Janis Joplin's Colorful Porsche Comes To Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Rock legend Janis Joplin bought a white Porsche in 1968.

But when she was done with it, it was as colorful as her personality.

And now the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has loaned it to Pittsburgh for the weekend.

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz. My friends all drive Porsches. I must make amends."

Though she sang about a Mercedes-Benz, the late Joplin did drive a Porsche. Known as the Queen of Psychedelic Soul, she had her Porsche 356 painted in colors that matched her lifestyle. The priceless relic from Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been unloaded in Schenley Park, by members of the Allegheny Region Porsche Club of America.

"They don't let it out very often," says club spokesman Ed Rice. "But we were able to secure it for the club, as part of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix event this weekend, Saturday and Sunday down here on the lawn."

More than 2,000 classic cars from all over the world have come to town and 150 of them will compete in the only American grand prix held on city streets. But few, if any, can match the "wow" factor of Janis Joplin's psychedelic Porsche.

"Anybody can come and see this car," Rice says. "You normally wouldn't see it, outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But we have it here. You can get fairly close to it, and get some good pictures, and so forth. So it's a pretty special car."

Like the singer herself, it's one of a kind.

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