Santa Monica sale is carefully curated to appeal to diverse SoCal tastes," says Ian Kelleher, Auctions America.

"From European and American classics to hot rods, customs and modern supercars, the offering caters for enthusiasts of all stripes, from the entry-level collector to the veteran hobbyist."

For lovers of blistering performance and sleek design, the June auction is highlighted by a coveted pair of European supercars. Best described as an "F1 car for the road," the 1995 Ferrari F50 can power 0–60 in 5.2 seconds, topping out at 202 mph (Est. $1,800,000 - $2,100,000). Another automotive icon slated for the podium is Porsche's first true "supercar: a 1988 Porsche 959 "Komfort" — a 200-mph road car of which only 329 were produced (Est. $1,300,000 - $1,500,000).

The Santa Monica docket also includes cars with noteworthy provenance. Among these, a 2015 Fiat 500L used by His Holiness Pope Francis during his September 2015 trip to NYC (pictured above).

Selling to the highest bidder, all hammer proceeds from the Fiat's sale will benefit the Archdiocese of New York, and in turn, donated to support various Catholic charities (Est. $75,000 - $100,000). Also up for bids, the 1987 Ferrari Testarossa driven by Dr. Dre (played by Corey Hawkins) in Straight Outta Compton, which brings an element of "Hollywood glamor" to the event (Est. $130,000 - $150,000).