Skip to main content

3 Vintage Cars Formerly Owned by British Rock Legends are Up for Auction

We can’t shred guitar or drink until four in the morning, and don’t even suggest wearing skin-tight leather pants. The closest we mere mortals can come to being rock stars is driving a cool cars.

On Sunday, March 18, Bonhams will auction off three star-studded cars that were all formerly owned by a British rock legend, including members from The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and “Rod the Mod” himself.

Imagine owning a classy 1967 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 that used to belong to Sir Paul McCartney. Even more insane, McCartney acquired the ride in February of ’68, meaning he was cruising around, thinking up lyrics, and driving the Fab Four during the height of the band’s popularity (the 400GT was remodeled from the 350 for the purpose of being a four-seater). It was one of only 250 created, and one of four to have been imported to the U.K., which makes this Lamborghini even rarer. All you need is love, but I think McCartney’s lyric was lost in translation — he was probably saying “Lambo.” And love won’t pay the expected auction price of $550,000-$690,000.

Next up is a 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GT Spyder, arguably the coolest car ever made — especially this one, which is painted in black “Nero” with brown hide seats. It’s only fitting this ride belonged to the insanely talented drummer for Pink Floyd, Nick Mason. Unlike many rock legends and famous musicians who buy cars simply for the looks (and because why not when you have pockets that deep), Mason is a true petrol head who has been collecting Ferraris and other supercars since the ’60s. And he still rides today. Just last year, he was driving his multi-million dollar McLaren F1 GTR Formula One car and crashed it into a wall of tires. This was only one of 28 of these race versions ever made. Don’t do that to your 1974 Ferrari Dino, which remains one of the most desirable mid-engined cars available. You also won’t have any cash left for repairs after signing the $520,000-$590,000 check.

Like McCartney, fellow knighted rock star Sir Rod Stewart had a thing for Lamborghinis. His retro workhorse 1991 Lamborghini Diablo is on the block. Although this model debuted in ’91, it is the absolute epitome of 80s glam fame. Stewart bought this supercar as a Christmas present to himself in December 1991 following the success of his 16th studio album, Vagabond Heart, which reached Platinum status in six countries. I’d say it was well deserved. Cruising at over 200 mph, this Lamborghini goes almost too perfectly to hits “Young Turks” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.” (Looking for something faster? This car tops 301 mph.) We’re convinced you can find a reason to splurge on this iconic supercar, which is ticketed at $170,000-$190,000. Maybe it’s not going platinum but you’ve been hitting the gym regularly so treat yo-self.

Editors' Recommendations

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Buyer beware: The least reliable cars you can buy in 2024
Know the car reliability ratings of these bad buys
Front end angle of 2021 Ford F-150 parked on a dirt trail in front of a red barn and trees.

According to statistics, car sales grew by about 75.3 million globally in 2023, up from the estimated 67.3 million units sold in 2022. Evidently, buying a car is a big purchase, like buying a home, that many people want to achieve during their lifetime. 

Unfortunately, much like houses, cars have become increasingly more expensive in recent years. This is why people want to ensure they are buying a reliable car that isn't going to break down on them a few months to years down the line. The bottom line is drivers want reliability now more than ever. 

Read more
How many teams are there in Formula 1 in 2024?
!0 teams and 20 drivers compete for the World Championship,
Aston Martin Formula 1 race car driving directly toward the camera.

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix winner's stage Nate Swanner / DTMG

In the current FIA Formula 1 season, ten teams each field two drivers to vie for the highest Grand Prix World Championship points among all competitors. The 2024 F1 schedule has 24 Grand Prix racing events, including six that include a shorter F1 Sprint race.
Why F1 teams matter in the sport

Read more
What engines do Formula 1 cars use?
F1 engines will be carbon neutral starting in 2026
Lewis Hamilton (44) driving for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team during The Australian Formula One Grand Prix Race on April 02, 2023, at The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, Australia.

F1 race cars routinely exceed 200 miles per hour during Grand Prix races, which begs the question, "What engines do Formula 1 cars use?" If you expect to hear that F1 race cars use exotic V16 or V12 engines, you may be surprised to learn that they don't even run with V8s. All F1 race cars have a power unit comprising a 1.6-liter V6 hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) with two on-board electrical energy recovery units. Like almost everything in Formula 1, the engines teams can use in their race cars are strictly defined by the FIA F1 Rules and Regulations.
Why Formula 1 car engines matter

Formula 1 is considered the pinnacle of elite motorsports, which puts the organization in a powerful position to influence other competitive automotive groups. Also, in 2019, F1 committed to being carbon-net-zero by 2030. F1 race cars currently have hybrid gas and electric power units, but starting in 2026, all F1 cars will run on biofuel, a renewable energy source with significantly lower carbon emissions than petroleum-based fuels.
What engines do Formula 1 cars use today?

Read more