Howard Hughes' hot rod Lincoln hits $1 million at auction

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - A classic car designed by Howard Hughes has been sold at an auction in Tulsa for $1 million.

Former Portland Trail Blazers center Bill Smith bought the 1936 Lincoln Boat Tail Speedster on Saturday, saying he considers it a bargain. Smith says he feels like the car "should be at least a $3 million car" because it was designed at the peak of the eccentric Hughes' genius.

Audrey Sevenoaks Young of the Leake Auction Co. says bidding began at $500,000 and there were five people bidding on the car.

Smith says he hopes the car will eventually end up at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in Oregon, where Hughes' famed "Spruce Goose" plane is on display.

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Information from: KJRH-TV, http://www.kjrh.com

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AP-WS-06-14-09 1755EDT