John Lennon's Rolls Royce Was So Offensive That Rolls Royce Tried to Buy It Back

In 1965, John Lennon purchased a Rolls Royce Phantom V — the most prestigious vehicle the company produced. Standard configuration. Black. Conservative. In 1967, Lennon commissioned a complete exterior repaint — psychedelic flowers, Romani caravan patterns, and astrological symbols covering every panel. Rolls Royce's management was horrified. The company considered the paint scheme a direct attack on the brand's reputation. They made a formal approach to Lennon offering to purchase the car back at above market value — purely to remove it from public visibility. Lennon declined. He used the car publicly and extensively. In 1970, Lennon donated the Phantom V to a charitable foundation which later sold it. In 1985, it was purchased at auction by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Canada for $2.3 million — the highest price paid for a car at auction at that time. Rolls Royce's most embarrassing car became their most valuable. John Lennon Rolls Royce, Lennon psychedelic Rolls Royce, Phantom V John Lennon, Rolls Royce bought back offer, John Lennon 1967 Phantom, Lennon Rolls Royce auction 1985, John Lennon car collection, Rolls Royce embarrassment Lennon, Beatles cars, John Lennon biography, Rolls Royce Phantom V history, Lennon $2.3 million auction, psychedelic car history, iconic celebrity cars, Rolls Royce reputation Lennon