Bono's Mercedes for sale

unkel

Oh the errors in the article :rolleyes:

Get your piece of rock history as Bono's old Merc goes on eBay

Dave Lawlor with his metallic-bronze Mercedes 450 SEL at Park West, Dublin. The Mercedes was owned by Bono until he auctioned it off for charity in 2000

By Louise Hogan

Tuesday November 02 2010

THIS is one set of wheels with a true rock 'n' roll history.

If the cowhide-patterned interior isn't a strong enough hint as to its famous past, then there are other, firmer clues.

The logbook for the 30-year-old metallic-bronze Mercedes 450SL still carries the name of 'Paul Hewson', better-known as Bono, U2's frontman.

"It's been restored to its former glory and it is now a vintage car," said the current owner, Dave Lawlor, the manager of the music venue Fibber Magee's on Dublin's Parnell Street.

The vehicle has already driven through its fair share of auctions, but will shortly be going up for sale again on eBay. Mr Lawlor said he planned to donate around €5,000 of the sale money to charities for schizophrenia.

The car is believed to be one of Bono's first big purchases after the success of the band's album 'Boy'.

He owned it for 20 years from 1980 until 2000, when he gave it to a charity auction to raise funds for aid to Ethiopia. The successful bidder was Pepsi Cola, which paid €61,000 for the vehicle.

In 2002, it was handed over to the Boyzone member and actor Keith Duffy, who raised more than €30,000 when he auctioned it to raise funds for autism charities.

The ownership trail then saw it purchased by a Cork businessman, Stuart Matthews, before being later snapped up by Mr Lawlor.

It contains a sound system worth around €15,000, which was installed by the singer.

Monster

"It is a big monster of a thing, a V6; it's an unusual car," Mr Lawlor said.

"When I bought it, it was full of rust and everything. I spent around €20,000 restoring it. I've had everything restored."

Mr Lawlor imagines a "major U2 fan" would be eager to buy it. "Or you never know, Bono might buy it back," he quipped.

But if it is a more modern horse-power you are after then fans of the James Bond movies may be eager to hear a 2005 tungsten-silver Aston Martin D89 V12 Touchtronic is going under the hammer this week.

Merlin O'Reilly, from Merlin Car Auctions in Naas, Co Kildare, said there had been a lot of interest in the two-door coupe which has 3,000 miles on the clock.

He said it would retail at €85,000 to €90,000 but is expected to fetch around €70,000 when it goes to auction tomorrow.

The fallout of the recession is continuing, with a number of luxury cars -- including ex-finance vehicles and private entries -- expected to number among the 300 vehicles up for auction.

- Louise Hogan

Big Nasty

I actually know the chap quite well - sound lad! (Lawlor not Bono!)

Lex Luthor

Bono's got his Skoda Superb now

Opinicus

It was to be auctioned off in Tralee about 3 months ago. Withdrawn because no offer met the reserve.

Big Nasty

Years ago I worked in Johnnie Foxs and was asked to pick up the owners son. Didn't have my car with me as we were going out afterwards so had to take the boss' Merc coupe, a 280 I believe that used to belong to Bono. I remember the reg as it was unusual: 666 SZI

VolvoMan

How much of a discount will they give for Bono being the previous owner?:pac:

cadaliac

Was it the 6.9?
If so she made a blunder - calling it a v6 and an SL - unless it is an SL and not an SEL of course.
The D89 v12 :rolleyes:

no1beemerfan

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Plenty of room in the boot for all his Grammy awards big head

FYP

unkel

cadaliac wrote: »

Was it the 6.9?
If so she made a blunder - calling it a v6 and an SL - unless it is an SL and not an SEL of course.
The D89 v12 :rolleyes:

Yep and even if the 450SEL had the 4.5l engine and not the 6.9l engine, they both are V8s not V6s. You'd think the editor would have asked any of the motoring journos?

Matt Simis

and you know if we were to complain about the bunch of retarded mistakes we would be the ones called freaks and anoraks! :rolleyes:

cadaliac

Matt Simis wrote: »

and you know if we were to complain about the bunch of retarded mistakes we would be the ones called freaks and anoraks! :rolleyes:

TBH, she is giving out incorrect info. I wasn't complaining about grammer or spelling (stones and glasshouses spring to mind) - but the artical called the car two different types, and misnamed a second car.

alias no.9

I think he may struggle to get the kind of price he may be expecting. Bidding in a charity auction is a different thing to bidding on a classic car, for a start the winner of a charity auction can write off the costs against tax, no doubt this guy will be looking to write off the €5k he says he’ll be donating to charity against his own tax bill. Then you’ve got the ‘current economic climate’ to reckon with and the fact that despite the Vintage Tax Exemption, it’s going to need NCTing every year, being a 1980 model.