Where is John Lennon's Mini?

[JC T ONE]

I had a black Mk1 Mini in the 1970's with fashionable black tinted 'Double Shadowlite' laminated glass as used by 'pop stars' (also fitted in the back of UK Ambulances and London Black Cab rear windows at the time). The windscreen was only Sundym top tint but to see properly at night I had to slide back the side windows! Madness.....but I was young and foolish and black Mini's with black windows were very cool at the time!

When I bought my factory black Mk2 Cooper it had what I was later told was a set of Shadowlite windows and a lighter tinted front screen. Apparently they were fitted in the mid 70's. I did refit them after restoring the car but changed them a year or so later as it certainly was a nightmare to see at night.

Still got them in the loft though.

Hi guys

The Black Double Shadowlite, surely is dark, they were deleted by Wood & Pickett in 1974.

George vd Meij who runs http://www.eurods.eu/wp/history/history.html tried to order them late 73/early 74.
He got a letter from W&P, it said they had been deleted, as W&P didnt think they were safe for normal road use.

Gary,s Margrave is the latest WP I have seen, with Double Shadowlite = http://www.eurods.eu/wp/gallery/british ... -gary.html
The 12" wheels is a later addition, it is a MK I (10" wheels) = before April 1974.

I find the Smoked tint, on my W&P more than enough, really cant see much, after dark.


Jens Christian

[Beatlejohn]

Hi Guys
I can answer the mystery of the whereabouts of John Lennon's car-it is currently in the garage of Andy Harrison's in Shipley awaiting its collection by myself.
John T Lennon

[JC T ONE]

Now who ever said something about Lennon's death and conspiracy theories..?"

Hi Guys
I can answer the mystery of the whereabouts of John Lennon's car-it is currently in the garage of Andy Harrison's in Shipley awaiting its collection by myself.
John T Lennon

Ha thats nice me like

[Nevsmini]

What I don't get is if the car was robbed back in the '60's. How can it be back on the road. Would Lennon's estate/insurance company still own/have rights to the car if it surfaced. And how come it did not flag something with the police when MOT'ed. Strange!!!!

[JC T ONE]

What I don't get is if the car was robbed back in the '60's. How can it be back on the road. Would Lennon's estate/insurance company still own/have rights to the car if it surfaced. And how come it did not flag something with the police when MOT'ed. Strange!!!!

I dont live in UK, so I dont know how things work over there ?
but apparently wasnt too hard to "ressurect" a car, even if all you had was a logbook, and a few bitz.

I have seen & heard of several cars, that have been "built up" this way, some are sold for big money, and this must be why people do it.

Not sure if the Lennon family can do much about this, the way I heard it = the car was sold on back then.

[Pete]

John and Ringo (getting out of Macca's car?)

[JC T ONE]

Hi Pete, that was a interesting picture, becourse it looks like the McCartney car has std MK I rear lights ?

The pictures I remember with the Aston Martin lights, was that it had a "Frenched" rim around them.

Cant remember the article about the Ringo car, but could this not be the factory BMC colour ?


Jens Christian

[Pete]

looks like the McCartney car has std MK I rear lights ?

No it' your eyesight Jens, the lights come just below the tank neck as in this photo, looks consistant to me.

[JC T ONE]

No it' your eyesight Jens

Are you suggesting I am getting old

[Pete]

Not at all !

(though you may need new glasses ! )

[JC T ONE]

Not at all !

(though you may need new glasses ! )

Well not getting any younger

I am sitting on the libroary, there computer screen is twice the size of my own hmmm

[mab01uk]

From Daily Express July 30th 2002:

[Nevsmini]

Some mega info & photos lads really enjoying this tread!

[mab01uk]

Beatles to Paddy Hopkirk after his 1964 Monte Carlo Rally win.

[JC T ONE]

Amazing piece of memorabilia


Is it yours ?


Jens Christian

[mk1]

Another cracking post Mab.

M

[skorstensfejeren]

As a BIG Beatles fan, that is just Amazing!! . Great stuff!!!!!!

[mab01uk]

Amazing piece of memorabilia


Is it yours ?


Jens Christian

As a lifelong Beatles and Mini fan myself, I really wish they were!.......part of Paddy's collection of memorabilia he recently shared online amongst photos of his early days in motorsport. Anything with all four Beatles signatures on from that period is much sought after by Beatles fans worldwide, so the Paddy/Mini connection makes these items of Beatles memorabilia even more interesting and desirable should Paddy ever need to top up his pension!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 476&type=1

[mab01uk]

Coys auction 29th June 2013
Lot 176 - 1965 Austin Mini Cooper Radford – Ex Brian Epstein:-
Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000
Registration Number: FGO 592C
Chassis Number: C-A2S7/769043

This is a genuine matching number Radford Mini Cooper and may be the only unrestored example with Beatles connections.

The car was supplied new to Radford through Car Mart Ltd. of Ealing, London on or around the 16th September 1965 and delivered new to Brian Epstein Automobiles, trading as Brydor Cars in Hounslow, London on the 2nd November later that year.

Brian Epstein is known as The Beatle-Making Prince of Pop, best known for being the manager of the Beatles until his death in 1967 and a music entrepreneur. He had also served as band manager for Cilla Black, Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Remo Four and The Cyrkle.

In 1962, Epstein paid for the Beatles to record a demonstration tape at Decca's London studios. Decca declined to sign the Beatles to a contract. After then approaching nearly all of the major recording companies in London and being rejected, Epstein met a record producer, George Martin, who offered a contract on behalf of EMI's small Parlophone label.

The Beatles' early success has been attributed to his management and sense of style. Paul McCartney said of him: “If anyone was the Fifth Beatle, it was Brian.”

The car stayed in Epsteins name until 14th November 1966 when George Harrison's brother , Peter, became the new owner and kept the car until the 1st December 1971. The car has been barn stored for 15 + years and probably much longer in previous ownership. It appears that this car just predates the other Beatles connected Radfords and with the Beatles more than likely coming into contact with this very car either through Epstein or Harrisons brother it is quite possibly the car that started it all. It is supplied with the green log book containing both Brian Epstein and Peter Harrisons name, a V5 document and Heritage Certificate.
http://www.coys.co.uk/auction.php?itemI ... ctionID=34

[Pete]

The car stayed in Epsteins name until 14th November 1966 when George Harrison's brother , Peter, became the new owner and kept the car until the 1st December 1971. The car has been barn stored for 15 + years and probably much longer in previous ownership. It appears that this car just predates the other Beatles connected Radfords and with the Beatles more than likely coming into contact with this very car either through Epstein or Harrisons brother it is quite possibly the car that started it all.

The car wasn't in Epstein's name but his company name, slight difference. Quite a few cars exist with Brian Epstein Automobiles as the first owner as the company he co ran with Terry Doran supplied cars to other people, including in this case to Peter Harrison who bought it as a newly converted Radford. There's no proof as yet that Epstein ever saw it or drove it, let alone a Beatle.

To say it predated the other Beatles Minis is also inaccurate as McCartney was already driving his Radford about London when this car was bought as a standard 998 Cooper in red/black so that's somewhat misleading also. I've pointed this out to Coys, it'll be interesting to see if they amend their description..

Still a really interesting car but not's let the truth get in the way of a good story eh ?