Ringo Starr’s 1966 Mini Cooper S Radford
A 1966 Mini Cooper S with Radford conversion – originally owned by the Beatles Ringo Starr – is up for sale and expected to fetch over £100,000.
The quartet of Minis bought by Brain Epstein for the Beatles – as a thank-you for making him very wealthy – are well known, with the possibly the most distinctive being George Harrison’s Mini, complete with very 1960s graphics, the subject of a modern MINI special a few years ago.
But now one of the original Beatles Minis is going up for grabs as Ringo Starr’s Cooper S Radford goes under the hammer next month in London.
In its own way, Ringo’s Mini is just as distinctive as George’s, as Ringo had Radford do a hatchback conversion on it so he could actually fit a drum kit in the back if he really wanted to.
In the same ownership for 40 years, the Mini has done the publicity rounds with appearances on Blue Peter and the Beatles City exhibition in Liverpool, as well as winning the Style et Luxe Award at Goodwood and appearing on Top Gear.
Finished in two-tone Rolls-Royce Red and Silver Grey, it comes with extended wheelarches, Webasto roof, electric windows, walnut, tinted glass, reclining seats – and rear lights from a VW Beetle.
Buyers will need to find around £100k to grab Ringo’s Mini (the estimate is £90-120k), but as well as the car they will also get an original log book signed by both Brian Epstein and Ringo Starr.
Ringo’s Mini will go under the hammer at Bonhams Bond Street Sale on December 2.
Have your say - leave a comment