Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche auctioned for record $1.8 mlnDecember 12, 2015 - 17:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The famous psychedelic Porsche convertible driven by late rock legend Janis Joplin smashed estimates to sell for nearly $1.8 million in New York on Thursday, December 10 in a frenetic five-minute bidding war, RM Sotheby's said, according to AFP. It was a world-record price at auction for a Porsche 356, a spokesman for the firm said. The custom-painted 356C 1600 Cabriolet model, dating back to 1964 and which had never left the Joplin family, tripled its highest pre-sale estimate of $600,000 in a five-minute sale peppered with applause. Joplin -- who sang "Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz" -- forked out for the Porsche but decided its original white finish too dull. She had it painted red with a mural that included images of butterflies and jellyfish, as well as of Joplin and her band. The auctioneer opened bidding at $300,000 before a packed room in New York with RM Sotheby's staff manning a bank of phones. In seconds, the price jumped to $600,000. A ripple of applause broke out when bidding reached $1 million and again at $1.6 million. In just five minutes the car was sold, for $1.76 million, including buyer's premium. "Janis Joplin's 356C is without question one of the most important Porsches of all time," said Ian Kelleher, managing director of RM Sotheby's West Coast Division, announcing the sale earlier this year. "It's a fantastic automobile that transcends art, pop culture and social movements, and is as groundbreaking and stunning as the renowned singer was herself." Joplin constantly drove the car, which was parked outside the Hollywood hotel where she died of an overdose in 1970. The Porsche has since belonged to Joplin's family, which lent it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, where it was on display from 1995 until the family decided to sell it. It was one of the star lots in the Driven by Disruption auction of sports cars at Sotheby's in New York. Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images/AFP Top stories The creative crew of the Public TV had chosen 13-year-old Malena as a participant of this year's contest. She called on others to also suspend their accounts over the companies’ failure to tackle hate speech. Penderecki was known for his film scores, including for William Friedkin’s “The Exorcist”, Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining”. The festival made the news public on March 19, saying that “several options are considered in order to preserve its running” Partner news | U.S. warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west Georgia has been warned by the U.S. not to become an adversary of the west by falling back in line with Moscow. Power of One Dram sums up two-year program with Teach for Armenia Idram Junior also joined the companies during the visit, bringing with it a fascinating intellectual game for children Moscow slams EU mission in Armenia for “provocative activity” The EU mission is doing more and more against Armenia’s neighbors Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, Mikhail Galuzin said. Yerevan Mayor to travel to Paris on May 15-19 The official delegation headed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan will travel to Paris from May 15 to 19. |