Lot #460 - In honor of the 100th Anniversary celebration of Miss Bette Davis (1908-2008), Barrett-Jackson is proud to offer Miss Davis' customized 1980 Ford Mustang in this Las Vegas auction. Eyes, attitude, talent and the ever present cigarette - these are the lingering images we carry of this incomparable and amazing woman. 2-time Oscar winner and 10-time academy nominee, quotes from her film performances have become part of our common lexicon. "Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride" seems most appropriate to introduce Ms. Davis' "Black Beauty" to this once-in-a-lifetime auction opportunity. To those silver screen images, we add the sight of Bette Davis driving through the streets of Beverly Hills and Hollywood, on her way to a party, or to a dinner with Roddy Mcdowell, Robert Wagner or Bob Osborne. Dressed to the "Nines" as always with hat, purse, scarf flying out the window and the ever present cigarette in hand, even when her exquisitely gloved hands were on the wheel. The ashtray was proof of her indulgence. Sometimes an errant ash would get away. The Mustang is un-restored and retains a small number of cigarette burns in the carpet, evidence of her concentration on something else. The tale of the Mustang begins on April 5, 1980 (Ms. Davis' 72nd birthday). Ms. Davis phoned Crenshaw Motors in Los Angeles and said, "This is Bette Davis. I would like to order an American car. A Ford Mustang. Black with red interior." (She liked red; it was her initials for her full name 'Ruth Elizabeth Davis') "Please make it a 2-door hardtop. Not a convertible. I will have my attorney, Harold Schiff, phone you for details. Thank you." Click, cut and print. And a black Mustang with red interior was what she got and adored. Bette Davis named her beloved automobile "Black Beauty". While Ms. Davis took limos for celebrity and professional events, the Mustang was all things private, personal and down to earth, but also strong, classy and stylish. Just like her. Ms. Davis' friends knew of her pride in her "Black Beauty" Mustang. Enough so that it is even mentioned in the book "Bette Davis, a biography" by Barbara Leaming. This Mustang, in all its glory, comes with its original documentation of the sales receipts, correspondence, owner I.D. cards and original license plates. There have been only two owners of this automobile, Ms. Davis and her personal assistant and co-executor of her estate, Kathryn Sermak. It has been on display for the past seven years at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.