One Unexpected Car In David Bowie’s Collection Was This Volvo 262C – SlashGear

At least one other car we know Bowie owned was a laid-back black, 1981 Volvo 262C Bertone coupe. The Volvo was ordered and delivered to Bowie’s house in Switzerland on June 18, 1981. A few days later, it was registered under his name and issued the license plate VD 122 922.

Motor Trend said this particular Volvo originated in the “utilitarian 200-series model line.” However, thanks to Bertone, it was classed up to fit in the same luxury segment as Lincoln and Cadillac. Upscale finishing touches included a leather interior, power accessories, air conditioning, a chopped roof, and a Volvo Hi-Fi System with Blaupunkt speakers.

A rather provincial 2.8-liter Peugeot-Renault-Volvo (P.R.V.) V6 kicked out 155hp and Bowie’s was mated to a three-speed automatic. According to Hagerty, the Bertone had a top speed of just 110 miles per hour and took 11.4 seconds to get from zero to 60. Only 6,622 of this model were built between 1978 and 1981.

The Bertone had its registration and plates changed in 1985 to the “Bewlay Bros. S.A.R.L” — Bowie’s record label. He continued using it whenever he visited Switzerland. It was sold to another owner in 1998, who held on to it until he sold it at the very start of 2018 through the Swiss auction house The Oldtimer Galerie Toffen, according to Jalopnik.

Hagerty reported that a Concourse condition ’81 Bertone should be worth about $25,000, but because Bowie owned this one, it sold for $216,000. Someone really took Bowie’s lyrics “Don’t want to be a richer man” (from “Changes”) to heart when they plunked down that kind of money for this Volvo.