AN Aston Martin owned by the late Beatles lead guitarist George Harrison has fetched £350,000 at auction after fierce bidding from around the world.
Built in late 1964, the DB5/1896/R model was delivered to the Beatle on New Year’s Day 1965 and naturally created huge interest when it was put up for sale at the COYS True Greats auction in Westminster.
The car was eventually knocked down to an anonymous Beatles and Aston Martin fan from Houston, Texas, who said: "George Harrison would be amazed about all the money his car is going to raise for Christian causes."
Model and photographer Patti Boyd, who was married to Harrison when he owned the DB5, was re-united with the car when it was showcased in London.
Chris Routledge, managing Director at car auction house COYS said: "There was a battle royal for this car which went for some £150,000 over its estimate.
The sale saw some £4.5 million pounds worth of cars being sold, including a Cord 810 Phaeton owned by both Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin and the Dragons Den’s Duncan Bannatyne, which sold for £80,000.
And a Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster which had been stored in an Edinburgh garage for the last 23 years made £343,000, £100,000 over its estimate.
Another Mercedes, a 540 K model formerly owned by F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone which had been estimated at £500,000, sold for £864,000.
Routledge added: “It was a fantastic sale with dealers and collectors from all over the world participating. There is also no doubt that many people who in the past invested in stocks and shares are now looking to classic cars as a good investment for the future.”