A classic car once owned by John Lennon could sell for around £265,000 when it goes up for auction.

The late Beatles star’s 1956 Austin Princess will be included in an upcoming sale held by RM Sotheby’s, the world’s largest auction house for investment-quality motors.

The musician purchased the motor in August 1971 and went on to use it the following year in a promotional film for his album Imagine, alongside wife Yoko Ono.

John Lennon's 1956 Austin Princess
John Lennon owned this 1956 Austin Princess, which is to go up for auction in September (Stephen Kim, 2016 courtesy RM Sotheby’s)

A defining feature of the car is its five aeroplane seats, which were added by John and are still in the car today.

The buyer will also receive the original vehicle registration and title document, complete with John’s signature from the original purchase.

The vintage motor was donated to the Austin Rock & Roll Car Museum in Texas in 2008 by previous owner Milton Verret, and it has now been put forward for the auction to raise money for charity.

The interior of the Austin Princess
The interior of the Austin Princess still includes the aeroplane seats added by the Beatles star himself (Stephen Kim 2016 courtesy RM Sotheby’s)

Some of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to organisations including Unicef and Make A Wish America.

John was a member of The Beatles alongside Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.

He later went on to enjoy a successful solo career before he was murdered in New York in 1980 by Mark David Chapman.

The Beatles in 1967
George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon (PA)

The RM Sotheby’s sale will take place at London’s Battersea Evolution on September 7.

The auction house estimates the car will fetch a minimum price of £190,000 and a maximum of around £265,000.

Last year, a guitar stolen from John in the 1960s sold at auction for £1.6 million.