Noel Gallagher's 'Morning Glory' Rolls-Royce Heads to Auction
The iconic vehicle, a gift to the Oasis star after the success of his band's second album, is expected to fetch between £25,000 and £30,000.
A Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, gifted to Noel Gallagher to celebrate the monumental success of Oasis's 1995 album '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', is set to go under the hammer with an estimate of £25,000.
The chocolate-brown luxury car holds a place in 1990s British cultural history, having transported Gallagher to the famous 'Cool Britannia' party at 10 Downing Street in 1997, an event held to mark Labour's landslide election victory.
However, fans hoping to emulate the rock star behind the wheel may be disappointed, as Gallagher never actually drove the car. He famously quipped about the gift: "Liam got a Rolex. I got a Rolls-Royce. Which is brilliant, 'cos I can't drive, and Liam can't tell the time."
Despite its lack of use by Gallagher, the car was a symbol of his desire for recognition. Creation Records founder Alan McGee, who signed Oasis in 1993, secretly purchased the Silver Shadow and presented it to Gallagher at a Christmas party after the band's global fame was cemented by their second album.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, first registered in October 1978, was initially finished in Chestnut with Champagne upholstery. While it remained largely unused by Gallagher, it comes with documentation including an old V5C form listing 'Oasis Music, Mr Noel Gallagher' and bearing his signature.
Acquired by its current owner in 2012, the vehicle has undergone extensive restoration. It was professionally repainted in its original Chestnut finish, fitted with a new roof, carpets, and whitewall tires, and has been maintained by an ex-Rolls-Royce mechanic. The indicated mileage is currently 63,700 miles.
The car is scheduled to go to auction on Saturday, November 14. The current owner expressed a sentiment of privilege in caring for the car, stating, "This is a part of rock & roll and Britpop history, something that should be used and appreciated."