Car & Classic Gives You Wings – A Legend of Rock and Road

Hot on the Cromodora clad heels of the Led Zeppelin Ferrari Dino that we successfully auctioned in February comes another piece of rock and roll royalty up for grabs, and much like the Dino’s larger than life owner Peter Grant the Wings tour bus is a bit of a beast. Not in a scary, rip your head off sense though – this beautifully restored 1953 KSW 5G open top bus is more akin to the blue and purple good-natured Sulley from Monsters, Inc. Large and imposing but wonderfully colourful and eccentrically characterful.

This isn’t just a bus, however. This is the famed psychedelic Wings tour bus, resplendent in its Beatles Yellow Submarine/Magical Mystery Tour inspired artwork that was home to Sir Paul McCartney, his family and the band Wings during its 1972 European summer tour which saw the gang traverse 7,500 miles through nine different countries at a pivotal moment for the band. The “Wings Over Europe” tour would mark Wings’ rise to superstardom, going on, as they would, to release five consecutive number one albums over the course of the next ten years.

Eschewing the usual private jets and luxury limousines of the rock star set, McCartney would hand pick WNO 481 as his steed of choice for the tour, immediately cementing its place in the rock and roll and automotive history books. A fan of buses in general McCartney specifically wanted one for the tour, stating: “If we’re gonna be in Europe in the summer going to places like the south of France it’s just silly to be in some little box all day gasping for air so we came up with this idea to have an open deck, upper deck kind of thing. We’ve got some mattresses up there so we can just cruise along, fantastic, it’s great, just lie around and get the sun.”

More than merely a means to an end, a tool to simply move the band from point A to point B, the bus would incorporate C,D and E too as it became a living and working space for McCartney and Wings. It was a creative carriage where the band could rest, collaborate and write and it’s not inconceivable that future hits were written from within, including the iconic James Bond theme “Live and Let Die” recorded later that same year.

Paul and Linda McCartney on the stairs of WNO 481

Extensively restored over a period of three years and unveiled to a rapturous crowd at the Classic Motor Show in 2022, the bus, complete with the “McCartney Stage” performance space on the top deck that draws inspiration from the Beatles’ famous 1969 roof top concert, is an authentic representation of its 1972 tour specification. With meticulous attention to detail that perfectly evokes the style and atmosphere of the era this unique piece of rock history remains the only Beatles related vehicle alongside Lennon’s Rolls-Royce and George Harrison’s Mini that can be owned, driven and enjoyed.

Powered by a Gardner 5LW 7-litre, five-cylinder diesel engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission, the bus is fully UK road registered and runs like an absolute dream having recently completed The Magical History Tour of famous Beatles and McCartney London locations following the completion of the restoration work. The bus also comes complete with an official license that permits the display of artwork, logos, the names of Paul and Linda McCartney, family photos taken on the bus and more, with the license transferring to the new owner upon successful purchase.

Head on over to the listing to get the full run down, and do give our YouTube video a watch where you can get up close and personal with WNO 481 to discover more about its fascinating history. We would also highly recommend visiting the official website that delves much deeper into the bus’ captivating past, providing myriad more anecdotes, celebrity connections and captivating accounts of its adventures over the years.

Whether it be a trip to London Town or to the heart of the country, with a little luck you could be the next proud owner of Wings tour bus, WNO 481. So grab your ticket to ride now and become part of rock and roll history! Should you wish to view the bus prior to the end of the auction its last public appearance will be at The Classic Car Boot Sale in Kings Cross, London on the 27th and 28th of April – open 10-6pm daily.