John Lennon’s Psychedelic Car – The Rolls Royce
The Rolls Royce Phantom V was one of only 517 cars of this model made. It was a 1964
Mulliner Park War Phantom V, finished in Valentines black, so that everything, apart from
the front radiator, was black. Lennon wanted the radiator to be black too, but Rolls Royce
refused! It was equipped with leather seats, wood trim, cocktail cabinet, writing table and a
portable TV. However, Lennon didn’t know how to drive them and only passed his test in 1965.
He had the car customised at the end of 1965 to be fitted with a double bed, a floating record player (so that the records wouldn’t jump) as well as a car radio-telephone.
After Lennon had used it out in Almeria, Spain, while filming How I Won The War, it needed
a new coat of paint. So, John being John, he commissioned J.P. Fallon Ltd. to create a custom paint job in the style of a gypsy caravan. The car was shipped out to America when he moved there, and regularly loaned it to his friends, like Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones. The car was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1977 due to a problem with the IRS. It was sold in 1985 for $2,299,000.
Bill Zygmant Remembers:
“When I photographed Lennon’s psychedelic car, the chauffeur let me have a go, so I drove
Lennon’s car. It was a lovely car. I am the only photographer who managed to photograph the psychedelic caravan, car and the Apple store.”
Get Your Copy of Bill’s Fantastic Book
Bill Zygmant – Where Did You Get That Shirt? (Signed Limited Edition)
Get your copy of Bill Zygmant’s portfolio book of unique photographs covering his career from the late 1960s to the 1980s.
This will be a signed, numbered edition – maximum of 250 numbered editions.
It comes with one of Bill’s signed photographs, which usually sells for £50!
