Beep-beep, yeah! for two Beatles’ cars
“Drive My Car,” was one of the many hits from the Beatles’ 1965 “Rubber Soul” album.
Now folks are going to get the chance to do just that as two of the Beatles’ iconic cars will soon be put up for auction.
John Lennon’s last personal Mercedes-Benz and Paul McCartney’s custom-made Morris Mini Cooper S will both hit the auction block Sept. 1 as part of a consignment of a number of rare autos.
“Both of these iconic motorcars have amazing, documented provenance,” said John Kruse, owner and auctioneer for Worldwide Auctioneers. “Both are fantastic symbols of musical, social and automotive history whose value as offered greatly exceeds that of the cars themselves.”
The auction will take place at the National Auto & Truck Museum in Auburn, Ind., during the celebrated Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, but bids also will be accepted by phone, he said.
Lennon’s 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD station wagon has been well-documented as the last automobile ever used by Lennon, Kruse said. It is believed to be the first Mercedes turbodiesel wagon imported into the U.S.
And the 1965 Morris Mini Cooper S De Ville with California sage green paintwork was shown in the Beatles’ 1967 “Magical Mystery Tour” movie with McCartney in the background.
“I think the first thing that I would tell people, when you’re talking about famous, iconic individuals attached to a car, first and foremost you’re a piece of history and not just a car,” Kruse said.
Unlike other memorabilia, these are items the musicians actually used, he said.
“They were special cars and they (the owners) wanted to express themselves in them and that’s the neat part,” Kruse said. “When you take an artist, guys like McCartney and Lennon, and think about where they were in life when they had these particular cars, it’s amazing. And we can sit in them and actually drive them. You’re not just buying a signed record. These guys actually were in them and used them. There’s a neat aspect to that.”
The vehicles will be on display at the National Auto & Truck Museum throughout Labor Day weekend prior to the sale.
Those interested in participating in the auction should call Worldwide at 800-990-6789. Check out all the offerings at worldwideauctioneers.com.