1980 Land Rover Classic ‘owned by Bob Marley’ to be auctioned at Birmingham NEC

It might take more than One Love to get it running - but a battered old Range Rover believed owned by Bob Marley is going under the hammer.

Auctioneers claim the 1980 Range Rover Classic - listed as “green (mostly)” - was one of two owned by the reggae icon. Classic Car Auctions are offering the ‘collage’ of parts which they say are thought to have been obtained via an agent who dealt directly with the Marley family.

A Range Rover bearing seemingly identical paint damage and smashed headlights and windscreen was on show at Jamaica’s Geejam Hotel in 2016. The listing for the lot - offered without reserve - claims the original registration document, now unavailable, bore the name “Robert Nesta Marley”.

It also says the vehicle was originally finished in ‘Masai Red’, but “now ending up in a mixture of Black, Green and Blue supposedly painted by some of Bob’s eleven children”.

It describes the Range Rover as being well-travelled; being shipped from Solihull to Germany, then on to Jamaica, before being regularly shipped between the UK and Jamaica. Helpfully, it also reads: “Supplied with the engine in the back (it needs to go in the front!) this old Rangey is ripe for restoration.”

Simon Langsdale of Classic Car Auctions, who sourced the car, says: “We are delighted to be offering this ex-Bob Marley Range Rover at public auction. This unique opportunity to purchase not only an early suffix example, but one with history linked to the legendary reggae star – I am sure it will attract huge interest.

“Fully restored examples have sold for as much as £130,000 in recent years; but with a celebrity link that can add up to 20% in value so this is a great investment option.

“But for a true Bob Marley fan who is also a petrolhead, owning this Range Rover will be something beyond price and is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The car is to be auctioned at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC, Birmingham from 24 - 26 March.