The Beatles’ legendary status continues to captivate audiences, most recently reignited by the “Get Back” documentary, a deep dive into the making of their final album, Let It Be. Director Peter Jackson masterfully compiled unseen footage to offer a fresh perspective on the band’s dynamics during that era. This resurgence of Beatlemania serves as a perfect backdrop to explore a lesser-known facet of guitarist George Harrison: his profound love for cars, a passion that ignited alongside his fervor for rock and roll.
Harrison’s automotive journey began in 1955 at the tender age of 12. His father took him to the British Grand Prix at Aintree, near Liverpool, an experience that proved formative.
The spectacle of Mercedes-Benz dominating the race, securing the top four positions, and British driver Stirling Moss’s victory deeply impressed young George. This day marked the genesis of his lifelong fascination with cars and speed.
By 1958, Harrison’s musical talent led him to join The Quarrymen, John Lennon’s skiffle band, setting the stage for Beatles history. In their early days, cars were a distant luxury for the band members, who hailed from modest backgrounds.
Ringo Starr was the exception. When he joined The Beatles in 1962, his success as a drummer with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes meant he was the only one who could afford a car, a 1960 Ford Zephyr Zodiac. Paul McCartney humorously recalled their astonishment: “Ringo had a car when the rest of us didn’t even dream about it. When we saw him driving that Zodiac we thought he had stolen it.”
George Harrison’s First Car: The Ford Anglia
1962 was a pivotal year for Harrison as he obtained his driver’s license and began searching for his first car. Beatles manager Brian Epstein facilitated a deal through a contact at Hawthorne Motors, a Ford dealership in Warrington.
Harrison secured a blue, 1955 Ford Anglia Deluxe at a discounted price in exchange for promotional photographs with the car.
Ringo Starr accompanied George to Warrington to pick up the Anglia. On their return journey to Liverpool, a playful highway race ensued, a story recounted during the Beatles Anthology recordings:
Ringo: You had a green Anglia
George: Blue.
Ringo: I took you to get that car.
George: Did you?
Ringo: Yes, to…
George: (remembering) Warrington?
Ringo: Yes, and as we were coming home, you may not remember…
George: (smiling) Oh yeah?
Ringo: You were speeding and I was speeding and we were both bumper to bumper and then you overtook this car in front, and I was ready to overtake, and just as I got right up his arse a dog ran out in front of him so he slammed on his brakes (BANG) I smashed right into him, wrote the f*ck out of my car but was lucky it was by a garage cos I drove it ….well pushed it into the garage… and I had no licence or insurance.
George: Did I stop or did I keep going?
Ringo: No you kept going
George: I didn’t see what happened?
Ringo: No, you just didn’t give a damn
George: Even to this day I never knew about that!
Within months of acquiring the Anglia, George had already received two speeding tickets, hinting at his developing need for speed.
Upgrading to Jaguar: A Taste of Luxury
While the Anglia served as a practical first car, its 997cc engine and 40 horsepower were modest compared to Harrison’s growing automotive aspirations. By 1963, The Beatles’ phenomenal success allowed George to indulge in a significant upgrade: a brand new Jaguar Mk2.
Details about this particular Jaguar are scarce, suggesting it remained somewhat under the radar compared to his later, more flamboyant cars.
The E-Type Jaguar: A Birthday Gift and a Car Washing Guide
Rumor has it that Beatles manager Brian Epstein gifted Harrison a 1964 Jaguar E-Type for his 21st birthday, a plausible theory given the car’s registration date shortly after his birthday.
This E-Type was equipped with a unique dash-mounted record player, a novelty best enjoyed while stationary.
Harrison’s affection for his E-Type is evident in a humorous letter to a fan, Susan Houghton, featured by Letters of Note. In it, he provides a detailed seven-step guide on washing his beloved Jaguar, concluding with instructions to dispose of the “muddy greasy water” on Paul McCartney’s Ford Classic! The full letter reads:
42, Brodie Ave.
Mossley Hill, Liverpool 18
Dear Susan,
I hope you had a good Chrimbo, and have a happy nuclear peace too. Thank you for giving my mum flowers and chocs (it was you wasn’t it??) Thanks also for the card, in fact, THANKS A HEAP SUSAN. “Your too kind” John Lennon.
Instructions for washing car:-
- Use plenty of soapy clean water, preferably warm.
2) When car is [though it may take a lot of water]- clean, leave to dry off for about 20 minutes. [You can have a cup of tea now].
3) Now ask mother to find some dusters, [2 each] and with the polish, apply with no.1 duster over an area of about 1 sq foot at a time, in a circular motion. Don’t leave it too long before polishing off. This should be carried out until the car is spotless, and gleaming clean. [Don’t forget the wheels!]
4) Take 1 brush or vacuum cleaner, and have a bash at the carpets. They too can be made to look like new.
5) The windows [interior] should be polished now, after which you can retire for another tea.
6) Before returning home, I suggest you look over the car again, for any parts you may have missed out, on finding, they should be cleaned accordingly.
7) Now proceed to 20 Forthlin RD. with about 6 buckets full of dirty muddy greasey water, where a shiney Ford Classic will be seen. Spread contents of the buckets evenly, so as to leave a nice film of muck over the car. You can now return home knowing you have done your deed for the day. Thank you!!!
Proceedings should be carried out about the 8th of January.
Thanks again for the cheerio for now don’t forget Ban the Bog.
Love from George [Harrison]
Aston Martin DB5: Inspired by James Bond
1964 also witnessed the cinematic debut of another British icon: James Bond in Goldfinger, driving the iconic Aston Martin DB5. This movie sparked a global desire for the sophisticated spy car.
