Celebrity ownership of any classic car is sure to ignite debate, especially when it comes to the question of whether such ownership contributes to its potential value. In some cases, the answer is obvious, while in others, it can be difficult to determine. Such is the case with this 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Its early ownership history is unknown, but we know it found its way into the hands of legendary Queen vocalist, the late Freddie Mercury, in 1979. It remained in his care until his passing in 1991 before changing hands several times and being placed into storage. It now needs a new home, with the seller listing it for auction here at RM Sotheby’s with No Reserve. It will cross the auction blocks in London, England, on November 5th, meaning you could become the next owner of a slice of modern music history.
While I identify as a person with a passion for classic cars, a less-known fact is that I love music. I once played drums in a band (I was pretty average), but I haven’t picked up a pair of sticks since the 1980s. My music tastes are eclectic, but Queen CDs and vinyl are in my collection. Queen could easily have proved an insignificant “blip” on the modern music radar, but fate ensured that didn’t happen. Against their record company’s wishes, the band released its iconic song, Bohemian Rhapsody, in 1975. It was destined to receive no airplay due to its length, but it came to the attention of Capitol Radio DJ Kenny Everett. The DJ was so taken by “Rhapsody” that he squeezed the nearly six-minute song into his radio program fourteen times in two days. Public support proved overwhelming, and Queen had a mega-hit on its hands. Success breeds success, and with his new-found wealth, Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury purchased this Silver Chalice Rolls in 1979. It is doubtful he ever slipped behind the wheel because he never gained a driver’s license. However, there is documentary evidence that Mercury’s chauffeur drove him around in this classic for the rest of his life. The car isn’t perfect, but there’s no evidence of rust or other nasty issues. The paint has flaws and defects, but it still shines nicely. I would generally suggest that the new owner will treat it to a repaint, but I suspect they may choose the preservation path with this classic.
A Rolls-Royce is a luxury car, and the company reinforced the impression by loading the interior with lashings of leather and timber. In this case, the upholstered surfaces sport Pale Blue leather that is in good condition for its age. There is some visible wear on the driver’s seat, but I believe a leather specialist could return it to as-new condition without the new owner spending a fortune. The remaining upholstered surfaces look soft and inviting, while factory mats protect the Powder Blue carpet. A highlight of any Rolls interior is its timber trim. This car features Walnut that has no visible flaws or defects. If you’ve never seen a Rolls-Royce timber artisan at work, you have missed one of life’s great experiences. Timber may form a small percentage of the overall interior, but most of it is at, or close to, eye level for vehicle occupants. That means it commands significant occupant attention, so perfection is paramount. The craftsmen utilize a technique called “book leafing” in their work. By working from the center of each trim piece using alternating veneers, they manage to achieve near-perfect symmetry. It is exacting work, and it is common for a worker to take more than a week to create the timber pieces before sending them to have the glass-like finish applied. Purists will be pleased to note that there are no signs of abuse inside this classic, and the only aftermarket addition is a Sharp AM/FM radio/cassette player. By modern standards, creature comforts look sparse. However, occupants receive air conditioning, power windows, a multi-level heating system, a rear defogger, cruise control, several map and travel lights, and a full complement of ashtrays and cigarette lighters (Hey, it was the 1970s!).
During the 1970s, Rolls-Royce had an interesting approach to discussing mechanical specifications. If you asked them how much power the 6.75-liter V8 in this Silver Shadow produced, the standard response was “sufficient.” The reality was around 200hp, which found its way to the rear wheels via a THM-400 automatic transmission. Considering it carried a curb weight of 4,779lbs, its ¼-mile ET of 17.6 seconds is unsurprising. However, it is also largely irrelevant in a Rolls. The company placed significant effort into tuning the transmission so that shifts under normal driving conditions were undetectable. At the same time, the focus on noise reduction and isolation was so meticulous that front-seat occupants could hear the clock in the dash ticking at 60mph (and I’m not making that up). The seller indicates this Rolls has spent several years in storage and will require a thorough inspection and some potential parts replacement to return to a roadworthy state. Parts generally aren’t cheap for these classics, so the new owner must brace themselves for a financial shock.
If this 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow had an unremarkable ownership history, I would have no hesitation in suggesting an auction guide price of around £15,000 (US$17,000). However, its ownership history makes it an unknown quantity. I would generally speculate that the celebrity factor would make little difference, but as his music demonstrated, Freddie Mercury would often break the rules and normal conventions. It may be more than thirty years since we lost the great man, but passion for his music and memorabilia shows no signs of waning. There are individuals roaming our streets with an undying passion for Queen, and that’s why I won’t be surprised if this Rolls easily hits six figures before the hammer falls. I’ll be fascinated to check back when the auction is done to see whether I’m right.
