George Harrison's Aston Martin DB5 Fetches $549,553 at Auction

Just the Facts:

• An unidentified Beatles fan from Houston, Texas, paid $549,553 for George Harrison's 1965 Aston Martin DB5 at a London auction on Wednesday.
• Auctioneers said the car went for about $235,000 over its estimate.
• The platinum silver DB5 was equipped with a black Connolly leather interior and chrome wire wheels.

LONDON — An unidentified Beatles fan from Houston, Texas, paid $549,553 for George Harrison's 1965 Aston Martin DB5 at a London auction on Wednesday.

Auctioneers said in a statement that the car went for about $235,000 over its estimate.

The platinum silver DB5 was equipped with a black Connolly leather interior and chrome wire wheels.

"There was intense bidding in the room and from telephone bidders in the United States and elsewhere," said Coys, the auction house, in a statement. "The car was eventually knocked down to an anonymous Beatles and Aston Martin fan from Houston who said: 'George Harrison would be amazed about all the money his car is going to raise for Christian causes.'"

No further explanation was offered on what those Christian causes might be. Harrison was associated with transcendental meditation and at one time was involved with the Hare Krishnas.

The auction house said the Aston Martin DB5/1896/R was built in late 1964. It had just over 22,000 miles on the odometer and showed no sign of "major mechanical maladies."

A Mercedes-Benz 540K once owned by F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone fetched $1.3 million at the auction.

Inside Line says: The Beatles sang "All you need is love," but all you need is a pile of cash if you want to get your hands on one of their rides.