The iconic old tour bus used by Paul McCartney during a European Tour with Wings, has gone under the hammer.
This restored 1972 psychedelic Wings tour bus, will be going up for auction from April 22 to April 29. The bus was also utilised by Sir Paul and his late wife Linda McCartney.
Paul McCartney, his band and family lived on this bus during that Wings Over Europe Tour during the Summer of 1972.
They travelled over 7,500 miles during the tour on this bus, which has since been restored to its original style. It took inspiration from the album cover of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.
“the weight of history”
The auction will be hosted by Car and Classic, who expect this tour bus to sell for between £150,000 and £200,000. Drivers are allowed to submit pre bids.
It has even been suggested that Paul McCartney wrote one of the most famous James Bond theme tracks of all time, Live and Let Die on this bus.
“Just as [John] Lennon’s Rolls-Royce and the notable cars of other Beatles members carry the weight of history, tour buses tell a different story, and bear witness to the behind-the-scenes magic that fuels the onstage brilliance”, Dale Vinten, head of editorial at Car and Classic said.
“This essence is perfectly encapsulated in the Wings tour bus, still adorned in its psychedelic colours, and restored to how it would’ve been when the McCartneys and the rest of the band toured Europe over the summer of ’72”.
“Let’s also not forget that out of all the other Beatles cars, this vehicle is one that can actually be owned, driven and enjoyed, too!”, Vinten added.
“It’s easy to imagine this eye-catching bus drawing the crowds anywhere it went, whether it be a trip into ‘London Town’ or to the ‘Heart of the Country’, its arrival with us at auction means it’s now time for the bus to find its next home – with a little luck ending up with a true fan who will appreciate the history and rarity of this incredibly special double-decker”.
Wings Over Europe
Originally built in 1953, the bus was used as part of regular bus services in Essex, before being rented by Wings, who then painted it in 1972.
It has also been restored to reflect what the bus would been like at the time. It also includes the wood bed frames for the children of the Wings bandmembers, and psychedelic paint scheme.
Last week, Paul McCartney also spoke about embarrassing early moments while recording music with the Beatles. More on this here.
