Staff from the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) wore white cotton gloves as they gently manoeuvred a massive, three-tonne vehicle into their lobby.
The 1965 Phantom V Rolls-Royce belonged to none other than John Lennon, making it one of the most popular B次元官网网址� and certainly the most expensive B次元官网网址� items to ever come into the museumB次元官网网址檚 collection.
B次元官网网址淭he car always generates a lot of excitement, enthusiasm and inspiration,B次元官网网址� said Paul Ferguson, collections manager for the history division of the RBCM. B次元官网网址淔or some, apart from the music, this is as close as you can get to John Lennon in British Columbia.B次元官网网址�
Lennon ordered the car in 1964, and received it in 1965 as an all-black vehicle. To celebrate The BeatlesB次元官网网址� release of the Sgt. PepperB次元官网网址檚 Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967, he had it custom-painted bright yellow with Romany-inspired designs.
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B.C. businessman Jimmy Pattison bought the car in 1985 for more than $2 million, and donated it to the province in 1987, allowing it to make regular visits to the museum ever since.
The paint, while dazzling, has been tricky for museum conservators.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of our most challenging items in the collection,B次元官网网址� said Kasey Lee, conservator at the RBCM. B次元官网网址淚t was painted by an artist and not a vehicle detailer using a paint thatB次元官网网址檚 not necessarily going to last in the winter.B次元官网网址�
This means staff need to be exceptionally careful with the exterior, avoiding polishing cloths or any contact with the body except on the chrome bumpers. It also means the use of minuscule paint brushes to maintain any details.
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On the mechanical side, the car needed some loving.
B次元官网网址淚t was poorly maintained, it sat for a long time and with the fuel from sitting, carburetors were jammed,B次元官网网址� said Tom Munro, a mechanic with Coachwerks Restoration. B次元官网网址淚t needed some electric work and we looked at brakes, but it purrs like a kitten in a creamery now.B次元官网网址�
Al Carter, another mechanic with Coachwerks said it was special to be able to work on the car.
B次元官网网址淚 find it a bit of a thrillB次元官网网址� I was in England and I remember the car being done like this, back in the day,B次元官网网址� Carter said. When asked if he ever thought heB次元官网网址檇 work on the car he laughed. B次元官网网址淥h absolutely not. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the thrill of it, itB次元官网网址檚 such an iconic car that you feel a little bit of love for it.B次元官网网址�
The Rolls-Royce will be on display for free at the Royal BC Museum at 675 Belleville St. until the end of February.
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