John Lennon's Personal Limousine Is Up For Sale

An iconic Austin Princess hearse once owned by John Lennon is set to fetch £250,000 when it is auctioned off later this year.

The Beatles star used the British car fitted with aircraft seats, as his personal limousine after buying it secondhand in August 1971.

Records shows that the car was registered in the name of John Ono Lennon at the address 3 Savile Row, which was the Mayfair base of the Beatles.

The Austin Princess was a popular model among celebrities in the 1950s and 1960s with The Beatles regularly travelling around in one.

Lennon held onto the Austin Princess until 1972 when it was sold to a Californian.

The car has remained in the USA ever since but it is returning to Britain in September when it will be sold by RM Sotheby's at its high-profile London sale held in Battersea Park.

It has been given a guide price of £250,000 - which is around 20 times the price of a typical Austin Princess.

The car has the UK registration plate GNH 240 and the US registration plate EMAJIN (Imagine).

It is understood the large rear door aperture made quick access to the vehicle an easy task for when he was being mobbed by fans.

Texan businessman and entrepreneur Milton Verret bought the car in 2005 and gave it to the Austin Rock and Roll Car Museum.

Mr Verret said: 'Since donating the Austin Princess to the [Austin Rock and Roll Car] Museum, it's been seen and enjoyed by thousands

'Now the Museum wants to offer this rare vehicle at auction with the hope that it will be seen and enjoyed by even more fans of John Lennon and the Beatles worldwide, while at the same time raising funds for deserving charities.'

A portion of the proceeds will go to UNICEF, which was one of Lennon's favourite charities. Make A Wish America and Dell Children's Medical Center also set to benefit from the sale on September 7.

Peter Wallman, managing director of RM Europe, added: 'Celebrity provenance doesn't get stronger than this.'

Source: Daily Mail