Best Holiday Gift Ever!

THE ULTIMATE RIDE FOR THE ULTIMATE LITERARY BUFF

Penguin Publishing Selling Author-Autographed Mini Cooper on AutoTrader.com

ATLANTA – December 13, 2010 – Are you or a friend or family member the ultimate literary fan? Then AutoTrader.com has posted for sale the ultimate gift for you or that special someone: a 2010 Mini Cooper SD with a dashboard signed by 18 Penguin authors, including Garrison Keillor of Lake Wobegon fame, Pulitzer Prize winning authors William Kennedy and Geraldine Brooks as well as New York Times bestselling authors Michael Pollan, Sue Monk Kidd, Jan Karon, Rosanne Cash and many more!

Penguin Books purchased the Mini Cooper as part of the company’s 75th anniversary celebration, which occurred throughout 2010. The vehicle traveled to literary and book events across the country and Penguin-published authors signed the car’s interior at each stop, making this truly a one-of-a-kind ride.

The vehicle is now for sale on AutoTrader.com with a Private Seller advertisement at www.autotrader.com/penguinmini for $30,000. The price reflects the unique nature of the vehicle, its excellent condition and an additional bonus: the car comes with the top 75 titles published by Penguin Books over the past 75 years, a collection of books worth about $1,200. Proceeds from the sale of the car will be donated to the New York Public Library.

“We wanted to post this vehicle on a site that had the ability to showcase the features of this car – both the features and options you’d find on any Mini Cooper and these unique autographs – and that had millions of car-shopping visitors so we could ensure the right buyer would find it,” said Kathryn Court, President & Publisher of Penguin Books. “With the ability to show detailed photos of the car and write a description that really highlighted the special and unique features, AutoTrader.com’s Private Seller ad was clearly the way to go.”

Penguin Books utilized AutoTrader.com’s Private Seller options to the max to showcase the vehicle. At www.autotrader.com/penguinmini, interested buyers will find multiple photos of the car’s interior and exterior and a description that highlights the car’s features. The vehicle comes with AM/FM/CD, MP3 player jack, air conditioning, automatic transmission, black cloth seats, orange and black exterior paint (freshly painted) and, of course, those 18 autographs in silver pen along the dashboard, doors and steering wheel. The car has about 15,750 miles on it and is currently located in New York City.

“When Penguin approached us to assist them in finding a buyer for this unique vehicle and for this great cause – the New York Public Library – we immediately said ‘yes’,” said AutoTrader.com General Manager of Private Seller Service and Sales Melanie Kovach. “AutoTrader.com is all about using technology tools to connect buyers and sellers efficiently, and this is a special opportunity to do so that we’re really excited about.”

Full details, photos and contact information for Penguin Books to make an offer on the vehicle is included in the advertisement, or you can contact Paul Lamb at 212-366-2277 or Paul.Lamb@us.penguingroup.com.

Penguin Books, like any private seller, will select the buyer with the most attractive offer. Used 2010 Mini Coopers listed for sale on AutoTrader.com range in price from about $24,000 to $30,000, depending on vehicle options and condition.

“We priced the car at the top of the price range you would find for a used 2010 Mini Cooper on AutoTrader.com because of the special and unique nature of the vehicle,” said John Fagan, VP Director of Marketing at Penguin Books. “We’ll consider all offers, but are obviously looking to get as much for the vehicle as possible as all the proceeds benefit the New York Public Library, one of New York City’s most treasured institutions.”