Elton John’s Bentley Continental promote for 17 TIMES public sale estimate

A 90s Bentley Continental convertible owned by Sir Elton John has obliterated its pre-auction estimate in New York, making it the most costly instance to vary fingers – and by some margin.

The superb 1990 automotive – which was purchased by the music megastar in 1992 – was one lot amongst a group of Elton John memorabilia supplied to the best bidder on the US sale hosted by Christie’s.

While the gathering raised a whopping $8million, the Bentley was the standout, shattering the pre-sale estimate to promote for greater than 17 occasions what the public sale home mentioned it will go for.

Rocketman’s Bentley skyrockets in value: This 1990 Bentley Continental from Sir Elton John’s assortment bought final week for greater than 12 occasions its pre-auction estimate. Here’s how a lot it went for 

The two-door British traditional is a particular version instance with wonderfully-sculpted coachwork by Mulliner.

The left-hand-drive instance was bought by the Rocketman singer in 1992 and treasured for years on either side of the Atlantic.

Finished in gorgeous black paint with a black leather-based inside and matching black soft-top roof, it contains a 6.75-litre V8 engine beneath its intensive bonnet – and a bum print within the driver’s seat of arguably one in every of Britain’s most revered artists of the fashionable period.

As such, the pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 (that is the equal of £19,825 to £27,750) was thought-about by specialists as extremely modest.

The left-hand-drive instance was bought by the Your Song singer in 1992 and treasured for years on either side of the Atlantic

Finished in gorgeous black paint with a black leather-based inside and matching black soft-top roof, it contains a 6.75-litre V8 engine beneath its intensive bonnet – and a backside print within the driver’s seat of arguably one in every of Britain’s most revered artists of the fashionable period

Experts mentioned earlier than the New York public sale that Christie’s pre-sale estimate of $25,000 to $35,000 (that is the equal of £19,825 to £27,750) was extremely modest

And this proved to be the case when the hammer dropped within the Big Apple final week, which attracted bids from 24 totally different collectors over the cellphone and on-line.

The eventual successful value (together with public sale charges and taxes) was a colossal  $441,000 – which transformed to British kilos sterling is £350,000.

That’s 1,664 per cent greater than Christie’s decrease estimate – over 17.5 occasions the decrease pre-sale information. 

John Mayhead, editor of Hagerty’s traditional automotive Price Guide, confirmed to This is Money that the successful bid was simply a brand new world document for this specific mannequin.

In reality, it was virtually double the earlier highest determine paid for this era of Bentley – a 1994 Continental IV bought in Arizona in 2022 with a mere 15,100 miles on the clock, altering fingers for $296,500.

The eventual successful value (together with public sale charges and taxes) was a colossal $441,000 – which transformed to British kilos sterling is £350,000

The successful bid was 1,160% up on Christie’s increased estimate – over 12 occasions the top-end of the pre-sale information

Speaking to Christie’s about his much-loved motor, Sir Elton revealed that he had adored it a lot that he transported it from the US to Europe.

‘When I first purchased the black Bentley Continental within the 1990’s, I used to be astonished by the great thing about the automotive. I additionally cherished its horny darkish walnut inside and beautiful detailing. And the scent.

‘Decades later, the automotive nonetheless has probably the most attractive scent from the butter smooth black leather-based seats,’ he mentioned.

The motor was alongside a raft of things from the singer’s personal house in Atlanta, which included the Banksy Flower Thrower Triptych – a piece Elton John acquired instantly from the road artist and bought final week for a monumental $1.9million (£1.5million).

A pair of work by Keith Haring bought properly over estimate (virtually $1.3million mixed), as did a Cartier 8K golf asymmetrical watch ($277,200) and a grand piano ($201,600), all of which had been shops 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 things from the singer’s personal house in Atlanta, which included this grand piano that additionally bought for properly 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 a lot that he transported it from the US to Europe

Experts mentioned the sale value was 3 times the typical worth of a Continental IV mannequin from this period of luxurious Bentleys. Without a celebrity proprietor, the anticipated value for one in every of these vehicles in glorious situation is $96,500

‘I first drove the automotive in Los Angeles. I made numerous journeys up and down the Pacific Coast Highway,’ the Yellow Brick Road musician mentioned. 

‘There is not any place higher in California to drive a convertible sedan with the roof down and the ocean air gently blowing in your face. I notably keep in mind one lovely drive up the coast to San Simeon with radio hits blaring away.

‘When I moved to Atlanta, I made a decision to carry my beloved convertible Bentley with me. It brought about fairly a stir every time I took it out on the town. 

‘I made many journeys to go to my favorite photographic gallery, as I started the method of studying and constructing my picture assortment. The balmy Atlanta climate and the candy scent of magnolias have been the proper accompaniments for southern roof-down driving.

‘After just a few summers at our home within the South of France, I made a decision it was time for the Bentley to cross the Atlantic and switch heads on the Côte d’Azur. 

‘We made numerous journeys up and down the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, with the glowing stars guiding us to our favorite restaurant. 

‘Whenever I went buying in Monaco, we would valet park the automotive on the Hotel de Paris. 

‘The doormen would all the time give the Bentley prime place within the forecourt of the lodge. 

‘Every time we returned to gather the automotive, there could be a small gathering of vacationers having their pictures taken subsequent to its elegant magnificence.’

John Mayhead says that whereas the automotive itself is from an period that is rising in demand within the traditional automotive world, there is no denying that Elton’s possession is the rationale for the value not solely blowing the pre-sale estimate out of the water, however eclipsing the typical worth of those automobiles at present.

‘Elton is thought for his love of vehicles and he was particularly enthusiastic about this one, describing it as his ‘beloved’ Continental and gushing over how great it seemed. 

‘This provenance gave it an enormous increase when it hit the podium.

‘Hagerty tracks the worth that superstar possession provides to vehicles via the annual Power List, and this would be the 18th sale of Elton’s vehicles that our staff has tracked (which coincidentally is the third highest quantity, behind simply Steve McQueen and Paul Walker). 

‘The common enhance of Elton’s different vehicles over a typical equal has been 115 per cent. This sale was a full 372 per cent over the Hagerty Price Guide ‘glorious’ worth of $96,500. That’s a giant quantity.’