The race cars are not the only pricey rides on display in Austin, this weekend, for the annual Formula One event at the Circuit of the Americas, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A collection of about two dozen luxury vehicles are on the auction block, as part of sale that's run by the U.S. Marshals office. The feds seized the supercars as part of an investigation into a pair of Alabama doctors, who were using their practice as a pill mill.
Bob Sheehan with Gaston & Sheehan Auctioneers says the cars for sale are jaw-dropping.
They include a 1999 Shelby Series 1 convertible, a 1994 Lamborghini Diablo VT Coupe, a 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, and a 2007 Ferrari F430 Spider.
"Probably the most unique vehicle would be the Saleen s7 supercar," he tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI. "The top speed on the car is something like 248 miles an hour."
There's a 2005 Bentley Arnage and a Bentley Continental GT and GTC, and also has a handful of Porsche 911s. For the budget-minded car shoppers, there is also a late-80s BMW M6, which is selling for less than 20 grand.
The cars were owned by Dr. Xiulu Ruan and Dr. John Couch, who jointly ran two pain management clinics under the name Physicians Pain Specialists of Alabama and C&R Pharmacy. Following an joint investigation by both the FBI and the DEA, both doctors were charged with a litany of federal felony offenses, including RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substances Act, substantive drug distribution offenses, conspiracies to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, healthcare fraud, and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, as well as money laundering.
The doctors have been sentenced to 20 and 21 years in prison and all of the money from the auction will be used to pay restitution and the injured parties.
Sheehan expects all the pricey cars will be auctioned for about $4 million.
The cars are on display today at the Hilton Austin Airport hotel. That's where the live auction will take place Saturday morning.
PHOTO COURTESY: GASTON & SHEEHAN AUCTIONEERS