This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride

| 18 Oct 2018
Classic & Sports Car – This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride

They may famously have written a song called Drive My Car, but in their early days even The Beatles needed a lift sometimes – and this striking open tourer was one of their regular transporters.

The beautiful 1947 Lea-Francis 14hp Drophead Coupé sold yesterday at H&H Classics' Duxford sale, making £14,625 (including the premium).

That saw it comfortably exceed its upper estimate of £11,000, helped no doubt by that connection with The Fab Four.

This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride

John Lennon was reportedly rather taken by the Lea-Francis

Back in the ’60s, the wooden-bodied tourer was owned by the father of Mike Maxfield, who was guitarist in the band Billy J Kramer With The Dakotas.

Kramer and The Dakotas were at the time managed by Brian Epstein – who was of course also The Beatles’ manager – and the two Liverpool-based groups would often play together. And, on many of those occasions, the Lea-Francis would provide their transport to the show.

In fact, John Lennon is reported to have taken a particular shine to the car, proclaiming that he “would like to own a car like that”.

This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride

This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride
This 1947 Lea-Francis was The Beatles’ ticket to ride

Body is a mixture of wood and aluminium; 1767cc engine; Coventry born, but made in Manchester

Known as the ‘Angel of Manchester’, this Lea-Francis was created on a 14hp chassis by Angel Motors of Manchester, and features a mix of cream-coloured aluminium and varnished plywood bodywork, plus red leather trim and hood.

Remarkably, it has just 23,000 miles on the clock and was described as in excellent condition when it went to auction.

Other notable classics to sell at the auction, which took place yesterday at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, include a stunning Bentley 4½ Litre previously owned by Bentley Boy Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato, which made £874,000, and a Bentley Turbo RL which once belonged to Prince Charles. You can read a full auction round-up here.


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