Eric Morecambe’s Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow traditional automotive – together with his ‘EM 100’ quantity plate – to be offered at public sale for effectively over the market worth

In search of a ‘sensible’ traditional automotive funding? Then look no additional.

Not solely is that this 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow a licensed collector’s merchandise nevertheless it additionally has an especially precious quantity plate.

The walnut brown automotive’s first proprietor was none aside from legendary comic, Eric Morecambe and the motor nonetheless sports activities his personalised quantity plate ‘EM 100’.

Will probably be provided to the best bidder at public sale in its authentic situation, having by no means been restored and retained by his spouse for years after his loss of life.

However the Curler will not be going low cost. In truth, auctioneers consider it’s going to smash the standard worth of a Silver Shadow of this era when the hammer drops. 

A ‘sensible’ traditional automotive funding: Not solely is that this ex-Eric Morecambe Rolls-Royce a licensed collector’s merchandise, the non-public quantity plate can also be price a small fortune by itself

The comedy legend took supply of the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow on 11 October 1974. He cherished the British motor a lot that his household saved maintain of it for twenty years after his loss of life in 1984. Pictured: Eric Morecambe with the Rolls-Royce

Silverstone Auctions will promote Eric Morecambe’s Rolls-Royce at its Silverstone Pageant occasion held over the past weekend of August.

The public sale home estimates it’s going to go for between £35,000 and £40,000, which is effectively above market worth for one in all these motors.

Hagerty, the traditional automotive insurer and professional on car values, says a pristine, low mileage, instance of a 1974 Silver Shadow at this time is price £37,200.

Nevertheless, Morecambe’s automotive, whereas completely authentic, has lined simply over 77,000 miles and would sometimes be price quite a bit much less with out its movie star first proprietor.

It was equipped new with the ‘EM 100’ quantity plate, which is the one registration the automotive has ever had.

And Eric’s non-public registration quantity is price a small fortune by itself.

CaReg.co.uk, which specialises in valuing and promoting personalised quantity plates, informed That is Cash that the present market worth of this plate is £11,950.

Nevertheless, CarReg informed us it expects the worth to be nearer to £15,000 if the plate was provided to the open market separate from the motor. 

Regardless of its big worth alone, the quantity plate is generously included within the lot with the automotive as the seller recognises its historic significance and connecting to the late comedy celebrity. 

That mentioned, CarReg informed us the seller requested a valuation on the quantity plate simply final yr. 

The ‘EM 100’ non-public plate, which has been on the automotive since Eric Morecambe bought it nearly 50 years in the past, is price a small fortune. Specialists worth it at round £15,000

The Curler was delivered new to the comic on 11 October 1974.

On the time, it was nearly obligatory for celebs to be snapped in a severe pose alongside their Rolls-Royces as a gong proving their success.

But Eric Morecambe – who, alongside comedy accomplice Eric Smart, was on the very prime of his recreation when he took possession of the Curler – nonetheless could not take himself or the trimmings of his success severely in entrance of the digital camera, as {a photograph} included within the sale lot reveals, which Silverstone Public sale says ‘defines the late Eric Morecambe in a single picture’. 

The public sale home provides: ‘Though a family title, he nonetheless regarded, and importantly behaved, like everybody’s favorite uncle, he simply needed to get amusing.’

The lot consists of this excellent photograph of the comic stood in entrance of his much-loved Curler, which was one in all two Silver Shadows he purchased

Silverstone Auctions will promote Eric Morecambe’s Rolls-Royce at its Silverstone Pageant occasion held over the past weekend of August

The public sale home estimates it’s going to go for between £35,000 and £40,000, which is effectively above market worth for one in all these motors

And this wasn’t his first Silver Shadow. 

In 1971, his ambition of proudly owning a Rolls-Royce was fulfilled when he purchased his first Silver Shadows. 

As confirmed by his long-term chauffeur, the late Mike Fountain, Eric would normally sit up entrance and solely used the again seat when he needed to stretch out for a nap.

However this second mannequin is arguably probably the most notable Morecambe Curler, completed in Walnut Brown paint with a complementing Beige leather-based inside.

The Silver Shadow was so treasured by Morecambe that it was retained by his spouse, Joan, for many years after he handed away, on the age of 58, on 28 Could 1984. 

The household saved the automotive for an additional 20 years in a Hertfordshire storage till they offered it at public sale in December 2004 for £31,000.

It was purchased by Lancashire enterprise companions Lionel Snowden, Bernadette Keegan and Ann Kershaw, who snapped up the automotive at a Kensington sale after Joan had determined to half methods with the much-loved motor.

Eric’s spouse Joan offered the automotive in 2004 at public sale. She had saved it for 20 years after his loss of life realizing it was a cherished motor in her husband’s assortment. Pictured: Joan with the automotive earlier than it went to public sale in December ’04

This second Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow in Morecambe’s assortment is arguably probably the most notable, completed in Walnut Brown paint with a complementing Beige leather-based inside

The lot description says the beige leather-based has ‘aged effectively’. Right here, you’ll be able to see it is nonetheless in excellent situation

The lot on the time additionally reportedly included 60 cassettes of Eric’s all-time favorite musical hits.

It had been utilized by the enterprise companions for a brand new enterprise referred to as Legend Vehicles, providing the car’s service for occasions similar to weddings but in addition appearances at charity fundraisers.

But the automotive, offered nearly 20 years in the past, was used sparingly, having accrued simply over 3,000 miles because it final appeared at public sale in 2004 with 74,000 miles on the clock.

Right now, the odometer reads 77,452 on the time of cataloguing.

After the comic’s loss of life in 1984, the Morecambe household saved the automotive for an additional 20 years in a Hertfordshire storage till they offered it at public sale in December 2004 for £31,000

As you’ll be able to see on this picture, the odometer reads 77,452 on the time of cataloguing

The place the comedy legend as soon as sat: The motor is anticipated to generate loads of curiosity amongst Morecambe and Smart followers in addition to traditional automotive collectors

Whereas the movie star keeper’s title as the unique proprietor within the log e book would be the greatest attraction, the Curler is without doubt one of the greatest examples you can see in Britain at this time.

Having by no means been restored or resprayed, the bodywork and chrome bumpers are in completely authentic situation.

The lot description says the beige leather-based has ‘aged effectively’ and the lambswool rugs are ‘pleasingly nonetheless in place though the walnut veneers present the standard bloom of previous lacquer’. 

The documented historical past consists of upkeep payments to the worth of over £15,000 for the final ten years, exhibiting it has been saved the the best mechanical order potential in its latest instances.

Silverstone Auctions mentioned: ‘We conclude that few movie star automobiles can be found at this estimate and, with a quantity plate price a big sum by itself, this fabulous Rolls-Royce will certainly ‘carry you sunshine’ wherever it goes.’

The hammer will drop on the automotive on Saturday 26 August with bidding commencing from noon.

Even the unique lambswool rugs are ‘pleasingly nonetheless in place’, says Silverstone Public sale. Nevertheless, the walnut veneers are ‘exhibiting the standard bloom of previous lacquer’

The documented historical past consists of upkeep payments to the worth of over £15,000 for the final ten years, exhibiting it has been saved the the best mechanical order potential in its latest time

In addition to its full documented historical past, the automotive comes with the unique software equipment and plenty of plaque-mounted badges from its appearances at motoring occasions in its half-century lifetime