R2-D2 droid used in Star Wars films sells for $2.76m

An R2-D2 droid that was used in several Star Wars films has sold for millions at an auction in California.

The auction house Profiles in History said the 43-inch (110cm) tall unit that was compiled from parts used throughout filming of the original trilogy sold for $2.76m on Wednesday.

There was no information about who purchased the droid, which was the most expensive item offered in a movie memorabilia auction that included numerous props from the Star Wars franchise.

Other items up for sale included Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from the first two films, which sold for $450,000 and Darth Vader’s helmet from the original film sold for $96,000.

The Calabasas, California-based Profiles in History had estimated the droid could fetch up to $2m before Wednesday’s sale.

Other space-themed film and television memorabilia was also for sale, with a collection of 23 ships from Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers sold for $1.8m. A helmet worn by late actor Bill Paxton on the set of Aliens sold for $51,000.

Not all the items that sold were out of this world. The lighted dancefloor from Saturday Night Fever sold for $1.2 million.