U2's automobiles

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walktothewater

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U2's automobiles
« on: January 15, 2025, 08:24:02 AM »
Anecdotal but from a reliable source. Some of info is public knowledge.

"Adam had a few Astons. Indeed I think it was in a DB5/6 that he got busted for possession of weed outside a Dublin mountains pub many years ago.

Clayton had a huge collection. Various Lamborghinis etc. He sold most of his rock star cars as part of his sobriety journey. "Anything I couldn't remember buying" iirc. I once viewed a BMW 2002 in green that was said to be an ex-Clayton car . Xxx-666 reg on it. It was in very poor shape, so I passed.

Bono had a w116 Merc in the 80's with cow print black and white seats. Also owned a few Bristols, one was brown. Horrible thing. He also had a brown Quattroporte. In the early 90's he had a Vicarage Jaguar MK2. Kind of an early resto mod. I met him once at The Factory recording studio in the early 90's and he was driving a yellow Mk3 Cortina in yellow, black vinyl roof and leopardskin seat covers.
For many years, his wife Ali drove a high spec, non-GTI MK2 Golf 5 door in white. A GLS or something. It had the big bumpers of the GTI, but not the stripes and spoilers.

Edge seems to have mostly driven w108 S-class cabs and coupes.

Only car I ever saw Larry in was a maroon MK2 Golf CL. He used it as his airport car in the 90's. He always preferred bikes anyway."


To add to the above,  Larry was photographed on his way to or leaving Adam's 2013 wedding driving what was obviously a Merc (you could see the three-pointed star on the steering wheel from the photo - don't know what model.)  I was told Adam was seen in the 1980s driving a Citroen SM, a rare car, near where he lives in Rathfarnham.
« Last Edit: January 15, 2025, 08:26:54 AM by walktothewater »
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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Shank

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2025, 10:35:51 AM »
They should be required to drive only Trabants.
Wonder if Larry ever tried to buy Elvis' motorcycle.

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SlyDanner

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2025, 11:02:01 AM »
so this is what U2 fanworld has devolved (deteriorated?) into - talking about their cars.  Hmm.

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Larry's Lovebucket

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2025, 12:13:51 PM »
so this is what U2 fanworld has devolved (deteriorated?) into - talking about their cars.  Hmm.

In fairness, this post was more interesting than the recent ?interview? with the edge.

Just.
@2025 #mymothercoulddoit

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SlyDanner

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2025, 01:07:02 PM »
so this is what U2 fanworld has devolved (deteriorated?) into - talking about their cars.  Hmm.

In fairness, this post was more interesting than the recent ?interview? with the edge.

Just.

pulling out my own eyes would be more fun than listening to 'The Edge'

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kango

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2025, 02:40:56 PM »
Here ya go...

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/cars/article/u2-car-collection

Adam's more into watches these days.
Another Time, Another Forum

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2025, 04:06:10 PM »
Here ya go...

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/cars/article/u2-car-collection

Adam's more into watches these days.

Thanks. I think that piece is accurate.
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2025, 04:09:40 PM »
Regarding the Citroen SM, seemingly there was kind of a trend among musicians in Ireland in the 1980s to drive them, some of the Hothouse Flowers (then a big band in Ireland, they had a few UK hits also) had various Citroens too, SM's or the less rare CX. Ossie Kilkenny, former U2 accountant, also had one.

Ossie still has a good collection of interesting cars I'm told.
« Last Edit: January 16, 2025, 04:57:15 PM by walktothewater »
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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Larry's Lovebucket

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #8 on: January 16, 2025, 05:30:48 PM »
If my auntie had bollocks she?d be my uncle.
@2025 #mymothercoulddoit

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Amor fati

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #9 on: January 16, 2025, 07:05:19 PM »
Here ya go...

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/cars/article/u2-car-collection

Adam's more into watches these days.

For a multi millionaire many times over Bono sure does have shit taste in cars.  Adam certainly has the upper hand there. 

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2025, 07:40:31 PM »
If my auntie had bollocks she?d be my uncle.

wha'?
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2025, 07:41:53 PM »
Here ya go...

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/cars/article/u2-car-collection

Adam's more into watches these days.

For a multi millionaire many times over Bono sure does have shit taste in cars.  Adam certainly has the upper hand there.

Bono has, to be polite, idiosyncratic taste in cars.  He's not really a car guy to be honest. He thinks he is, but he ain't.
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2025, 07:49:10 PM »
The Ford Cortina allegedly was a wedding gift to Guggi from Bono. Bono got it back off him at some stage and restored and repainted it.

"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/

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Codeguy

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2025, 04:44:24 PM »
The Ford Cortina allegedly was a wedding gift to Guggi from Bono. Bono got it back off him at some stage and restored and repainted it.



I remember seeing Bono drive off from (old) Windmill lane in his Cortina in 1989, it was hilarious. I don't think he had restored it at the time cause it looked like shite.
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Who is Ron Vara?

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walktothewater

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Re: U2's automobiles
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2025, 07:03:50 PM »
The Ford Cortina allegedly was a wedding gift to Guggi from Bono. Bono got it back off him at some stage and restored and repainted it.



I remember seeing Bono drive off from (old) Windmill lane in his Cortina in 1989, it was hilarious. I don't think he had restored it at the time cause it looked like shite.

It's funny, everyone in Dublin of our generation has a U2 story, you have quite a few. Even non-U2 fans have them. I was on a Irish motoring forum and in the other interests section started a thread about Bono getting the award from Biden and it turned into a thread about U2's cars and then people chimed in with their experiences of dealings with people in the broader U2 circle over the years . All positive experiences, it has to be said. 
"There's nothing wrong with U2. As far as I'm concerned, I've stolen from Larry Mullen's career for years. Without Larry, I wouldn't be able to stomp and sing, it'd be difficult. I mean I owe debts to the Bhundu Boys, Larry Mullen, Stewart Copeland. They're good players, and they're great songwriters" - Gary "Reni" Wren, drummer, The Stone Roses reunion press conference, 18/10/2011

"I'd just like to put on record that that's bobbins" - Ian Brown, singer, ditto

https://www.lauralynn.ie/