Cars Owned by the Beatles

John, Paul, George, and Ringo knew how to celebrate success with car purchases. Where did their tastes lead them?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
No matter what, the Beatles never seem to be forgotten in
pop culture
. Like today’s musicians, John, Paul, George, and Ringo celebrated their initial success by splurging on expensive cars, a pleasure they continued to indulge in throughout their years together and as they parted ways musically. 
Jerry
, the
trustworthy insurance comparison app
, did a little online research to look back on the automotive tastes of these four music legends. The cars they owned give a unique snapshot of their shared path from Liverpool bar band to cultural icons.

Cars from the Beatles’ early years

Ringo, the oldest Beatle, had a car or two before joining the band. But his used Ford Zodiac inspired Paul and George to go a similar route for their first cars.
GQ
says Harrison began his love of the automobile with a Ford Anglia while Paul went for a Consul Classic 315.  
John, on the other hand, broke the streak in style, buying a Ferrari 330 GT before he even had a driver’s license. As if giving permission to the rest of them to embrace their success, John’s choice inspired the other three members of the band to upgrade to luxury models as well. 
Paul’s second car was an Aston Martin DB5, George’s was a Jaguar E-Type, and Ringo went French with a Facel Vega Facel II, the fastest car with four seats at the time. 
Brian Epstein, the band’s long-time manager, gifted them with matching and modified Mini Coopers in 1965, at the height of Beatlemania. Nearly 50 years later, Paul and Ringo’s Minis were both auctioned off for over $100,000 each.
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The Beatles’ other cars before and after the breakup

A few other cars defined the Beatles while they were still together, the most iconic being John Lennon’s 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V. 
Originally ordered in black, it gained a psychedelic mural in ‘67 to match the band’s new albums, Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. John was inspired by George, who had a similar paint job given to the Mini Epstein had gifted him.
Epstein died suddenly later that year, signaling the beginning of the end for the Beatles. But their love of unique cars carried all four of them into their solo careers. 
Within a few years of their breakup in 1970, three of the four of them had an Italian
sports car
that auto enthusiasts would die for now. 
Paul bought his Lamborghini 400 GT while still a Beatle, George acquired a ‘43 Ferrari Dino 246 GT soon after, and Lennon already had his Ferrari.
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John, Paul, George, and Ringo’s cars in the later years

The Beatles never reunited the same way most bands of their prominence usually do. It was brought up many times, but after John’s tragic death in 1980, that idea was officially put to rest. 
Nevertheless, all four of them had successful careers afterward, and they continued to treat themselves to some impressive cars. 
Post-Beatles, Lennon continued his love of Mercedes, purchasing a 300 TD Estate in 1979. George, the real gearhead of the group, owned a number of Mercedes himself, as well as Porsches and most notably, a 1994 McLaren F1.
Less is known about Ringo’s car collection, but Paul continues to own remarkable cars, including a hybrid Lexus gifted by the automaker, at 2003 Corvette, and one model gaining momentum in the classic car scene—a 1989 Ford Bronco.
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