It was found last year in a cardboard box in the garage, and has now been auctioned for €3 million

The opening price of $400,000 has been surpassed so far. The fighter jet is now considered the most expensive wartime item ever sold, according to Heritage Auctions, which organized the vault. star Wars-film. Heritage Auctions said that the winning bidder does not wish to reveal his identity. Last year’s buyer was a little cheaper. Well, cheaper: a similar X-Wing sold for roughly $2.4 million (€2.3 million).

Friends of visual effects artist Greg Ginn discovered the X-Wing in a cardboard box in his garage last year after his death at the age of 76. The plane was one of hundreds of props, scripts, costumes and other Hollywood memorabilia that Gene collected over the decades. More than 500 other pieces from Jane’s collection were also sold at the same auction, raising a total of $13.6 million (€12.9 million).

Haven’t seen in decades

Heritage Auctions says the 56cm model was used in scenes showing the X-Wings flown by three pilots during the Rebel Alliance’s final attack on the Death Star. The call signs for the characters were Red Leader, Red Two, and Red Five. Built by Industrial Light & Magic, the special effects studio founded by George Lucas, the plane features motorized wings, fiber-optic lights and other close-up features.

According to Gene Kozicki, who specializes in the history of special effects and worked as an archivist in the 1990s with Gene Star Trek: The Next Generation And Star Trek: Deep Space Nine People in the visual effects industry have been seeing the model for decades. Our response was:Holy cow“We found an X-Wing, a real plane,” Kozicki said last month, describing the moment he and several others pulled the plane out of the box in Jane’s garage.

to get to know

Gene’s love of collecting began with baseball cards when he was 5 years old, Kozicki said. As his collection expanded to include Hollywood memorabilia, he was drawn to props and costumes created by artisans before the advent of digital special effects.

“Greg once said he found it difficult to throw things away. “I think part of his goal with this collection was to make sure that the recognition the craftsmen behind these things deserved wouldn’t be thrown away like a used prop,” says Kozicki. “I can’t help it.” However, I hope the new owners maintain this position.”

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