A Rolls-Royce that once belonged to singer Freddie Mercury, legendary lead singer of Queen, was sold for £60,000 pounds ($96,700) at an auction on Saturday in the British city of Birmingham, during an automobile exhibition. Freddy Mercury’s Rolls-Royce had an estimated value of between £9,000 and £11,000 pounds ($14,440 to $17,650), said representatives of the organizing house, Coys. The vehicle, a Silver Shadow model made in 1974, was purchased in 1979 by the singer’s company, Goose Productions, informs music-news.com.
The car was driven by Freddie Mercury’s chauffeur. The British star did not have a driver’s license until his death in November 1991. The Rolls-Royce has been used for the last time in 2002, for the premiere of the musical “We Will Rock You”, inspired by Queen band’s career, said representatives of the organizing auction house. A letter from former Queen band’s manager Jim Beach, confirms the authenticity of the car, which was recovered from the singer’s sister. The vehicle, which has a 6.75-liter V8 engine, is described as “in its original condition” and has been driven for about 100,000 km. The auction took place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, during the Autosport International automobile salon.
Queen band released 15 albums until its dissolution in 1991, after the death of Freddie Mercury to AIDS. The artist died at age 45 on November 24, 1991, one day after he publicly announced that he was sick with AIDS. Songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Me Now”, composed by Mercury entered the pantheon of rock and a new generation of artists, including Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams, Foo Fighters and Muse, claim Queen band’s influence.
Concerts in which Mercury sang “We Are The Champions”, “Killer Queen”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” are considered some of the biggest rock hits, and “We Will Rock You,” the musical comedy released in 2002 based on band’s hits, was released on the worldwide scene and still plays in the theaters of London.
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