Attention, political and hot rod junkies: Now's your once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a little red Corvette once driven by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

That's right, former Speaker Tom Foley's 2001 shiny Corvette convertible is up for sale. Much to the Washington Democrat's chagrin.

Foley, 79, now largely retired as a lobbyist with Akin Gump, is no longer driving. But it sounds as though he'll always have a soft spot for the car.

"He loves that red Corvette," says Foley's wife, Heather, who listed the car on the Big Lot used-car-sales Web site. "He always wanted a Corvette, all his life."

The beloved 2001 convertible is listed for $30,000 "or best offer" and is described as having "approximately 15,000 miles" and "an 8 Cylinder engine with automatic transmission."

If the automatic transmission dissuades some purists -- Heather Foley "insisted" the hubby get an automatic when he bought it -- the good news is, she tells us, "it's in perfect condition."

It looks like a Saturn Astra may not be fierce enough for "Project Runway" designer Christian Siriano.

Siriano, winner of Bravo's fashion design reality television show, gave the thumbs up to Mercedes-Benz luxury at a party the German automaker hosted during the New York International Auto Show this week.

This, only weeks after the spunky New York designer took home an Astra as part of his "Project Runway" prize package. The Saturn brand is a major sponsor of the show.

No word on if Mercedes let Siriano drive away with the E320 he posed with.

Like any major auto show, the New York International Auto Show had its share of celebrities, media freebies and automakers determined to make sure reporters covered their event.

Mercedes-Benz hired singer Sheryl Crow to perform for an hour for a few hundreds guests at a makeshift "House of Bluetec" to highlight the company's clean diesel.

Rapper 50 Cent joined GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz on stage to tout the new Pontiac rear-wheel-drive products.

Later, 50 Cent admitted he liked Chrysler but not as much as the new 2009 Pontiac Solstice coupe.

Among the freebies, Honda served sushi for lunch. Scion gave out hip black T-shirts and red earphones.

Nissan offered a New York tradition made famous in a "Seinfeld" episode: black-and-white cookies, in addition to fruit smoothies and espresso drinks.

Kia Motors went to great lengths to make sure reporters showed up for its two-hour reception at an art gallery just one block from the Javits Center on the west side of New York.

First, they handed out Kia-branded umbrellas so reporters wouldn't get wet. And then they hired a dozen pedal-cabs complete with Kia logos to whisk reporters to the gallery.