Buddy Holly’s Pontiac Chieftan will auction in New York

The 1955 Pontiac Chieftan Buddy Holly and the Crickets used for touring is valued at $60,000-100,000 ahead of an August 18 sale.

The remarkable piece of music history will be sold by Mid-Hudson Auction Galleries in New Windsor, New York.

Buddy Holly Pontiac

The Crickets toured in this 1955 Pontiac Chieftan 

The Crickets acquired the car new at a dealership in Lubbock, Texas and used it for six years (they continued as a band for a short time after Holly’s death in 1959).

The car was restored by collector LeRoy Morford, who was informed about it by Peggy Sue Gerron.

That’s the Peggy Sue – immortalised in Buddy Holly songs Peggy Sue and Peggy Sue Got Married.

She was later married to Crickets drummer Jerry Allison.

Holly had originally intended to use the name Cindy Lou in the songs, but used Peggy Sue instead at the request of Allison – who hoped to grab her attention.

Morford has expertly restored the car.

It’s been a regular sight at Buddy Holly conventions across the US since the late 1990s.

Morford explained why the band picked the Chieftan. "They wanted something safe, they had a lot of equipment to haul and they had to have a lot of room for women," he said.

Buddy Holly memorabilia is rare, as his career was cut tragically short.

In 1990, the acoustic guitar he used to write some of his most famous songs realised £139,658 ($182,490).

In 2007, his 1958 Ariel Cyclone realised $450,000 at Guernsey’s.

We have this Buddy Holly signed employment application form for sale.

Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about music memorabilia auctions.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock