Janis Joplin’s trippy Porsche is up for auction
A classic car that once belonged to legendary rock and roll singer Janis Joplin will head to the auction block in December.
Spoiler alert: It’s not a Mercedes-Benz akin to the one she once sang about in her song “Mercedes Benz’’ (“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?’’).
Instead, it’s a Porsche like the ones all her friends drove. Although this one probably stands out by a mile.
Joplin’s colorful 1965 Porsche 356C 1600 Cabriolet will be auctioned by RM Sotheby’s as part of the auction house’s “Driven by Disruption’’ event on December 10 in New York. Sotheby’s expects the car to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000.
“Janis Joplin’s 365C is without question one of the most important Porsches of all time,’’ said Ian Kelleher, the managing director for RM Sotheby’s West Coast Division. “It’s a fantastic automobile that transcends art, pop culture and social movements, and is as groundbreaking and stunning as the renowned singer herself.’’
Story continues after gallery
Take a look at Janis Joplin’s funky Porsche
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Joplin purchased the Porsche in September 1968 but was not a fan of the car’s original Pearl White coloring. To create a car more befitting for a rock star, Joplin tapped her friend and roadie Dave Richards to give the Porsche a makeover.
In an email, Kelleher told Boston.com that Joplin’s instructions to Richards were very brief, simply telling him “paint it.’’ As a result, Richards painted a “kaleidoscope mural’’ all over the car in a design he described as “The History of the Universe.’’
Richards’ design features jellyfish, butterflies, rainbows and a portrait of Joplin herself.
“After its psychedelic paintwork had been completed, she drove and actively enjoyed the Porsche up until her untimely death,’’ said Kelleher.
Joplin’s sister and biographer Laura Joplin echoed those sentiments in a statement.
“Janis drove the car everywhere, all around San Francisco and down to Los Angeles when she was recording there,’’ said Laura Joplin. “Wherever Janis went in the car, her fans recognized it. When she parked it and returned, there was always at least one fan note under the wipers.’’
After Joplin died of a drug overdose in 1970, the car remained with the Joplin family.
It was given a “meticulous restoration’’ in the early 90s to restore it to its original glory.
In 1995, the Porsche went on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the same year Joplin was inducted as a performer.
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