Alex Eckford met up with the car-mad drummer to quiz him about the Audi, his incredible car collection and whether a full Pink Floyd reformation is on the cards.

“One careful owner. I sound like the Arthur Daley of rock ‘n’ roll!”.

I’ve come to Battersea on a rainy Wednesday morning to meet Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, to talk about his incredible car collection, including his current daily runabout - the Audi RS6 he’s selling on autotrader.co.uk.

“It’s the car I use every day,” says Nick. “My drum kit has been in the back of it, so whoever buys it might find a drumstick under a mat somewhere…”

“I’d really like the car to go to someone who enjoys it.”

Audi’s RS cars have always appealed to Nick.

“I love the RS series,” says Nick. “You get real sports car performance in a practical package. I’ve had an Audi RS2, an Audi RS4, and bought the Audi RS6 in 2004. I suppose it’s a bit like reading a certain newspaper, you get used to it!”

Car collection

As well as the Audi RS6, Nick has a vintage car collection of some of the greatest vehicles in automotive history, from a 1901 Panhard to a Bugatti Type 13.

He’s also the only person I’ve ever met who owns a Ferrari Enzo.

“It’s still on display at Beaulieu Motor Museum, “ says Nick. “They’ve had it a few times. Some people say cars shouldn’t be kept in museums, but I think some cars need to be. It’s important to keep a few cars in truly original condition.”

Learning to drive

“I learnt to drive in a Morris 1000,” says Nick. “I also owned an Austin Seven Chummy at the time. It was the car which taught me about basic mechanics, about the engine and how cars work. But quite often the brakes didn’t work! After that, when we lived in Highgate, I bought an Aston Martin International, for £150.”

The flat in Highgate’s Stanhope Gardens was where Pink Floyd had their first formative rehearsals and performances.

“I remember the house quite clearly,” says Nick. “The hood of my Aston Martin International might still be buried in the garden.”

Nick’s passion for motoring was inherited from his father.

“My dad used to make films about cars and raced them too,” says Nick. “From the age of seven or eight he would take me to Silverstone. I’ve always been interested in motor sport, and particularly in vintage racing and club racing.”

Nick continues to compete in vintage car races, and has even taken part in the Le Mans 24 hour race. He also owns Ten Tenths, a company which hires out classic and sports cars, including cars from Nick’s personal collection.

He’s the member of Pink Floyd people most associate with cars, but what do the other members of the band drive?

“Roger Waters had a BMW M1,” says Nick. “He might still have it, I think. And Dave Gilmour had a few cars, but after a while he thought ‘Well, I’m not using them, so I might as well not have them.”

The Wall

As the drummer with Pink Floyd, Nick has played on some of the greatest, and biggest selling, albums of all time, recorded in locations all over the world.