John Lennon's First Car Up for Auction

LONDON - John Lennon's first car will be sold next month and is expected to fetch upward of $180,000, British auction house Bonhams said.

The sparkling blue 1965 Ferrari GT 2+2 Coupe was the first car the Beatles legend bought after passing his driving test in 1965.

That was the year that Lennon and the rest of the Beatles released their smash hits "Help" and "Ticket to Ride."

The auction house says the ride is expected to fetch between 120,000 to 170,000 pounds (186,200 to 263,800 dollars).

The

singer owned the car for less than a year, the auction house said.

He was better known for a Rolls Royce Phantom V limousine that he purchased soon afterward and painted in psychedelic colors.

It is hard to determine who owned the Ferrari after Lennon parted with it. In the 1990s, it was restored to its original condition by its then-owner, the auction house said.

The car is to be auctioned off Feb. 5.