*** Interested parties should note: This vehicle is in Dublin, Ireland ***
Highlights
・Once owned by Bono of U2 ・Classic Mercedes look ・Custom interior ・Powerful sound system
The Background
The Mercedes S-Class or S-Klasse stands for Special Class. It has for a long time been seen as one of the safest most luxury models Mercedes produce. Every new generation of S Class is packed with technological innovation and safety improvements.
Although the S Class models have been around since 1954 however they didn’t pick up the S-Class title until 1972 with the W116 , the model you see before you here.
Paul Houston a.k.a. Bono bought the car to celebrate the success of Boy U2’s first album. Being a mega rockstar the car needed a decent stereo so he spent £12,000 on the sound system an speakers. There was that much power that he had to carry a fire extinguisher in the car which is still there to this day.
At some point the original Mercedes interior has been retrimmed in a cow hide pattern throughout including areas like the parcel shelf. This does have some wear on the drivers seat and has come away from a few surfaces elsewhere in the cabin.
There is also a substantial sound system in the vehicle with a number of amps fitted in the boot to power it. A fire extinguisher and cd changer have been fitted in the passenger footwell. There is a small fault with the radio.
Overall the interior of this vehicle is rather custom as you can see from the photos.
The exterior of the vehicle is tidy and the grey colour really suits the shape of the vehicle. The chrome work is in fair second hand condition and the car has 4 fairly new tyres on the Mercedes steel wheels with hubcaps.
The front lower grill is unfortunately absent and there is a small chip missing from the main radiator grill. The paint is generally in good condition but it does have some minor corrosion spots starting to appear in common areas like the leading edge of the bonnet, more than likely from stone chips that have turned bad. There is also some lacquer damage to the paint on the sunroof.
The car runs and drives well and pulls well. The underside of the car has general corrosion typical of a car of this age (41 years old) please see the pictures.
The exhaust will need replacing as the rear silencer is past its best.
The car has recently had a new starter motor and battery and has been recently valeted.
The Mercedes S Class is a title synonymous with luxury, safety and innovation. In typical world renowned rockstar fashion, during its time in the hands of U2 lead singer Bono, this particular car has had a few custom touches.
For the outside it largely keeps the standard W116 Mercedes looks but inside it’s awash with custom cowhide embroidery and a very large sound system.
If you still haven’t found what you're looking for then this custom S class could definitely be worth a look.
This car probably isn’t for the faint hearted. It will undoubtedly attract attention wherever it goes, but consider it a part of musical history having been owned by a rock legend and you’ll be having a beautiful day.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller.
More about buying with us
1980 Mercedes 450 SEL Ex Bono
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