Ex-Janis Joplin psychedelic Porsche 356 smashes estimate and sells at auction for a record AUD$2.2million…
IT SEEMS CELEBRITY really does make a difference. At the RM Sotheby’s ‘Driven By Distraction’ auction in New York City on Friday night, the psychedelic Janis Joplin 1964 Porsche 356 C 1600 SC Cabriolet sold for US$1,760,000 (or $2.2million) which was way above the pre-auction estimate of US$400,000-$600,000, or $550,000-$860,000.
According to Sotheby’s there were a number of bidders both in the room and on the phones with them all bidding furiously to secure the one-off Porsche, which had been Joplin’s daily driver. The price paid is a record for any Porsche 356 sold at a public auction.
The 356 was second-hand when Joplin, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, purchased it in 1968. She asked Dave Richards, a friend and roadie with her band to paint it with a psychedelic ‘History of the Universe’ mural, rendering it one of the first true ‘art cars’.
Following Joplin’s death, her siblings had attempted to restore the car and had it taken back and repainted in its original Dolphin Grey. Ouch. The family then engaged two artists to recreate the original mural from photos… the 356 was then loaned to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame where it has been on display for the last 20 years.
