[BCMA] NEWS RELEASE: Experience John Lennon’s Iconic Rolls-Royce

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

May 27, 2025

Experience John Lennon’s Iconic Rolls-Royce

VICTORIA, BC — This long weekend, the Royal BC Museum invites visitors to see John Lennon’s famous “psychedelic” Rolls-Royce now on display in the museum lobby.

On display until mid-January, the 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine features a vibrant, kaleidoscopic paint job that has become a fan favorite. This iconic car was used by the Beatles in 1965 when they drove to Buckingham Palace to receive medals from the Queen. Originally painted Valentine Black, Lennon had the car repainted in 1967 by artist Steve Weaver, who incorporated elements of the psychedelic era and Romany designs. This customization was completed just before the release of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

Weaver used latex house paint for the design, which has proven vulnerable over time. The Royal BC Museum has carefully monitored the car’s paint condition and undertaken conservation efforts to preserve it.

In 1987, Jim Pattison generously donated the vehicle to the museum after its display at Expo '86 in Vancouver. The Rolls-Royce has remained in operational condition for over fifty years, with its powerful engine supporting the brakes—a necessary feature given its substantial weight of 3,000 kilograms.

This iconic car is part of the lead-up to the Royal BC Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, opening on May 30. The exhibition will feature artifacts that highlight music’s powerful role in social and political change, including items from Neil Young, Elton John, Tegan & Sara, and Chuck D of Public Enemy.

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About the Royal BC Museum: The Royal BC Museum, which includes BC Archives, IMAX® Victoria and PARC Campus, is one of the oldest continually operating museums in Canada. A centre of learning and research, it strives to broaden our understanding of British Columbia through collections, exhibitions, outreach and community engagement. The museum celebrates the province’s diverse landscapes and the lives of the people who live here, enables research and knowledge sharing that advances our understanding of our world, and provides a dynamic place for discussion and reflection. IMAX® Victoria delivers educational and entertaining experiences that accompany the learning journey the museum offers.

The Royal BC Museum is located on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen peoples, known today as the Songhees and Xʷsepsəm (Esquimalt) Nations. We acknowledge and respect the history of Indigenous peoples, who are our partners in museum matters and community alike.

Give the gift of membership! More information is available at Memberships | Royal BC Museum and Archives<https://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/memberships>

To learn more about what is happening at the museum, visit Calendar | Royal BC Museum and Archives<https://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/visit/calendar> and IMAX® Victoria<https://imaxvictoria.com/>.

Media contact:
Amanda Richardson
Communications Specialist
780-804-1668
news at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca<mailto:news at royalbcmuseum.bc.ca>



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