This once in a generation display at Kensington, Olympia over the 24-26 February weekend, features the famed Minis of George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr; the last time all three icons were seen together in London was during rehearsals for the White Album way back in 1968.
Lennon’s version sadly has failed the test of time but McCartney’s much-loved top spec 1275cc Cooper S is one of the three to be displayed at The London Classic Car Show. Among a long list of Radford upgrades, it has a pair of additional headlamps mounted within the grille, sliding sunroof and Aston Martin taillights as well as Aston Martin ‘California Sage Green’ paintwork.
George Harrison's personalised Mini was originally finished in black but he later decided to brighten its appearance with a full, flower-power, psychedelic makeover as featured in the Magical Mystery Tour movie.
Adding to the celebrations at The London Classic Car Show, the eye-catching display will coincide perfectly with George Harrison's 80th birthday as well as the 60th anniversary of both the Beatles’ debut album, Please Please Me, and the band’s first number one hit, From Me to You, which was recorded in March 1963 and reached the top of the UK charts just a couple of months later. (Racecar)
Rock stars love the good life. Mansions, private jets, and, of course, cars. Lots and lots of cars. By James Derek Sapienza.on Cheatsheet.com
These are the coolest rock star cars that have changed hands since 2017.
Baby you can drive my car! Sir Paul McCartney’s offer by paying £1.3m for a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 the ex-Beatle once owned and made it famous by 007The iconic, stunning model was owned by Sir Paul at the height of Beatlemania just after he finished filming A Hard Day’s Night.The car was delivered to McCartney’s drive just a few days after the premiere of Goldfinpaulger where Sean Connery had immortalised the DB5.
Considered one of the most beautiful cars of all time, Sir Paul’s 1964 model has a built-in Philips record player so you can play The Beatles’ hits on your road trip.
He may not be wrong either. In the 1950s, the Continental was one of the fastest and best-built cars in the world. Today, surviving examples are highly collectible. Despite having two owners since Sir Elton, the car is largely as it was under his ownership. It was sold by Bonhams for $491,905 in December 2017.
Ringo Starr’s 1966 Mini Cooper Radford | Bonham’s
While Paul McCartney’s Aston fetched big bucks, Ringo’s vintage Mini was slightly more “affordable.” Bought by Beatle manager Brian Epstein for the drummer in 1966, Ringo had the car modified with a modern-style hatchback so he could fit his drums inside (Minis famously had a tiny trunk instead of a more sensible hatch). Fitted with other cool period customizations like driving lights, hood vents, a giant sunroof, and aftermarket wheels, the Mini sold for just over $137,000. Its new owner? Ex-Spice Girl Geri Horner, a.k.a. Ginger Spice.
Neil Young 1953 Buick Skylark | Julien’s Auctions
It isn’t all British rock stars cleaning out their garages nowadays. Neil Young is a famous gearhead, keeping dozens of vintage (mostly American) cars at his Southern California ranch. Of all those, Young’s 1953 Skylark is truly something special. Built to celebrate Buick’s 50th anniversary, the Skylark was released the same year as the Chevrolet Corvette and Cadillac Eldorado, part of GM’s push to bring some of its Motorama dream cars to life. Number one of 1,690 Skylarks built, this car has been called the “Holy Grail of classic Buicks” by marque experts. Offered by Julien’s Auctions, it fetched an incredible $400,000 in December 2017.
The 1956 Austin Princess owned by John Lennon | Barrett-Jackson
John Lennon famously couldn’t drive until he was well into his 20s. But once he could, he bought cars like any good self-respecting rock star would. Keeping the Beatles trend alive, Lennon’s Austin Princess hit the block in 2017. John and wife Yoko Ono bought the hearse in early 1971 and using airline seats, converted the car into a limousine. They can be seen driving the big British hearse in the promotional film for 1971’s “Imagine.” While not nearly as famous as his psychedelic Rolls-Royce limo, the Austin is still a pretty big part of Lennon lore. It fetched $159,500 at Barrett-Jackson’s January 2017 auction.
Neil Young’s 1948 Buick Roadmaster Hearse | Julien’s Auctions
In the Neil Young biography Shakey, artist Sandy Mazzeo remembers taking Young’s hearse for a drive. (This is in the mid-’70s.) Mazzeo hears a series of loud bangs. “I’m thinkin’, Oh my God, it’s a ghost.’ I look in the rearview mirror and it’s Bob.” Dylan had, for whatever reason, climbed into the back of the vehicle and gone to sleep. “Dylan was in his turban stage, and he’d slept in his turban and it had come all undone — he looked like the mummy.”
For fans of Neil Young, his 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse looms large in his legend. In the early ’60s, Young and his early bands criss-crossed Western Canada in his hearse, dubbed “Mort.” The car carried Young down to Los Angeles where he found fame. He later immortalized the car in the album (and song) “Long May You Run.” This Buick is an exact replica of the original Mort. Dubbed Mort II, Young has owned it since at least the early 1990s. Considering its place in Neil Young lore, its $31,250 sale price made it something of a bargain.
George Harrison’s 1980 Porsche 928
George Harrison’s 1980 Porsche 928 | YouTube/Omega Auctions
For our final (and final Beatle) car, a Porsche that once belonged to George Harrison crossed the auction block in March 2017. In his post-Beatle years, Harrison became a true gearhead, at one point owning over 100 cars. This Porsche was one of them. Harrison owned this 928 from 1980 to 1984, putting just over 11,000 miles on it. Optioned with the highly-desirable six-speed manual transmission, it was sold by Omega Auctions for £44,000,
Made by French automaker Facel and hand built, only 2,900 of these cars were made. Ringo bought it from the Earls Court Motor Show in 1964 for $5570. In 2012 it was sold at auction for over $567,000.
Ringo also owned a 1968 Ford Mustang 289, but he parted ways with it in 1991.
