John Lennon’s Rolls Royce Phantom V is another of ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’

The Rolls Royce Phantom V owned by John Lennon is the latest of ‘The Great Eight Phantoms’ to be revealed as part of the debut of the new Phantom VIII.

Rolls-Royce is leading up to the debut of the new Phantom VIII by gathering together the world’s ‘Great Eight Phantoms’ to sit alongside the new Phantom when it’s revealed in Mayfair at the end of this month (29 July).

So far, we’ve had Sir Malcolm Campbell’s 1933 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental, the Rolls Royce Phantom III used by Field Marshal Bernard Law ‘Monty’ Montgomery and Hollywood legendary hoofer Fred Astaire’s Phantom I.

Now we get what is probably the most recognisable famous Phantom in the guise of John Lennon’s Phantom V, complete with 1960s ‘psychedelic ‘ paint job. But actually, it wasn’t that at all, although it was a perfectly valid statement at the time.

In fact, Lennon’s Phantom was painted bright yellow and the ‘psychedelic. paint job on top was actually Romany artwork, just like you’d find on a Gypsy caravan.

Lennon did more than just paint his Phantom, he had a double bed in the back, blacked-out windows, loud hailer, telephone, television and even a ‘floating’ record deck fitted.

Lennon took the car to the USA in 1970, and it’s said it ended up belonging to the US government in lieu of taxes, and it eventually found its way to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada after being donated by its then owner, Jim Pattison.

Now it’s heading for the ‘Great Eight Phantoms’ exhibit at Bonhams in Mayfair, where it will sit alongside seven other great Phantoms – including the new Phantom VIII – on 29 July.