A seventies Mercedes-Benz with ‘rare cultural provenance’ will be sold at auction in November and spark a bidding war between car collectors and seventies rock fanatics.
The 1972 W114 250 is the motor once owned by the Modfather himself, Paul Weller.
Iconic Auctioneers says the guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band The Jam even penned some of his hits at the wheel of the classic German model and has even graced the centre console with his signature.
Finished in Midnight Blue paint with a cream interior, the Mercedes joined the Weller household as a gift for the artist’s 38th birthday in 1996, sourced by his father and long-term manager, John.
It became the family’s school-run and everyday companion, and over the years Weller penned wrote several songs in the car, including ‘Driving Nowhere’ from his fourth solo album, as well as ‘Heavy Soul’ and ‘All on a Misty Morning’ from his eighth album ‘As Is Now’.
This wasn’t out of the ordinary for Weller, who famously rattled out the lyrics for The Jam’s hit song ‘That’s Entertainment’ en route back from the pub in a taxi in less than half an hour.
Paul Weller pictured with the 1972 Mercedes he owned for 18 years between 1996 and 2014. The car is now set to be sold to the highest bidder
The car was the Weller family’s school-run and everyday companion, and over the years Weller penned wrote several songs in the car
After 18 years of reliable ownership, Weller eventually sold the seventies German classic car in 2014.
It was snapped up by Andy Ash of Andy’s Autobarn, a car body repair shop in Ashford, who would have been best placed to treat the Mercedes to a well-deserved restoration.
But before he could take on the project, a chance meeting with the current vendor – a huge Weller fan – saw it change hands once again.
After its ‘in-depth’ refurbishment was commissioned and completed in 2018, Weller’s manager, Charles Rees, invited the owner to drive the motor to the songwriter’s Black Barn Studio near Woking in Surrey so he could be reunited with his former school-run hack.
It is during this meet that the singer scribed his autograph onto the plastic centre console panel for ultimate authentication.
Hits including ‘Driving Nowhere’ from his fourth solo album, as well as ‘Heavy Soul’ and ‘All on a Misty Morning’ from his eighth album ‘As Is Now’, were all reportedly composed at the wheel of this very Mercedes-Benz
The car’s vendor, a huge Paul Weller fan, was invited to the singer’s Black Barn Studio near Woking in Surrey some seven years ago so that he could be reunited with his former school-run hack
It is during this meet that the singer scribed his autograph onto the plastic centre console panel for ultimate authentication
Weller famously rattled out the lyrics for The Jam’s hit song ‘That’s Entertainment’ en route back from the pub in a taxi in less than half an hour
Since then, it has appeared at exhibitions and ferried fans on ‘Tufty Tours’ – the guided trip around Weller’s childhood homes, schools, youth clubs, rehearsal rooms, pubs, gig locations, video shoots and song inspirations – to help raise funds for charities, all with the Weller family’s blessing.
It will go to the block at Iconic Auctioneers’ Collectors’ Car Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 8 November in ‘well-restored and very well-presented’ condition and a mileage of just 80,743.
Despite its incredible pedigree and collectability, the auction house has issued a rather conservative estimate of £40,000 to £50,000.
Commenting on the car’s availability, Rob Hubbard, managing director at the auction house, said: ‘Cars with genuine cultural provenance are rare.
‘This W114 links music and motoring in a way that speaks to enthusiasts and fans alike, and it sits comfortably alongside everything we sell, from attainable modern classics to sought-after collectors’ cars.
‘We are proud to present it at the NEC.’
Despite its incredible pedigree and collectability, the auction house has issued a conservative estimate of £40,000 to £50,000
It will go to the block at Iconic Auctioneers’ Collectors’ Car Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 8 November in ‘well-restored and very well-presented’ condition and a mileage of just 80,743
Commenting on the car’s availability, Rob Hubbard, managing director at the auction house, said: ‘Cars with genuine cultural provenance are rare’
Mercedes-Benz introduced the W114 in 1968 as part of its efforts to broaden the brand’s appeal.
It combined independent coil-sprung suspension all round, four-wheel disc brakes, and a reworked four-speed automatic transmission, which is present in Weller’s old motor.
The 250 sat towards the upper end of the W114 range and used a 2.8-litre straight-six engine producing around 128bhp.
In the seventies, Mercedes claimed it could hit a top speed of 106mph, and at the time it received plenty of praise for its build quality and impressive combination of sharp steering and road holding.
And Weller’s Merc isn’t the only car with a celebrity owner on the logbook that’s heading to the auction room shortly.
On 20 September, Historics Auctioneers will present to collectors the opportunity to bid for actor Jude Law’s 16-year-old Audi S8.
The luxury saloon model – which is powered by a Lamborghini-derived 5.8-litre V10 engine – was purchased new by ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ and ‘Closer’ film star in 2009.
With just 63,239 miles on the clock, the guide price issued ahead of the Pace of Autumn sale at Ascot Racecourse is a relative bargain at £11,000 to £16,000. Even at the upper end of the estimate, that’s around the same price as a new Dacia Sandero for an A-list-owned premium Audi with a Lambo motor.
On 20 September, Historics Auctioneers will present to collectors the opportunity to bid for actor Jude Law’s 16-year-old Audi S8. It is predicted to sell for an absolute snip
The luxury saloon model – which is powered by a Lamborghini-derived 5.8-litre V10 engine – was purchased new by ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’ and ‘Closer’ film star in 2009
John Terry’s 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish is also being sold at the same Historics Auctioneers sale this month. It has only 26,500 miles on the clock and is expected to go for less than £50k
Terry would have been driving the Aston during the historic 2004-05 season when he captained Chelsea to the Premier League title in record-breaking fashion
Also offered at the same auction is Chelsea and England legend John Terry’s 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish.
The former blues captain had the luxury British sports car for around three years until 2007, meaning it was in his possession when he first lifted the Premier League trophy at the end of the 2004–05 season in a record-breaking year where Chelsea conceded the fewest goals and kept the most clean sheets in history.
He still owned the Aston the following season why, guided by Jose Mourinho, Chelsea successfully retained the crown.
With a mere 26,500 miles on the odometer, Historics has predicted a sale figure of between £38,000 and £46,000 for the 460bhp V12-engined thoroughbred.
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