Vintage Aston Martin built for Prince Philip up for grabs

A vintage Aston Martin Lagonda 3 Litre Drophead Coupe, specially built for Prince Philip, is now up for auction.

On 20 April, you can purchase the car at H&H Classic Auctions, assuming you're willing to shell out between $6,70,000 - $8,60,000. The car will be up for grabs at a public auction in April at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

In 1954, Aston Martin built this Lagonda 3 Litre Drophead Coupe to the special order of HRH (His Royal Highness), The Duke of Edinburgh. The convertible was the first of 20 MK1 cars made and used by Prince Philip for personal transportation up until 1961. It was also the car that won Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd its first Royal Warrant.

The Telegraph reports that Prince Philip had his old Aston Martin sports car modified so the Queen could check her hat and he could make prank calls to Prince Charles.

Damian Jones, Sales Manager at auction house H&H, said: "This car is part of our history. The accompanying paperwork beggars belief. There is an amusing story about Prince Phillip driving Her Majesty through London in this car and being held up by a policeman on point duty directing traffic. When the policeman saw who was in the Lagonda he did a double take and swiftly waved them on."

Fun facts about this vintage car

• Among its features is an extra vanity mirror, thought to have been used by the Queen to adjust her hat, and a radio telephone.

• The car, which has 50,000 miles on the clock, served as Prince Philip's personal car for around seven years and was used to ferry Prince Charles to and from Cheam prep school and for trips to Cowdray Park for polo sessions.

• The luxurious four-seater classic motor car was finished in a shade of Edinburgh Green with grey leather upholstery. 450,000, is believed to be worth three or four times the value of an ordinary Lagonda 3-Litre DHC.

• The Lagonda's non-standard extras include a power hood and floor-change gearbox and it has a 3-litre engine, allowing acceleration from 0-60mph in just 12.9 seconds, and can reach top speeds of 104mph.