Eric Clapton's Guitar Auction Raises $2.1m for Rehab Centre

Eric Clapton has raised $2.15m (£1.3m) for his rehab centre by selling off over 70 guitars from his prized and very extensive collection.

The money raised by the auction, which took place at New York's Bonhams auction house on March 9, will go to The Crossroads Centre, the rehab clinic Clapton co-founded in 1998 on the Caribbean island of Antigua, BBC News reports.

Alongside the wide selection of guitars on offer were 55 amplifiers and a Versace suit worn by Clapton for a 1990 performance at London's Royal Albert Hall. But, as expected, it was the guitars which took centre stage.

The star of the sale was a 1948 Gibson hollow body which at $83,000 (£51,500) exceeded the estimated value by $53,000 (£32,900). Another notable sale came in the shape of a replica of Clapton's famous Fender Stratocaster, referred to as 'Blackie,' which went for over $30,000 (£18,600) -- the original sold for just under $1m (£619,800) in 2004.

While the bulk of the 138 lots came courtesy of Clapton, the sale also included notable donations by Jeff Beck, J.J. Cale and Joe Bonamassa.

Watch Eric Clapton Perform 'Layla' at Madison Square Garden