10-17-2005 – Evening Standard – Freddie’s Rolls-Royce

FREDDIE MERCURY’S old Rolls-Royce is up for sale on eBay.

The late Queen star’s 1974 Silver Shadow is being auctioned on the internet site by his sister, Kashmira Cooke, who has owned the car since the singer died from AIDS in November 1991.

It comes with an unopened box of tissues belonging to Mercury.

More than 180 fans have bid since last week, pushing the car’s price up to £62,600. The auction ends this evening.

Charlie Coney, spokesman for eBay Motors, said: “Getting behind the wheel of Freddie Mercury’s Rolls will be a kind of magic for fans and classic car lovers.”

The vintage car has clocked up more than 62,000 miles and last made a public appearance transporting Mercury’s family to the London premiere of the musical We Will Rock You in May 2002.

It is not the first celebrity car to be sold on eBay this year. In April, George Michael used the site to sell his Range Rover and in May a VW Golf once owned by Pope Benedict went for £100,000.