I’d like to thank the author for a great tribute to probably one of the most incredible singer/rock and roll artists. He was one of the few that could hit 4 octaves in just a few bars, I read. Despite my recent views on horses, that probably didn’t make any friends there, and I do apologize, but I think we can all agree, Freddie Mercury was awesome. A shame his “choice of lifestyle”, did him in.
Like all these alleged “celebrity” vehicles, who cares? Just because these people blew a couple farts in the back seat, it’s worth 6 figures? Not to me.
In a total sidebar, some folks rip on SU carbs, but it’s amazing to see the most prominent car maker in the world, uses them here.
I missed your comment on horses, but that’s okay. I enjoy your comments, even on those very rare occasions when I don’t quite agree.
As far as Rolls-Royce using SUs, I say: Why not? They’re simple, reliable and, despite what some say, easy to adjust. Besides, R-R used GM transmissions and Citroen hydraulics in the rear suspension. All good stuff, so that doesn’t bother me one bit.
I’d dig owning a Shadow, as they are very nice to drive, quiet and luxurious. Who the previous owner was means nothing to me, but the cost of a full service for a Roller that has been in long-term storage does.
SU carbs are on the all time highest mileage car. 3.25 million miles and it’s a Volvo
I heard the factory term for hp wasn’t “sufficient,” it was “adequate.” I’m not one buying a rolls though, so I’m not sure of that.
Oh yes Freddy. He was the vocal Enrico Caruso of pop music.
Once he said he is a musical chameleon – this guys vocal
fits everything from pop to classic opera. And Brian May
with the guitar. You can hear Brian with Zucchero Fornaciari
https://youtu.be/OPizyP4x30I
Rolls Royce claimed they built the best cars in the world.
For the driver yes but for mechanics they are a nightmare.
Super complicate and prone to fail hydraulic system incl
brake suspension and body roll. Leather tackered on
plywood but wool carpets and connolly leather. Aww.
Simplest thing to work on this is the gearbox but Vickers
could have a better choice they built in ZF not with shift-in
jumping as we know from Borg-Warner matchboxes. If
they used the simplicity from the Citroen hydraulics with
the ingenuity like on the W 126 560 SE/SEL suspension
this cars would be today worth more then just 10 grand.
And much simpler to maintain. In prime condition.
RR lacked this (…) system until the end of the SZ
series (Spur,Spirit,Turbo R,and the Brooklands) but
the successors can follow to the quality of the Vickers
era.
\edit
the successors can not follow the quality from the Vickers
era. Bimmer and VW build cars have more coloured plastics
then real wood inserts – with VW W12 engine, i wish back
the old but service demanding V8.
I was fortunate to see Freddie and the boys in concert a number of times in the early to mid 70s. Another BF member, BrianT was right there beside me, along with the rest of our gang, enjoying the most incredible live band I have ever witnessed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaEM4JYFPfw
It was the best of times.
You’re a lucky men. Back in time i had some chances to see
Queen live but the radio stations played Queen all the day
so i had no like to go into a concert. Bad decision.
Legends never die.
Zucchero and Brian May:
https://youtu.be/tYNglxWRLvk
I see what ya did there with the hammer to fall thing. Very nice
I find it interesting that rockers who publicly deride the establishment and all that comes with it, but in their personal lives they crave opulence and signs of great wealth. The main reason to own a Rolls is to show off. There are plenty of cars at a tenth of the price that are just as comfortable. The only reason is to tell the world that you can afford it and they can not. Sooo, why does Mr Rocker who supposedly the supporter of the down trodden, feel the need to spend money on something like this?
…there is no logic to Rock ‘n Rolls Royce.
Thanks Grant, it’s refreshing to hear your views. My only answer is, in Hollywood, and the music biz, it’s all about image, that and they are exceedingly wealthy. Also, ultimate spoiled brat bs’ers. Showing up in a Kcar, just won’t do it. They live a fast life, and why many end up ODing on drugs ( pain, my axx), and end up floating in their swimming pools when things go bust.
Howard, with all due respect, gross generalizations and caricatures defining an en entire group by one example is seldom true for race, religion, politics, gender and people who work in the entertainment business. A least that has been my experience.
And no, I am not buying the car because Freddy Mercury sat in it stoned or sober or both.
I recall watching Tom Hanks once getting out of a car in a parking lot to walk a red carpet. Not only did he not show off by being dropped off in a limo, he didn’t pull in front of the cameras in a crazy 300K car to show off. He got out of a pedestrian PT Cruiser. Tom Hanks, the man I am more than certain has way much more money and fame then Freddie did. Tom didn’t feel the need to show off. A decent man who doesn’t need to make the rest of us feel bad. Lord knows he could afford gold plated Rolls, he doesn’t feel the need to act so imature. Good for him.
