She was offered a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art aged 14 and became its youngest ever student after lying about her age.Īfter a string of modelling gigs and bit-part film roles, she began netting leading roles in 1949 and by 1951 had been established as a 'sex symbol' of the British industry. 'We are very proud to offer this special example to the market with everything in its favour - one of very few, the Motor Show Car, celebrity provenance, matching numbers, Maserati Classiche Certification and a Concours-standard presentation that is simply breathtaking.'ĭiana Dors was dubbed the UK's Marilyn Monroeīorn Diana Fluck in 1931, Dors grew up in Wiltshire and loved cinema from an early age, idolising Lana Turner and Veronica Lake.
'The rare and highly desirable Mistral would undoubtedly fit in with the movie star's high-profile lifestyle. 'Frequently described as the "English Marilyn Monroe", she was no stranger to publicity and even notoriety featuring in the popular press as the youngest person to own a Rolls-Royce, despite the fact that she was not even old enough to drive at the time. 'The plan was that after the show, the Spyder would become Maserati's London demonstrator, however, Ms Dors fell in love with the Spyder and simply had to have it.
The car will be up for sale at Silverstone Auction house on May 28 at Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire with a guide price of between £475,000 and £550,000Ī spokesman for Silverstone Auctions said: 'This rare, UK-supplied, Mistral Spyder was purchased from the Maserati stand at the 1964 Earls Court Motor Show by Diana Dors. She went bankrupt in 1968 owing £53,000, of which £48,000 was to the Inland Revenue. The actress owned the Mistral for an undisclosed period of time before selling it to an Australian businessman.
It is thought the two-seater Mistral convertible - one of only 14 built-in right-hand drive - later took pride of place next to her Rolls Royce which she bought aged 20, despite the fact that she was not old enough to drive at the time. One-time Hollywood favourite Dors had previously worked with Bob Hope and Danny Kaye and signed with RKO pictures - but in 1958 discovered she was in serious debt following her separation from first husband, film promoter Dennis Hamilton.Īfter returning to the UK after a stint doing cabaret she bought the Maserati when she was 33 while promoting comedy flop the Counterfeit Constable in which she starred with Arthur Mullard. With a 3.7-litre engine developing 255bhp, the Italian sports car was capable of 0-60mph in just 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 160mph. Diana Dors bought the brand new Mistral Spyder in 1964 when she saw it at Earls Court Motorshow while in the throes of bankruptcy