John Lennon’s 1965 Ferrari 330GT is headed for auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
The day a young John Lennon passed his driving test, the famed Beatles frontman had his pick of high-priced rides from luxury automotive dealerships vying for his attention. Aston Martins, Jaguars and Maseratis were offered hand over fist, parked in literally in his front yard. But the one that caught his eye was a beautiful blue 1965 Ferrari 330GT.
Half a century later, and 33 years after his murder by a gun-wielding fan, Lennon’s car is headed for the auction block, where it’s expected to fetch upwards of $340,000. Valued at around $10,000 at the time Lennon acquired it, the car is inextricably linked to the Fab Five’s No. 1 hit, Ticket to Ride, which the group had recorded just weeks before. Lennon drove it until October 1967, racking up 20,000 miles.
One of just 500 built, the Ferrari will be up for bids July 12 at the Bonhams auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Chichester, UK. It sports the original registration plate reading DUL 4C, as well as the same engine and chassis.
“It is a wonderful commentary on the early excitement generated by Beatlemania that John Lennon didn’t even have to leave his house to buy his first car,” said Sholto Gilbertson, Senior Specialist in the Bonhams Motor Car Department.
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