terça-feira, 23 de novembro de 2010

FABulous Beatles Cars

1965 MERCEDES BENZ 230SL CONVERTIBLE

This car was sold new to John Winston Lennon MBE in London, England on August 2, 1965. It was special ordered by him as an automatic, (John was not a great driver) and delivered to a British dealer in England from Germany.

• Dark blue canvas top
• Dark blue hardtop
• Gray Mercedes Tex interior
• Right hand drive
• English style headlamps
• Florida title
• Special order automatic transmission with floor shift
• Fuel injected inline 6 cyl engine.
• Vin. #11304222010632
• Odometer reads: 19,127

ROLLS ROYCE

This car was manufactured in 1965 by the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, Crewe, Cheshire. The car was fitted with a limousine body by Mulltner Park Ward and finished in “Valentines Black”.
When completed, the Phantom V was then delivered to John Lennon on June 3, 1965 with the license plate number being FJB111C. A guarantee was issued to John Lennon on 10 June 1965. The car measured 19 feet long and weighed three tons.

The Beatles used the car to go to Buckingham Palace to receive their MBE Awards.
In 1966, the car had the rear seat modified to convert to a double bed. A custom interior/exterior sound system was installed along with a "loud hailer." Other features that John Lennon had installed at this time were: Sony television; telephone and a portable refrigerator.

John had his chauffeur and car sent over to Spain in 1966, while he was filming "How I Won the War". It was reported that his Rolls-Royce Phantom V was painted with a matt black overall, which included the radiator and chrome trim.

But John eventually became restless with the "matt black overall" on the car and so in April of 1967, he took it upon himself to visit J.P. Fallon Limited, a coachworks company located in Chertsey, Surrey. He had in mind the possibility of having his car painted "psychedelic". After discussing the idea, J.P. Fallon Limited commissioned "The Fool" -- a Dutch team of gypsy artists, to do the work. They designed and painted a pattern of scroll and flowers on the Phantom V.

John’s newly painted psychedelic car drew some public outrage when a old woman, in London’s downtown, attacked the car using her umbrella and yelling: "You swine, you swine! How dare you do this to a Rolls-Royce." Obviously, the Rolls-Royce is passionately regarded in England as one of the many symbols of British dignity!
The Beatles used the Rolls exclusively in their from 1966 to 1969.

MINI COOPER

George Harrison owned the Mini that featured in 'Magical Mystery Tour'. The Mini, an Austin Cooper 'S', LGF 695D, was built for George Harrison in late 1965 and painted in Metallic Black.

In early 1967, the car was repainted and the psychedelic pictures were added using a book, Tantrum Art, for inspiration. The Mini then was used in the film 'Magical Mystery Tour'. Shortly after the film the Mini was given to Eric Clapton from whom Harrison got it back in the 1970's.

John Lennon hitching a ride in George’s Mini.

Ringo hitching a ride in George’s Mini.

Jaguar XKE
George sits in the back of his Jaguar XKE.

Aston Martin Lagona DB5
The Harrison DB5 was constructed in 1964 and delivered by Brian Epstein’s venture “Brydor Cars Ltd” to George Harrison Esq. at his Kinfauns estate, Claremount Park, in Surrey on January 1st 1965.

In a publicity photo, George wanted to be pictured behind the wheel of an American convertible.

George and his Mercedes, in Esher, Surrey, July 18, 1970

George and his "Rocket",
the BMW powered racer

McLaren F1
George Harrison is driving his McLaren F1 at the very end of the Beatles anthology special.

MINI COOPER - Paul’s early 60’s Mini-Cooper

1966 Aston Martin DB6.
The car retains a reel to reel tape recorder in the dashboard and it is reputed that Paul used this to record his initial lyrics and melody while on his way to visit John’s son Julian, that became “Hey Jude”.

Land Rover

Buggy

50s Ford Anglia - Hot rod from “Give My Regards To Broadstreet”

Lexus LS 600h
$158,000 Lexus LS 600h, a luxury sedan that offers both high performance and a reassuring "green" patina because it uses a hybrid system that relies on an electric motor at low speeds.
With a powerful 1.3-gallon (5-liter) V-8 engine and a top speed of 155 mph -- is actually the best use of promising hybrid technology.