Janis Joplin's hand painted 'History of the Universe' Porsche 356C Cabriolet is up for sale at the RM Sotheby's New York auction on December 10
Janis Joplin’s Porsche 356C Cabriolet
“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes-Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends” sang Janis Joplin. Except she drove a Porsche as well. This Porsche 356C Cabriolet, in fact.
Hand painted with a kaleidoscopic mural that is allegedly supposed to represent the history of the universe, the 1964 Porsche 356C 1600 SC Cabriolet by Reutter was once the daily driver of the legendary classic rocker. It is being offered up for sale by Joplin’s siblings, Michael and Laura, who have owned the car since 1973.
Describing the unique artwork, RM Sotheby’s says, “It all but strikes you over the head with its presence, a rolling ensemble of flowing colors and emerging shapes that drifted out of pen, smoke, Southern Comfort, and the spirit of the age. It is an embodiment of its owner and her ethos.”
So you get butterflies and jellyfish, as well as a solipsistic portrait of Joplin with members of her band. She loved the car and was frequently seen pedalling it around San Francisco. The car was fully restored in 1990 and went on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1995, where it has remained.
The pre-sale estimate of A$570,000 looks extremely modest.
View more lots at the RM Sotheby’s New York – Driven by Disruption auction here.