John Lennon’s Car Auctioned to Tune of $2 Million Plus

Beatle John Lennon’s psychedelic Rolls-Royce sold for more than $2 million Saturday after fierce bidding at a rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia auction at Sotheby’s, the auctioneer said.

“Applause broke out at the million-dollar mark and the auctioneer had to call for quiet,” said Sotheby’s spokesman Joseph Dougherty.

Canadian businessman Jim Pattison, chairman of Expo ’86 in Vancouver, bought the car for $2,299,000. Pattison, who stood in the back of the auction house and placed his own bids, also owns the syndicated feature Ripley’s Believe-It-or-Not, Dougherty said.

The limo, a 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V touring limousine, is painted with blue and red flowers and other psychedelic themes on a bright yellow background.

It was used by the Beatles between 1966 and 1969, but belonged to Lennon. After 1969, members of the Moody Blues and Rolling Stones borrowed the car at times for tours, Dougherty said.

Lennon was shot and killed outside his Manhattan apartment in December, 1980.