A 90s Bentley Continental convertible owned by Sir Elton John has obliterated its pre-auction estimate in New York, making it the most expensive example to change hands – and by some margin.
The glorious 1990 car – which was bought by the music megastar in 1992 – was one lot among a collection of Elton John memorabilia offered to the highest bidder at the US sale hosted by Christie’s.
While the collection raised a whopping $8million, the Bentley was the standout, shattering the pre-sale estimate to sell for more than 17 times what the auction house said it would go for.
Rocketman’s Bentley skyrockets in price: This 1990 Bentley Continental from Sir Elton John’s collection sold last week for more than 12 times its pre-auction estimate. Here’s how much it went for
The two-door British classic is a special edition example with wonderfully-sculpted coachwork by Mulliner.
The left-hand-drive example was purchased by the Rocketman singer in 1992 and treasured for years on both sides of the Atlantic.
Finished in stunning black paint with a black leather interior and matching black soft-top roof, it features a 6.75-litre V8 engine under its extensive bonnet – and a bum print in the driver’s seat of arguably one of Britain’s most revered artists of the modern era.
As such, the pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 (that’s the equivalent of £19,825 to £27,750) was considered by experts as incredibly modest.
The left-hand-drive example was purchased by the Your Song singer in 1992 and treasured for years on both sides of the Atlantic
Finished in stunning black paint with a black leather interior and matching black soft-top roof, it features a 6.75-litre V8 engine under its extensive bonnet – and a bottom print in the driver’s seat of arguably one of Britain’s most revered artists of the modern era
Experts said before the New York auction that Christie’s pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 (that’s the equivalent of £19,825 to £27,750) was incredibly modest
And this proved to be the case when the hammer dropped in the Big Apple last week, which attracted bids from 24 different collectors over the phone and online.
The eventual winning price (including auction fees and taxes) was a colossal $441,000 – which converted to British pounds sterling is £350,000.
That’s 1,664 per cent more than Christie’s lower estimate – over 17.5 times the lower pre-sale guide.
John Mayhead, editor of Hagerty’s classic car Price Guide, confirmed to This is Money that the winning bid was easily a new world record for this particular model.
In fact, it was almost double the previous highest figure paid for this generation of Bentley – a 1994 Continental IV sold in Arizona in 2022 with a mere 15,100 miles on the clock, changing hands for $296,500.
The eventual winning price (including auction fees and taxes) was a colossal $441,000 – which converted to British pounds sterling is £350,000
The winning bid was 1,160% up on Christie’s higher estimate – over 12 times the top-end of the pre-sale guide
Speaking to Christie’s about his much-loved motor, Sir Elton revealed that he had adored it so much that he transported it from the US to Europe.
‘When I first bought the black Bentley Continental in the 1990’s, I was astonished by the beauty of the car. I also loved its sexy dark walnut interior and exquisite detailing. And the smell.
‘Decades later, the car still has the most gorgeous smell from the butter soft black leather seats,’ he said.
The motor was alongside a raft of items from the singer’s private home in Atlanta, which included the Banksy Flower Thrower Triptych – a work Elton John acquired directly from the street artist and sold last week for a monumental $1.9million (£1.5million).
A pair of paintings by Keith Haring sold well over estimate (almost $1.3million combined), as did a Cartier 8K golf asymmetrical watch ($277,200) and a grand piano ($201,600), all of which had been stores or displayed at his Peachtree Road property.
Yet it was the Bentley that John arguably spoke most fondly about.
The motor was alongside a raft of items from the singer’s private home in Atlanta, which included this grand piano that also sold for well over estimate with a bid of $201,600
Speaking to Christie’s about his much-loved motor, Sir Elton revealed that he had adored it so much that he transported it from the US to Europe
Experts said the sale price was three times the average value of a Continental IV model from this era of luxury Bentleys. Without a superstar owner, the expected price for one of these cars in excellent condition is $96,500
‘I first drove the car in Los Angeles. I made a lot of trips up and down the Pacific Coast Highway,’ the Yellow Brick Road musician said.
‘There is no place better in California to drive a convertible sedan with the roof down and the sea air gently blowing in your face. I particularly remember one beautiful drive up the coast to San Simeon with radio hits blaring away.
‘When I moved to Atlanta, I decided to bring my beloved convertible Bentley with me. It caused quite a stir whenever I took it out in town.
When I first bought the black Bentley Continental in the 1990’s, I was astonished by the beauty of the car. I also loved its sexy dark walnut interior and exquisite detailing. And the smell.
‘I made many trips to visit my favourite photographic gallery, as I began the process of learning and building my photo collection. The balmy Atlanta weather and the sweet smell of magnolias were the perfect accompaniments for southern roof-down driving.
‘After a few summers at our house in the South of France, I decided it was time for the Bentley to cross the Atlantic and turn heads on the Côte d’Azur.
‘We made countless trips up and down the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, with the sparkling stars guiding us to our favourite restaurant.
‘Whenever I went shopping in Monaco, we’d valet park the car at the Hotel de Paris.
‘The doormen would always give the Bentley prime position in the forecourt of the hotel.
‘Every time we returned to collect the car, there would be a small gathering of tourists having their photos taken next to its elegant beauty.’
John Mayhead says that while the car itself is from an era that’s growing in demand in the classic car world, there’s no denying that Elton’s ownership is the reason for the price not only blowing the pre-sale estimate out of the water, but eclipsing the average value of these vehicles today.
‘Elton is known for his love of cars and he was especially passionate about this one, describing it as his ‘beloved’ Continental and gushing over how wonderful it looked.
‘This provenance gave it a massive boost when it hit the rostrum.
‘Hagerty tracks the value that celebrity ownership adds to cars through the annual Power List, and this will be the 18th sale of Elton’s cars that our team has tracked (which coincidentally is the third highest number, behind just Steve McQueen and Paul Walker).
‘The average increase of Elton’s other cars over a standard equivalent has been 115 per cent. This sale was a full 372 per cent over the Hagerty Price Guide ‘excellent’ value of $96,500. That’s a big number.’
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