Former JUDAS PRIEST Guitarist Sells Two Cars For Nearly $100,000

According to the Shropshire Star, two cars owned by former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing were sold in an auction for nearly £63,000 (approximately $98,000).

Auctioneers Brightwells said Downing's "highly original 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII sparked an intense bidding war before finally going to a Belgian buyer for £35,750."

They said: "While his somewhat scruffy 1959 Jensen 541R made a huge £26,950, almost twice the pre-sale estimate and showing what great gains this rare model has made in recent years."

The auction was held at Brightwells in Leominster, England.

Earlier this year, Downing revealed that he would be leaving JUDAS PRIEST prior to the band's "Epitaph" world tour. In October, Downing spoke to Valley Radio Online about what happened, although he declined to go into specifics.

"It was a set of circumstances that led me to not go out [on tour with PRIEST] this year," Downing said. "I was kind of geared up for it, but there was a multitude of reasons. It pretty much came down to an unsettlement on my part with working relationships.

"It's like anything else. If anybody out there is thinking it's hard to live with one woman, they should try to live with four guys and hold it together. [Laughs]"

Downing's place in the band was filled by new guitarist Richie Faulkner.

"It was a massive consideration," Downing said. "Obviously, the fans, who I love, and many of them have become very good friends. But I just hoped that they would appreciate that I couldn't continue with the way that I felt inside for reasons which I'll… I mean, certain reasons I will never, ever disclose."