Thanks for the reply, Rodney. I have a family member that is a production designer in Hollywood, and the stories I hear, would curl your hair, if any left. The waste is probably the most shocking. While race, religion and gender generalizations are not welcome, Hollywood seems to escape that somehow. They live in a false reality, to the rest of us, anyway, and Hollywood has shown some fantastic people, but I’ve seen 1st hand, most are there to exploit it. I think Mel Gibson drives a Smart Car to work,,
…there is no logic to Rock ‘n Rolls Royce.
Rolls Royce in the UK is like Cadillac here in the US it’s not a big deal in the UAE they use Mercedes-Benz as taxi cabs it’s all about perception and what country you live in
To add what most have probably heard was that when they introduced the Bently Turbo R, the answer to the horsepower question was “MORE than adequate”.
Never had a license, eh? Well that might be why this car still exists and didn’t end up in a lake or something..
Mama Mia!
Being a right hand drive, it belongs where it is. These are a dime a dozen to buy and the cost to maintain one will eat a fortune quickly. It’s a pass for me.
I lived through the ‘Mercury period in London( still do!).
As for rock stars owning a Rolls Royce it was almost standard to own one ie The Beatles colourful Phantom or Elton Johns Phantom. Freddies Shadow is almost restrained by comparison. It was seen as a good go at the then establishment – ie the uproar when the Beatles got OBEs
Also – during this period – it was possible to buy a new Shadow and when picking it up from the dealer order a new one for the following year-and make a profit on the old one. Sound weird I know but a stockbroker and a ‘person of means’ I knew at that time did it for several years on the trot
Given the time Freddie has his Shadow with no changes of car he must have been very pleased with it !!
He drove a Rolls Royce ’cause it’s good for his voice.
But you won’t fool the children of the revolution.
No, you won’t fool the children of the revolution, no no no, yeah…..
I bought my first Rolls-Royce about 40 years ago, having worked on and restored them over the years. I found the older 6 cylinder cars [pre-1959] to be far superior to other cars in their engineering and construction. Machined mating surfaces so precise that the only gasket needed, was wax paper so thin you can almost see thru it. And even then, that thin gasket was there to prevent the possibility of a few oil molecules from sneaking through!
When I joined the Rolls-Royce Owner’s Club, I quickly discovered most of the members were 9 to 5 people like myself, who had an appreciation for old cars and high quality, not snobbery. Yes, a few club members were very well-off, just as a few members of the Packard club or the Cadillac club were wealthy. One of the RROC members used to host a cook-out at his home, and it was hot dogs & hamburgers, along with beer & sodas, not caviar and champagne. His 2019 RROC party featured several owners who brought along their musical instruments for a rousing display of musical talent [but not to Queen’s level].
Yes, it really is easy to find ‘cheap to buy’ Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and Bentley T cars in north America. This is for 4 primary reasons:
1. Production levels. When Rolls-Royce realized that to stay current with the rapidly advancing technology levels of luxury cars, they would need to switch to a monocoque body shell instead of the earlier body on frame design, as well as other cutting edge mechanical systems. This meant they needed to produce 10 times or more the previous production levels for the Silver Cloud cars.
2. The increased technical improvements also meant more service was required, and the costs involved often meant second and third owners failed to get the required services. This results in the service and repair costs often tripling. As pointed out earlier, owning a Rolls-Royce in England is like owning a Cadillac in America.
3. Supply & Demand. In 1985 I began making trips to England buying NICE used 1965 and newer Rolls-Royces and Bentleys for under $5,000. I could buy examples needing lots of repair for as cheap as $500, but I stayed away from them. Once right hand drive Silver Shadows started to become easy to purchase in the UK as older used cars, many people in north America imported them. I wasn’t alone in this late 1980s buying frenzy, and by about 1990 America had probably doubled in the number of 1965 and newer Rolls-Royce cars available.
4. RHD. A HUGE number of Americans and Canadians will NOT own a RHD car. Due to a large number of RHD Silver Shadows available today, and a dwindling number of willing buyers, the prices stay low.
No band could get away with thought-provoking lyrics like Queen.
Queen: I’m in Love with my Car.
The machine of a dream
Such a clean machine
With the pistons pumping
And the hubcaps all gleam
When I’m holding your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When my hand’s on your grease gun
Oh it’s like a disease, son
I’m in love with my car
Got to feel for my automobile
Get a grip on my boy racer roll bar
Such a thrill when your radials squeal
Told my girl I’ll have to forget her
Rather buy me a new carburetor
So she made tracks
Saying this is the end now
Cars don’t talk back
They’re just four-wheeled friends, now
When I’m holding your wheel
All I hear is your gear
When I’m cruising in overdrive
Don’t have to listen
To no run of the mill talk jive
I’m in love with my car
Got to feel for my automobile
I’m in love with my car
String back gloves
In my automolove