LOS ANGELES (AFP) - It was the one they all wanted - the black leather jacket and high-waisted skin-tight pants worn by Olivia Newton-John in the finale of "Grease" electrified a Beverly Hills auction, selling for US$405,700 (S$550,859).

Now part of Hollywood history, the iconic musical comedy starring Newton-John and John Travolta still arouses passions more than 40 years after it first appeared in movie theatres.

Newton-John donned the outfit to sing "You're the One that I Want" with Travolta, her transformation into a sexy greaser girl complete.

The final price paid Saturday night was twice the pre-sale estimate, according to Julien's Auctions.

Released in 1978, the most successful movie musical ever tells the high school love story of Sandy (Newton-John) and Danny (Travolta), set in the 1950s.

A poster signed by Travolta, Newton-John and other members of the cast that had carried a US$1,000 pre-auction estimate sold for US$64,000.

Part of the proceeds from the sale of items from the actress' collection will go to fund the Olivia Newton-John center for cancer research.

The actress was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in 2018.

HBO recently announced plans for a series inspired by "Grease," which will revisit certain songs and characters from the film.