Premium paid to drive off in royal limo

The 1989 Daimler limousine carried the Queen and Prince Philip during visits to New Zealand. Photo / Dean Purcell

A government limousine that carried the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh has been auctioned for well above its reserve.

The black Daimler sedan fetched $69,000 when it went under the hammer in Auckland at the weekend.

The vehicle, which had belonged to the Department of Internal Affairs, had a pre-sale price estimate of between $29,000 and $34,000.

Turners Auctions marketing manager Karen Whiting said there was a lot of interest in the vehicle and there were three active bidders for much of the auction.

She said the buyer did not want his details released and she did not know what he planned for the vehicle.

Internal Affairs procurement manager Craig Doherty said the limousine was bought in 2001 to transport the highest tier of official visitors to New Zealand.

Restoration work was done on the car when it was bought, including installing new seats with New Zealand leather.

"Befitting its status, only designated drivers from Internal Affairs with the specific training drove the limousine," Mr Doherty said.

Apart from the Queen and Prince Philip, other passengers included members of the Belgian and Dutch royal families and heads of state from the Philippines, Finland, Ireland and Indonesia.

The vehicle became surplus to requirements with the advent of a more fuel-efficient fleet of BMWs.

- NZPA