Another piece of rock ‘n’ roll and classic car history is about to hit the auction market. But you will need a substantial garage and a big wallet if you want to make it yours. Open for pre-bids now, is the restored 1972 Wings tour bus, used by Sir Paul and Linda McCartney during the Wings Over Europe Tour in the summer of 1972.
Originally chosen as the tour bus for their 1972 summer tour, the double-decker bus quickly gained worldwide fame and became the epicentre of an extraordinary family and band adventure. As Sir Paul and Linda McCartney, along with the rest of the Wings band, traversed over 7,500 miles across nine countries and 25 cities, the summer of 1972 became a pivotal moment for the band. The tour garnered the attention of the world’s media and marked the rise of Wings after the glory days of The Beatles. The bus wasn’t merely a space for rest and transportation it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that a number of hit songs were potentially written within it, including the iconic Bond theme “Live and Let Die” recorded later that same year (1972).
Now a symbol of both rock and road, with its psychedelic colour scheme mirroring The Beatles’ 1960s Yellow Submarine album cover, the bus, registered as WNO 481, still retains features from its heyday, upholding its originality and offering a glimpse into the era of ‘swinging Sixties’, Carnaby Street, and the universal message of peace and love. Sir Paul McCartney’s affection for buses and the decision to have an open-top upper deck setup for the European tour is reflected in his words: “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.”
Just as [John] Lennon’s Rolls-Royce and the notable cars of other [The] 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. 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 [The] Beatles cars, this vehicle is one that can actually be owned, driven and enjoyed.
The bus is in restored condition, aiming for an authentic representation of its 1972 tour specification. In the interior, meticulous attention to detail was applied to recreate the era’s atmosphere, with the revamped space now featuring wooden bunk beds, reflecting the sleeping arrangements for the band members’ children. The lower cabin is adorned with bright yellow curtains, providing a distinct contrast to the exterior’s psychedelic paint scheme while a bespoke cover for the upper deck proudly displays ‘1972 Wings Tour Bus’ graphics on the roof. Powered by a Gardner 5LW 7-litre diesel engine paired with a manual transmission, this tour bus still has many miles of road left to travel.
The bus is further accompanied by 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.
Car & Classic’s online auction will begin on 22 April and run until 29 April. The auction team estimates that it will sell for between £150,000 – £200,000 and invites all interested parties to register their pre-bids via the auction link here: carandclassic.com/auctions/1953-bristol-ksw5g-paul-mccartney-and-wings-1972-wings-over-europe-tour-bus-nY10ln.