On the 98th anniversary of her birth, many fans of Marilyn Monroe will be thinking about the wide selection of classic films that she starred in during the 1950s. However, while Some Like It Hot, it seems that Marilyn liked being in the driver’s seat.

1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible:

Perhaps the most famous vehicle that Marilyn Monroe owned, and the only one she was publicly seen in at the time, was a 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible.

The flagship of the American company’s range, Marilyn’s ‘T-Bird’ was bought by her business partner in Connecticut as a Christmas gift and was used for days out in the countryside.

Whilst Marilyn gifted the Ford to John Strasberg, the son of her acting coach, shortly before she passed away in 1962, the lavish cabriolet still exists and sold at auction for $490,000 (£385,000) in November 2018.

1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible:

Whilst the Thunderbird was the only car that spent time under the spotlight, Marilyn had previously owned a 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible.

A gift from her partner and former baseball player Joe DiMaggio, the $7,750 (£6,100) car had a massive range of features including wire wheels, a self-seeking radio and power-assisted windows, not to mention the massive 5.4-litre V8 engine.

Unfortunately, much like their marriage, the Cadillac has not lasted, with nobody knowing if the high-end cabriolet still exists. Nevertheless, fans of Marilyn can still buy a model of the Eldorado Convertible, which features a small figurine of her leaning on the bonnet.

1954 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible:

Following on from her past experiences behind the wheel of a Cadillac, her next vehicle would be another from the famous American luxury brand.

Accepted as a present from the comedian Jack Benny, whose show she had recently appeared on, the 1954 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible was a slightly sleeker model when compared to the ’53 Eldorado.

Again, it is currently unknown what ultimately happened to the Series 62, with some experts suggesting that she sold it to the actor Robert Wagner later on in the 1950s.

1952 MG TD:

Finally, whilst there is no definite answer to whether Marilyn Monroe owned a vehicle that was not built in America, home movie footage seems to suggest that she once owned a UK-made sportscar.

During the film Monkey Business, Marilyn is seen driving a red 1952 MG TD, which some believe was used in the actress’ personal life before being sold or gifted to Twentieth Century Fox.

Unlike the two Cadillacs, the MG still survives today, having been bought off the film company by a private collector in 1971, and last swapped hands at auction for $210,000 (£165,000) in 2011.