AUBURN, Ind.–Cars owned by John Lennon and Paul McCartney are up for sale in Indiana this Saturday. You can see the Mini Cooper S, owned by Sir Paul, when he was a Beatle, and the Mercedes-Benz 300TD station wagon, starting Thursday, at the National Auto and Truck Museum, in Auburn.
“Some automobile with international appeal are right here in Indiana,” said John Kruze, with Worldwide Auctioneers.
The Mini S and the first date
In 1965, all 4 Beatles got a Mini Cooper S. Just a few of them were made like the ones they got. But, the one up for auction Saturday is still special to McCaa.
“Paul took Linda on their first date in this car. He very much remembers this car. He had a couple other not quite as cool, and not the custom-body Minis,” said Kruze. “It’s not just a Mini Cooper S. It’s actually a special bodied car. Only a few were produced.”
Kruze said the Beatles were able to get just about any car they wanted. In 1980, John Lennon was driving the first diesel Mercedes-Benz station wagon to be imported to the U.S.
The first diesel wagon
“This was the last car that he used. It was there in the garage at the Dakota,” said Kruze. “So, he was using it right up until the time that he unfortunately passed.”
Kruze said the car wasn’t just fancy. It had a use for a working musician.
“Of course the wagon allowed him to cart around all his equipment, which he did do in this car.”
A mega fast American car
Also up for auction is a Ford GT from 2004, that is one-of-a-kind. It’s a prototype that was made to go 200 mph.
“I can tell you it very much performs to that level,” said Kruze. “It is a spectacular car and it is street legal. It is titled, tagged and I actually drove it on the street just a few days ago.”
Audio titled BEATLES CARS INTERVIEW by 93WIBC
The auction
The Auburn Auction will be in the L-29 Cord Building, a National Historic Landmark that forms part of the ACD Automobile Museum complex, during the celebrated Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival.
Vehicles can be previewed from 9 a.m. on Friday, through Saturday, Sept. 1. Admission is to the auction is $75 to include a catalogue and VIP seating passes for two (limited seating). Bidder registration is $150 and includes two VIP seating passes and a catalogue.
The National Auto and Truck Museum will be open for touring throughout the Festival week, including auction day itself. Admission daily to the museum is $8 per person, which helps maintain the not-for-profit museum.
“We hope that whoever gets to buy this will be able to create some new memories in it,” said Kruze. He said the auction is no reserve, and that all bids are welcome.
PHOTO: Courtesy Worldwide Auctioneers
