From the Associated Press today:

Pamela Anderson may have a need for speed, but her favorite charity has a need for funds.

That’s why the former “Baywatch” babe is selling her prized Dodge Viper and donating the proceeds to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals … The car will be among the offerings at Julien’s Auctions’ Summer Entertainment Sale of Hollywood memorabilia, to be held June 21 and 22 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Remember Pam Anderson’s tireless work for PETA, and all that blathering about how fur is murder? Remember her selective outrage about the use of animals in feature films and television? Remember her odd habit of taking her own kids to very PETA-unfriendly circuses?

Then maybe this won’t surprise you. The factory spec sheet for Pam’s 2000 Viper R/T includes these “standard features”:

• Luxury trim leather on gearknob
• Leather seat upholstery
• Leather covered steering wheel

Say it ain’t so, Pam! How could you? Are you a PETA-loving animal defender? Or just an attention-seeking publicity whore?

To be fair, I thought maybe Pammy had her ride custom-upholstered in vinyl, or canvas, or maybe jello. PETA claims people do that sort of thing nowadays. But despite her claim today that the group is “kind of my ethical advisors,” she went for the real thing.

Here’s a snapshot from the auction catalog, provided by Julien’s:

Three words: Luxurious. Leather. Interior.

I don’t know who the bigger hypocrite is here: Pammy for riding in dead-cow comfort since 2000, or PETA for accepting a leather-fueled donation they would probably body-slam as “blood money” from anyone else.

And notice what else the catalog says:

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this car are being donated by Pamela to PETA.

A portion? What portion? Maybe just the “portion” that didn’t expose the Baywatch has-been as an attention-seeker who’s never really been into saving animals. At least not the ones whose hide feels all soft and cushy as you max out 450 horsepower.