The 1956 Austin Princess (above, Stephen Kim photo courtesy of RM Sotheby’s) that served as Beatle John Lennon’s personal limousine is coming up for auction at RM Sotheby’s September 7 sale at Battersea Evolution in central London. The auction is being held in partnership with the Concours of Elegance at Windsor Castle in celebration of the 90th birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.
The Austin sale will raise funds for a trio of charities as it is offered by the Austin Rock and Roll Car Museum in Texas,, having been donated to the museum eight years ago by its then owner, Milton Verret. Along with the car, the purchaser will also get the original vehicle registration/title document, signed by Lennon when he purchased the car on August 26, 1971. The vehicle features prominently in the 1972 film Imagine. The proceeds from the sale will be divided among UNICEF — which works to improve the lives of children worldwide and was a favorite charity of Lennon’s — Make A Wish America and Dell Children’s Medical Center.
Sharing the spotlight at the sale will be a 1966 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE Cabriolet purchased new by British actor James Mason. Like the Lennon car, the Mercedes-Benz is accompanied by its original title document noting Mason as the original owner. The car is being offered for the first time from the Mason family estate.
“We are honored to have been entrusted with the sale of these two historically important cars,” said Peter Wallman, Managing Director of RM Europe. “Celebrity provenance doesn’t get stronger than this, and the fact that both cars are accompanied by the original, signed title documents is fantastic. They are very different cars, but each will surely find a delighted new owner at our London sale.”
For complete information about these and other cars offered at RM Sotheby’s London sale, please visit www.rmsothebys.com
