Rolls Royce Phantom V John Lennon (1965)

Product Description

Rolls Royce Phantom V John Lennon (1965) in Yellow (1:43 scale)
- This gorgeous model comes in a custom, acrylic display case & themed presentation box. Of the 516 Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs produced between 1959 & 1968, this is most definitely one of the most interesting of them all. This Phantom V was produced by Rolls Royce with coachwork completed by Mulltner Park Ward & originally finished in Valentines Black & delivered to John Lennon in 1965. Over the next year he spent so much time in it that he added many modifications, such as a radio telephone, a double bed, a custom sound system, a television & even a refrigerator. Always one for change, Mr. Lennon had the entire Phantom V painted matte black, & even the radiator & chrome trim were painted to match! Eventually he tired of this too & went searching for an alternative. In 1967 he found the artwork he was looking for, & after the rather intricate paint job was finished the car remained painted in this fashion for the next forty three years, retaining its striking appearance to this very day. The extreme appearance of the Rolls Royce was quick to offend some people as Rolls-Royce was commonly held as a symbol of British dignity. It"s even said that in the streets of London, an elderly woman attacked the car declaring > You swine, you swine! How dare you do this to a Rolls Royce!> At some point in 1970s the car was shipped to the U.S. & was loaned out to various rock stars such as Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones. Eventually Mr. Lennon placed his psychedelic Rolls-Royce in storage, & it sat there for seven years until he found himself in trouble with the United States Internal Revenue Service. Luckily, he was able to work out a deal to donate the car to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York City for a tax credit of $225, 000. Since then the car has changed hands a number of times & is currently under the care of the Royal British Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.