George Harrison, like many, succumbed to the allure of the DB5, acquiring his own in early 1965. While the E-Type was a sports car, the DB5 was closer to a grand tourer with racing pedigree. Its 4-litre, dual camshaft, in-line 6 engine, producing 282 HP, propelled the Aston Martin to impressive speeds of up to 240 km/h.
Aston Martins gained popularity among British rock stars in the 1960s, with Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger also owning models from the DB lineage.
The Psychedelic Mini Cooper: A Swinging Sixties Icon
In 1965, each Beatle received an Austin Mini Cooper as part of a publicity campaign by the British Motor Corporation. Harrison’s Mini underwent customization by coachbuilder Harold Radford, initially painted metallic black. By 1967, it was transformed with psychedelic, Tantra art motifs, reflecting the era’s vibrant counterculture.
This distinctive Mini made a cameo in the Beatles’ 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour.
The psychedelic Mini remains with the Harrison family and has appeared at events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, driven by figures like Ringo Starr and Stella McCartney.
Mercedes-Benz: Embracing German Luxury
Despite his affinity for British cars, Harrison ventured into German luxury in 1967 with a Mercedes-Benz 600, the marque’s flagship “personal luxury sedan.” This white Mercedes is recognizable to Beatles fans as the car George used to arrive at the Apple headquarters for the iconic rooftop concert in 1969.
Harrison developed a lasting appreciation for Mercedes-Benz, owning several models. In 1972, he and his wife Patty narrowly escaped serious injury when their white 300SEL crashed into a lamppost in London.
Another notable Mercedes was a 600 Pullman Limousine, purchased from John Lennon in 1971 when Lennon relocated to the USA. Harrison later sold it to The Supremes, who used it for touring. The limousine has since been restored and is now in a private collection.
Perhaps Harrison’s most frequently used Mercedes was a black 1984 AMG 500SEL, driven for nearly 50,000 kilometers over 18 years. It was auctioned in 2018 for £43,000.
Throughout his life, George Harrison remained an active buyer and seller of automobiles, expanding his collection to include prestigious marques like Porsche and Ferrari.
Formula One and High-Performance Pursuits
After The Beatles disbanded, Harrison had more time to indulge his passion for motorsport, becoming a familiar figure in the Formula One paddock.
He developed friendships within the F1 community, including Nelson Piquet, James Hunt, and Emerson Fittipaldi.
His F1 enthusiasm inspired the song “Faster,” a tribute to the sport and the late Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson. Harrison described the lyrics as avoiding clichés about “V8 engines and vroom-vroom.”
Driving a Formula One Car: A Charity Run
In 1979, Harrison participated in a charity event for the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Fund, driving a legendary 1960 Coventry-Climax Lotus 18, the same car Stirling Moss drove to victory at Monte Carlo in 1960.
Harrison recounted his experience in Goldmine magazine:
“I’ve never raced seriously myself, but I had a go in a Formula One car, with quite an old 3-liter-engine car. I’d drive round Brand’s Hatch in one. And I drove in a charity for Gunnar Nilsson, a Swedish driver who died of cancer, because I gave the money from the ‘Faster’ single off George Harrison to Gunnar’s cancer fund.
Anyhow, they had this day for the Gunnar Nilsson campaign at the track in England and they asked me to drive this 1960 Lotus, which had won a race in Monte Carlo when driven by the great English driver Sterling Moss. This car had no seatbelts, and because it had been in a museum for 20 years the tires were hard with no grip on them, yet the car was still pretty quick! But they assured me it was just a demonstration run, going round for five laps in formation and then five laps at your own pace. So I said I’d do it.
I got there, and it’s Jackie Stewart in the Tyrrell he won his ‘73 championship in; James Hunt in the McLaren. Phil Hill in his famous Ferrari. I’m walking to my car while chatting with driver John Watson about the pleasure of the run we’re about to take, and he says, ‘You’re joking. There’s no racing driver that goes in formation! As soon as they drop that flag, they’ll all be gone like crazy!’
Sure enough, as soon as the checkered flag fell, the other cars went whoosh as mine puttered along in a haze of smoke! By the time I got to my first lap they were already coming behind me for their second lap, screaming away! Scared me stiff! [wild laugh] But at least I did better than James Hunt, who broke down on the first pass.”
McLaren F1: A Custom Supercar
Harrison’s Formula One connections led to a friendship with Gordon Murray, the renowned designer for Brabham and McLaren.
Murray was involved in the creation of the Light Car Company Rocket, an ultra-lightweight roadster, and Harrison became an early adopter.
Murray’s most famous creation, the McLaren F1 supercar, also captivated Harrison.
Harrison ordered a custom-built F1, chassis #025, in Dark Purple Pearl with black satin wheels. As a devout Hindu, he requested Hindu symbols, handwritten quotes, and song lyrics in silver ink, applied by Gordon Murray, to be incorporated into the car’s bare chassis. This unique McLaren remained in the Harrison family after his death.
George Harrison’s passing in 2001 marked a loss for music and car enthusiasts alike. He was remembered not just as a Beatle, but as a multifaceted individual with diverse passions.
“I play a little guitar, write a few tunes, make a few movies, but none of that’s really me. The real me is something else” -George Harrison-
Sir Jack Stewart, reflecting on his friendship with Harrison, offered a fitting tribute:
“One of the great enthusiasts, one of the nicest men. He also had one of the biggest brains that I’ve had the pleasure of being around. People might say ‘you can’t be serious, he was just a singer in The Beatles’. But with his worldly knowledge and his beliefs, he was very articulate. He was a great one for coloring pictures of life. He could really graphically describe something, it was like you were seeing a picture in front of you that someone like me could understand, perhaps outside of my normal ability“.
