Auto, Space, Aviation, Motorcycles & Memorabilia Appraisals
Leila grew up working in her father’s automotive salvage business in Milford, Massachusetts (Dunbar’s Junkyard), taking off parts, making deliveries, buying GM auto wrecks at auction and buying and selling used and classic cars and motorcycles.
She has appraised vintage vehicles ranging from cars, trucks and motorcycles, as well as automotive, space, aviation and motorcycle memorabilia collections. Highlights include the Gallileo Space Shuttle from Star Trek TOS, now on exhibition at the Houston Space Center; numerous celebrity vehicles including those owned by Prince, Gregg Allman, Johnny Cash, Phil Spector, Arnold Palmer, etc.
In racing, Leila valued the Richard Petty Auto Racing Museum, including race cars, trophies and racing suits; Bill Vuckovich’s 1953 Indy 500 trophy, the estate of two-time Indy winner Dan Wheldon, as well as numerous Harley Davidson and Indian bikes and memorabilia.
APPRAISALS – AUTO, SPACE, AVIATION & MOTORCYCLE PARTIAL PAST AND PRESENT PROJECT LISTING
- Richard Petty Auto Racing Museum, Including Racecars, Trophies, Racing Suits and Memorabilia
- Houston Space Center – Gallileo Shuttle From Star Trek TOS
- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
- Dunbar Armored Car Company (No Relation)
- Broadhurst Estate – Harley- Davidson
- Collection of Motorcycle Medals
- Estate of Dan Wheldon
- Collection of Bryan Herta
- Estate of Martin Zweig – Indy 500 Trophies
- Estate of Arnold Palmer – Pennzoil Tractor
- Estate of Gregg Allman – Vehicles
- Collection of Prince – Vehicles
- Estate of Johnny Cash – Vehicles
- Estate of Phil Spector – Vehicles
- Jesel NASCAR Model Archive
- Jesel Vintage Car Collection
- Collection of Cher
- Estate of Ben Novack (Batmobile)
- Warner Bros. Vehicle Archive Including Batmobiles and Scooby-Doo Van
- Estate of Wilt Chamberlain Vehicles
- Collection of Roger Clemens – Vehicles
Starting Early! Lee In 1964 In The Yard Wrecker
Leila grew up working in her father’s automotive salvage business in Milford, Massachusetts (Dunbar’s Junkyard), taking off parts, making deliveries, buying GM auto wrecks at auction and buying and selling used and classic cars and motorcycles.
1970’s Dunbar’s Inc. Ad And Article
A lifelong “gearhead,” in the 1960’s-1970’s her father Howard raced in stock car and demo derby races, as well as building and racing dune buggies. At the same time Howard also started collecting, auctioning and dealing in automotive and motorcycle memorabilia through its ancillary business, Dunbar’s Junkyard Gallery, including the sale of Steve McQueen’s personal 1928 Scout 45. In the 1990’s Lee worked with Willie G. Davidson of Harley-Davidson to add specific rare items to his personal collection.
1969 Dunbar’s Dune Buggy Brochure
Dunbar’s Gallery In The 1990’s
Motorcycle And Automotive Memorabilia Books
Leila has written three books, Motorcycle Memorabilia, More Motorcycle Memorabilia and Automotive Memorabilia. She has also written on these subjects for a variety of publications, including Mobilia Magazine and Iron Horse Magazine.
1928 Indian Scout 101
From 1999-2002 she served on the Board of Trustees at the Larz Andersen Automotive Museum in Brookline, MA and has also served as vintage car judge at the 2009 Newport Concours D’Elegance. Since the early 1990’s she has been a member of the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.
From 1999-2008, Lee served as Director of Sotheby’s Collectibles Department (including the Car Department), selling more than $75 million of pop culture memorabilia, including cars and motorcycles. Highlights include the last Checker Cab to run in New York City, the Austin Power “Shagmobile,” Jeff Gordon’s NASCAR Chevy Race Car from Talladega, Wilt Chamberlain’s personal Lamborghini, Johnny Cash’s Rolls Royce and Ford F150 Pick-up truck; Cher’s personal Harley-Davidson and Porsche and Roger Clemens’ personal Porsche and Mercedes.
Batmobile Replica
Upon leaving Sotheby’s in 2008, Lee founded her appraisal business, valuing including autos, motorcycles, racing, automotive and motorcycle memorabilia, as well as continuing to deal through the Dunbar’s Junkyard Gallery family business. These include vehicles from the estates of Greg Allman, Prince Rogers Nelson and Ben Novack (Batmobile), vehicles from the Universal Pictures collection including Batmobiles and the Scooby-Doo Van; and the Gallileo Space Shuttle from “Star Trek”; and Arnold Palmer’s tractors and custom golf carts, including the Latrobe Golf Club tractor best known for being featured in a series of 1960’s-1970’s Pennzoil television ads; and Dunbar (no relation) Armored Cars.