**Noel Gallagher’s Iconic Bentley Hits Market for £1.2 Million**
A red 1997 Bentley Turbo R formerly owned by legendary Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has become available to buy, with an asking price of £1.2 million. The distinctive four-door saloon, which is being featured on Auto Trader, is expected to draw attention not just from car enthusiasts but also music memorabilia collectors around the globe.
Noel Gallagher, aged 58, famously never earned his driver’s licence despite having owned several high-end cars. The musician once described how his solitary driving lesson ended abruptly in the 1990s, after being recognised and surrounded by fans near a school. This unique backstory only adds to the lore surrounding the vehicle now up for sale.
Erin Baker, editorial director at Auto Trader, commented on the listing, stating, “It’s quite a rare event when a vehicle linked to British pop royalty appears on our site. This Bentley, with its connection to Noel Gallagher, is sure to go down in our history books.” She added that Auto Trader welcomes more than 80 million visits each month, suggesting this sale could set records in terms of interest.
There’s another feature bound to intrigue fans: the Bentley carries the number plate ‘OASI6 2’, a direct nod to Gallagher’s Britpop powerhouse band, Oasis. The timing of the sale is interesting, coinciding with excitement around the band’s much-anticipated reunion later this year. Concertgoers are already looking forward to performances at renowned venues such as Heaton Park in Manchester, Wembley Stadium in London, and Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium scheduled throughout the summer.
Despite his lack of driving credentials, Gallagher has not been immune from motoring mishaps. In a notable incident last year, the musician was fined £1,000 and handed six penalty points after failing to inform the police who was behind the wheel of his Range Rover when it was caught speeding in West London. The event happened on the A40 in Edgware Road, where the vehicle was recorded at 41mph in a 30mph zone. Gallagher’s ongoing association with prestige cars, even if only from the passenger seat, continues to make headlines.
Reflecting on his brief dalliance with driving, Gallagher recounted an amusing yet overwhelming experience during a radio interview with Zoe Ball in 2023. His only lesson saw him pulling over at his instructor’s request, only to become the centre of attention at a local comprehensive as students poured out at the end of the school day. Given the peak of Oasis’s popularity during that time, Gallagher recalled deciding he would never attempt a driving lesson again.
Noel Gallagher first shot to fame in the early 1990s alongside his brother Liam as co-founders of Oasis. The group helped define an era of British music and dominated the charts with eight UK number one singles and an equal number of albums. Hits like “Wonderwall”, “Live Forever”, and “Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” remain part of the country’s cultural fabric and are instantly recognisable to a generation of fans.
Following Oasis’s split in 2009, Gallagher continued his musical journey by forming Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, a project which has also achieved critical and commercial success, including a string of number one albums in the UK. The band stands as testament to Gallagher’s enduring presence and influence in British music.
The sale of Gallagher’s Bentley represents more than just the transfer of a classic car; it serves as a reminder of the interwoven worlds of celebrity, nostalgia, and luxury. With both vehicle and musical history bundled into one, collectors may see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Auto Trader’s spotlight on the listing highlights how cultural artefacts tied to public figures can transcend traditional markets and capture the imagination of wider audiences. As this unique piece of British pop history awaits its next owner, industry observers will be watching to see just how high the bidding might go.