Rolls-Royce is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary year of the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album by bringing back the colourful Phantom V which was once owned by John Lennon to London so that fans can see.
The car is currently owned by the Royal Columbia Museum in Canada. The car is set to travel from Canada to London in order to join The Great Eight Phantoms, which is a Rolls-Royce Exhibition. The event is set to run from July 29 to August 2.
Lennon is said to have took delivery of the large car back in 1965. It was then featured in Valentine Black.
Since then, he’s customised it in many ways. The rear seat was converted into a double bed, while a telephone, television and refrigerator were installed. Additionally, there has been a “floating” record player and a custom sound system installed as well.
Just as the recording of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was ending the motor was reprinted in its psychedelic colours. Although Rolls Royce says that when the the colour scheme is closely examined you can see that it is no random swirl.
Instead, the motor features a floral Romany scroll design, which is usually used on gypsy caravans and canal barges, and has a zodiac symbol on its roof.
According to reports, the Phantom V was used by Lennon for regular commutes until 1969. He also owned an all-white Phantom V.
Lennon is said to have used the vehicle to collect his MBE with his bandmates in 1965, which he then returned to the Palace in 1969 in the same vehicle.
The Rolls-Royce was shipped to the United States of America in 1970 when Lennon decided to move there. It was then loaned to fellow rock stars in order to ferry them around such as, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Moody Blues.
After a period of storage, in 1977 the car was donated to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria by billionaire Jim Pattison.
