Wyman reluctant to part with beloved cars

usually just wanted to see who was in it.’’ However, in 1997 the vehicle was subject to restoration, meaning the original tinted windows are no longer in place.

‘‘From 1966 to 1969 I used the car to travel around London and to Olympic Studios where we were recording Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed. When we weren’t in the studio or touring I drove it round England with my camera, taking photos.

‘‘From 1971 to 1982, I was living in the South of France and I frequently drove the Maserati from my new home in Vence to Paris, where we recorded the albums Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You.

‘The minute I saw the Maserati, I thought, this is it! It looked so beautiful. They showed me that incredible engine and the double headlights, and I thought, incred- ible! I fell in love with it.

‘‘I’d drive it to Keith Richards’ place, miles away in Cap Ferrat, to record Exile on Main Street album, and I’d drive to Paris and back, an eight-hour journey each way.

‘‘It was so easy to drive,’’ Wyman said of the Maserati, ‘‘I became great friends with Marc Chagall, Cesar, and James Baldwin over the years, and I’d drive over to their homes on the Coˆte d’Azur. I’d also drive to Monte Carlo to hang out with Ringo and Spiros and Philip Niarchos of the Greek shipping family.

‘‘I drove it to Spain too. And to Marseilles, Portofino in Italy, and back to England a few times. Oh, and of course to Switzerland. I went there twice to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival. The first time was with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and Pinetop Perkins. Then three years later I again drove there to play with Muddy Waters again.’’

‘‘I am sorry to say goodbye to these two cars, but having enjoyed them so much over the years and having kept them both in pristine condition, I feel they should now go to people who will love and take care of them as much as I have.’’

Bonham’s Festival of Sale takes place on June 26 at Goodwood. See https:// www. bonhams. com/ departments/MOT-CAR/

Bill Wyman and his beloved Citroe¨n-Maserati SM, in which he travelled all over Europe in the 70s, as well as to many important concerts and recordings.

The Mercedes-Benz 220 S lost its tinted windows during restoration. Wyman (behind the wheel) says the 1966 model was the first Benz with such ‘privacy glass.’