2014 Mercedes S Class, Porsche 918 Spyder, Six-Wheeled Volvo...

Driving Volvo's KERS Flywheel Hybrid Prototype: What It's Like

Performance RS Models To Play Role In Audi's Growth: Report
2014 Lexus IS Gets TRD Upgrades

It’s Finally Happened: Bugatti Veyron Joins Dubai Police Fleet

Volvo's Six-Wheeled Crossover Camera Car: We Want One!
Porsche Hybrids, Autonomous S Class, Nuclear Mustang: Today's...

2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray Spotted On Set Of New Captain...

Aston Martin Teases Its CC100 Speedster Concept: Video

George Harrison's Aston Martin DB5 Sells For Over $500,000

Kurt Ernst

Contributor BIO

Kurt has been fascinated by anything with wheels and a motor for a long time. Growing up, he spent his spare time turning wrenches and pumping gas in... More

LATEST ARTICLE
A Few Thoughts On Moving On
I began writing for High Gear Media in April of 2011, and since that time I’ve penned some... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
2940ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
152COMMENTS POSTED

2,841 views Dec 9, 2011

George Harrison's 1965 Aston Martin DB5. Image: Coys of London

Enlarge Photo

Related Photo Galleries

See more photos »

A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 once owned by Beatles guitarist George Harrison fetched some 350,000 GBP ($549,045) at a recent Coys of London Auction. The car sold for some 150,000 GBP ($235,305) over pre-auction estimates, thanks to a bidding war between several interested collectors.

As MSN Cars reports, the buyer was a Beatles fan in Houston, Texas, who will use the car to raise money for Christian charities. While Harrison, who died of lung cancer in 2001, was a Buddhist for most of his life, we have a feeling he’d still approve, as the guitarist once said, “All religions are branches of one big tree. It doesn’t matter what you call Him just as long as you call.”

Harrison’s Aston Martin wasn’t the only car to sell for considerably more than pre-auction estimates, either. Bernie Ecclestone’s former Mercedes-Benz 540 K, expected to sell for 500,000 GBP ($784,350) actually bid up to a price of 864,000 GBP (nearly $1.4 million) by the time the hammer fell. A “barn find” Mercedes-Benz 300 SL roadster, stored for two decades, drew a selling price of 343,000 GBP ($538,064), some 100,000 GBP ($156,870) more than expected.

While the overall global economy may be suffering, those with money apparently aren't afraid to spend it. While one auction doesn't prove that collector car prices are (again) on the upswing, it could bode well for auction sales in the U.S. in 2012.