Paul Weller’s 1972 Mercedes-Benz W114 250, a car with rare cultural significance, is set to go under the hammer this November. Expected to attract fierce interest from both car collectors and seventies rock enthusiasts, the car is being described as a true piece of music history.
The Mercedes, once owned by Weller - nicknamed the Modfather and frontman of The Jam - was reportedly the backdrop to some of his songwriting. Weller even signed the centre console, adding a personal mark of authenticity.
Finished in Midnight Blue with a cream interior, the car was a birthday gift for Weller’s 38th birthday in 1996, sourced by his father and long-term manager, John. It became a family car for school runs and daily use. Over the years, Weller wrote several tracks in it, including “Driving Nowhere,” “Heavy Soul,” and “All on a Misty Morning.” The artist’s habit of composing on the move was well known; he famously wrote the lyrics to The Jam’s hit “That’s Entertainment” during a taxi ride from the pub.
After 18 years, Weller sold the Mercedes in 2014. It was purchased by Andy Ash of Andy’s Autobarn in Ashford, who intended to restore it but sold it after a chance meeting with the current owner, a devoted Weller fan. Following a thorough restoration in 2018, the car was briefly reunited with Weller at his Black Barn Studio in Surrey, where he signed the centre console.
Since then, it has appeared at exhibitions and ferried fans on “Tufty Tours,” a guided trip around locations linked to Weller’s life and career, with proceeds benefiting charity.
The Mercedes will be offered at Iconic Auctioneers’ Collectors’ Car Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show on Saturday 8 November. It is described as “well-restored and very well-presented,” with just 80,743 miles on the clock. Despite its history, the auction estimate is £40,000–£50,000.
Rob Hubbard, managing director at Iconic Auctioneers, said: “Cars with genuine cultural provenance are rare. This W114 links music and motoring in a way that speaks to enthusiasts and fans alike. It sits comfortably alongside everything we sell, from attainable modern classics to highly sought collectors’ cars.”
The W114 was introduced in 1968, featuring independent coil-sprung suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and a reworked four-speed automatic transmission - specifications retained in Weller’s car. The 2.8-litre straight-six engine produced around 128bhp, with a claimed top speed of 106mph. Its handling and build quality were widely praised in the seventies.
Weller’s Mercedes isn’t the only celebrity-owned car heading to auction. On 20 September, Historics Auctioneers will offer Jude Law’s 2009 Audi S8. The 16-year-old luxury saloon, powered by a Lamborghini-derived 5.8-litre V10, has covered just 63,239 miles and carries an estimate of £11,000–£16,000.
Also available is Chelsea and England legend John Terry’s 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish. Terry owned the 460bhp V12 luxury sports car during Chelsea’s record-breaking 2004–05 and 2005–06 Premier League seasons. With only 26,500 miles, it is estimated to sell for £38,000–£46,000.
