http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/bmw-m1-painted-by-frank-stella-heading-...
Visitors to the atrium of the IBM Building, at 56th Street and Madison Avenue, encounter a brightly colored BMW M1 painted by the artist Frank Stella in 1979. Many pause and pose for mobile phone photos, and with good reason.
The car will be on display all week in the atrium, which adjoins the offices of Bonhams auction house, to advertise its presence in a collector car auction scheduled for Aug. 18 and 19 at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, Calif., held concurrently with the Pebble Beach week of automotive events. According to the auction house, the car is being sold by the Guggenheim Museum, its current owner, to finance other acquisitions. Bonhams’ presale estimate is $450,000 to $600,000.
Bonhams“This is the only BMW car ever painted by an authorized factory artist for a private client and, therefore, is totally unique from the 16 official Art Cars commissioned to date by BMW,” a statement issued by Bonhams said. Although not an official part of the company’s series of art cars, it is the next best thing, said Rupert Banner, automotive expert at Bonhams. “You could call it the only art car not in captivity,” he said.
