The Beatles will be remembered as one of the greatest bands of all time, entertaining millions of people around the world. Their cars have also earned a reputation and Paul McCartney’s Mini recently sold for a tidy £182,000. It sold at the Auburn Auction held by Worldwide Auctioneers on the 1st September. McCartney’s Mini had plenty of history behind it, adding to the car’s appeal.
A Radford-modified vehicle, the Mini was originally ordered by the Beatles’ band manager Brian Epstein. Radford were known for providing luxury coachbuilding work, so they designed a car that matched McCartney’s star power.
The Mini came with a California Sage Green paint job and a plethora of modifications. They included Aston Martin lights, custom wheels and a Webasto sliding sunroof. The interior had power windows, bucket seats, a woodgrain dashboard and three-spoke wooden steering wheel.
When McCartney passed it on, the Mini went to California. It was used regularly as a Hollywood vehicle. This extended to regular servicing at Hollywood Sports Cars. Eventually, the Mini ended up in Florida, where it got a cosmetic upgrade. Then, the car went on display at the Sarasota Classic Car Museum. The Mini occasionally went on the road for shows and other events.
The McCartney Mini is one of three others that were commissioned for the band. In terms of pop culture, the car is on the same level as other Minis, like the ones in the Italian Job. The Auburn Auction also featured a 1979 Mercedes-Benz wagon owned by John Lennon. Originally, the Mercedes-Benz was ordered at Yoko Ono’s request by Lennon’s personal assistant.
