Freddie Mercurys Mercedes 420 SEL

Freddie Mercurys Mercedes 420 SEL

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rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
So, Long story short, I was walking around the yard at my work with my boss as we were going to be clearing the place out a bit. Down the bottom of the yard I see this Mercedes just lying there. I ask him what the story is with it. He says apparently it used to be Freddie Mercurys, But in his eyes it was just an old Merc in his way.
So I went in and did some research. It was definitely Freddie's, and apparently the Merc was his favorite car too.












So a deal was made, V5 was signed and I got it picked up.
Putting it on a trailer was a challenge in itself, its a big car that hasnt moved in 15 years. Winch on the front and a Justy pushing at the back. Eventually it was on and good to go.










Now its back at my yard and I still havnt touched it, been too busy with the E36.
I'll hopefully get started on it real soon.












RichardM5

1,733 posts

135 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Looks like that will need a little work! But if it was Freddie's, and you have the provenance, could be worth a few bob when done up!

rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Google the plate...

Rick101

6,959 posts

149 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Nice one. Don't let a piece of history rot away.

irish boy

3,519 posts

235 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Fantastic! Get this done to a proper standard.

zedx19

2,701 posts

139 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Saw this on We Love 80's cars FB Page, great find!

rossub

4,400 posts

189 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Given the state of it, I hope the deal involved him paying you to take it away!

kdri155

643 posts

150 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Good find OP, here's a link to some of Freddie Mercury items, if you scroll down the list you will see that the car was entered into an auction at Sothebys in 1996 there's also a couple of pictures of him with the car.

http://intellectualonly-mercury.ru/mythology/table...




Tiger Tim

1,810 posts

221 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I'm a pretty big queen fan and would love to see this restored sympathetically. I'm sure you'd make money simply selling it eBay as is!

willmagrath

1,207 posts

145 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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We're you under pressure to buy this in case another one bit the dust........

rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Notadoctor said:
Nice pedigree. Having just obtained a 420SE they're rather enjoyable in themselves.

However, it's the back seat that's special as Mr Mercury didn't actually drive (hence the L in the SEL).

As his mother recalled when he failed his driving test, "He said it didn't matter. I said he didn't want to spend his life on buses and he said: 'It doesn't matter because one day I will be chauffeur driven everywhere'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-new...

And some more of his motors auctioned

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufactur...
Yeah I'd read he never passed his test but still drove from time to time anyway. I managed to find the names of his chauffeurs but cant seem to locate their current whereabouts.

williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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I bet if you sold it it will make a killer. Queen were a big band. Its an understated car, not at all flash, ah ha.... Which I guess is why Freddie said I want it all when he first saw it.

Are you going to restore it? Do you have one vision for it? how is the radio?? is it ok or is it a big..er....

how is the ride? Will it rock you, or is it a kind of magic?


No. wait! Dont stop me now... the show must go on

Ali2202

3,815 posts

203 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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williamp said:
I bet if you sold it it will make a killer. Queen were a big band. Its an understated car, not at all flash, ah ha.... Which I guess is why Freddie said I want it all when he first saw it.

Are you going to restore it? Do you have one vision for it? how is the radio?? is it ok or is it a big..er....

how is the ride? Will it rock you, or is it a kind of magic?


No. wait! Dont stop me now... the show must go on
Mustapha lot of time on your hands? hehe

Mastiff

2,515 posts

240 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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rosscobmw said:
Yeah I'd read he never passed his test but still drove from time to time anyway. I managed to find the names of his chauffeurs but cant seem to locate their current whereabouts.
Strangely enough, one of his ex-chauffers recently delivered a load of timber to my house for some decking and to clad a pond that I've built!

The only reason the topic even came up was that he looked at the pond and saw the Koi, and apparently Freddie Mercury used to love them - keeping a huge pond of them in his garden in Kensington?

True - apparently.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/jul/2...

ETA link

Edited by Mastiff on Tuesday 29th July 12:57

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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how many cars do you need?

rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Mastiff said:
Strangely enough, one of his ex-chauffers recently delivered a load of timber to my house for some decking and to clad a pond that I've built!

The only reason the topic even came up was that he looked at the pond and saw the Koi, and apparently Freddie Mercury used to love them - keeping a huge pond of them in his garden in Kensington?

True - apparently.

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/jul/2...

ETA link

Edited by Mastiff on Tuesday 29th July 12:57
Interesting...

Company and location?

rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
gaz1234 said:
how many cars do you need?
Its a shared yard. The merc and the BMW E36 are mine. All the Saabs are a friends, the omega pickup is another friends drift car. The MK2 Astra GTE is a 3.2 V6 which used to be a friends daily, now awaiting a full resto.
The Nova saloon belonged to a friend of mine who was killed in a car accident last year, so another one of my mates has taken it and will be making it a RWD C20XE.

FRIENDS

thatguy11

640 posts

122 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
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Now this is an interesting find, nice one! Definitely a thread to follow closely smile

Mastiff

2,515 posts

240 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
rosscobmw said:
Interesting...

Company and location?
I've emailed on your behalf - hope that's ok?

Didn't want to divulge info without the chaps permission is all.

rosscobmw

Original Poster:

350 posts

157 months

Tuesday 29th July 2014
quotequote all
Mastiff said:
I've emailed on your behalf - hope that's ok?

Didn't want to divulge info without the chaps permission is all.
Excellent, thank you!