Though Mercury died in November of 1991, his music lives on along with his reputation for outlandish behavior. Surprisingly, one of the last cars owned by Mercury was an exercise in understated elegance.
In 1979, Goose Productions Ltd., Mercury’s management company, purchased a 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow for the singer’s personal use. The car was owned by Goose Productions and driven by Mercury until the star’s death in 1991. Mercury’s sister then borrowed the car from the estate and has maintained it since.
The car was last used for the premier of the “We Will Rock You” musical in 2002, and it comes with an extensive service and history file. It’s got a current MoT, valid through February 2013, so the claims of “good to fine” condition seem legitimate.
Built in versions from 1965 to 1980, the Silver Shadow was the first Rolls-Royce to use a monocoque design, and it featured innovations like (needlessly complex) disc brakes and an independent rear suspension.
While early 1970s Rolls-Royce Silver Shadows aren’t exactly in high demand, Hagarty’s puts the value of a “Condition 2” car at $17,000, and that doesn’t account for celebrity ownership.
Coys Auctions, which will sell the car as part of this weekend’s Autosport International auction, projects a selling price between 9,000 - 11,000 pounds ($14,412 - $17,614). Assuming the car presents as described, we’d call that an impressive bargain for the right collector.