I believe the story as told by Uncle Tony!
I think there are multiple perps (I like that word even though it may not be correct), some driving up the sale price of the car, some auction-related, some movie promotion related, and some new car sales related.
I doubt this is an organized, broad-based, well-oiled scam effort. I think it is more like a number of people associated with different corporate entities that all recognized an opportunity, at close to the same time, and in an opportunistic but uncoordinated sort of fashion, all cashed in on the story, albeit in different ways.
Snake
oil sales may be down these days, but The Snake
Oil Salesman genera is still very much alive and kicking. This story is an excellent example — and in time, the truth will be completely obscured, with only the story remaining ...