The Rolls Royce brand announced that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band album in its own interesting way … For this purpose they brought their colorful Rolls Royce Phantom V, which is known because it was owned by John Lennon, to London, where all visitors can see it. Currently owned by Royal British Columbia Museum in Canada, this Phantom V will join other Rolls Royce models at a unique Bonhams exhibition, which John Lennon was eagerly visiting during the sixties. From July 29 to August 2, visitors will be able to see all these models.
‘The John Lennon Phantom V’
On June 3, 1965, on the same day that Edward H White became the first American to walk around the universe, John Lenon got a really special delivery – it was the Rolls Royce Phantom V in the Valentine’s Black. Lenon adapted his Rolls to himself in a true rocker style. The rear seat was converted into a double bed, inserted a TV set, phone and fridge, as well as a floating record player with custom audio system.
Then, in April two years later, Lenon asked JP Fallon brand to give his Rolls a new layer of color. The freshly colored Phantom was presented publicly on the first of June of the same year, with a color scheme described as psychedelic.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom V was used regularly by John Lennon until 1969 (Lennon also owned a slightly less conspicuous all-white Phantom V). The car was shipped to the USA in 1970 when Lennon moved there and was loaned out to ferry other rock stars around such as The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and The Moody Blues. In 1977, after a period in storage, it was donated by billionaire Jim Pattison to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.