4 replies to this topic

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Coachbuilt Minis of 1960s celebrities have a strange habit to seemingly disappear. Remember Enzo Ferrari's Mini Cooper, converted by an unknown coachbuilder? Or The Monkees Mike Nesmith's cool Radford? Or how about Mick Jagger's '67 Wood & Pickett? Footballer George Best's white Radford? Comedian Laurence Harvey's W&P? Anyone? Well, and then there's John Lennon's Mini, a black 1965 Austin Cooper 'S' equiped with black bumpers, wheels and pitch dark tinted windows by Harold Radford coachbuilders, too. It was registered LGF 696D not earlier then February 1966. Perhaps because Lennon was on tour in the USA for much of '65? Or because he wasn't a keen driver who only just had his driver's licence?

Anyway: after I wrote about it a few weeks ago I received a message from an anonymous reader. He wrote: "Hi. I've been into coachbuilt Minis for over 35 years and have followed up stories about this special breed of cars for years. As far as Lennon's Mini goes, when he moved to the USA he gave it to his then-butler, who in turn travelled the UK on his narrow boat and the car was carried around on this. But due to this it didnt last long thanks to rust, and it was scrapped. That's one story I heard. Then about 20 years ago I answered an ad about a half restored Radford Mini for sale in Holmfirth. The guy wanted 4,500 pounds for it. Once I was interested he told me if I gave him the asking price, he had the registration documents and logbook for Lennon's car. After that I never heard from him again." Strangely, the DVLA database says that LGF 696D is still on the road. Now who ever said something about Lennon's death and conspiracy theories..? The pictures below are screen grabs from 1966 footage.

A black Radford Mini arrives in London. Pitch dark windows give no hint to who's inside

The car, registered in February 1966, is of 1965 vintage - the year Lennon got his driver's licence

It's him! Lennon steps out of chauffeur driven car. Where is his Radford Mini de Ville now?

Via MAXIMUM MINI, view original story here http://maximummini.b...nnons-mini.html

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 11 April 2013 - 11:53 PM.

[mab01uk]

DVLA Vehicle enquiry

The enquiry is complete.
The vehicle details for LGF 696D are:
Date of Liability 01 10 2013
Date of First Registration 08 02 1966
Year of Manufacture 1966
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1275cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status SORN Not Due
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available

[surfblue63]

As far as Lennon's Mini goes, when he moved to the USA he gave it to his then-butler, who in turn travelled the UK on his narrow boat and the car was carried around on this. But due to this it didnt last long thanks to rust, and it was scrapped. That's one story I heard. Then about 20 years ago I answered an ad about a half restored Radford Mini for sale in Holmfirth. The guy wanted 4,500 pounds for it. Once I was interested he told me if I gave him the asking price, he had the registration documents and logbook for Lennon's car. After that I never heard from him again." Strangely, the DVLA database says that LGF 696D is still on the road. Now who ever said something about Lennon's death and conspiracy theories..? The pictures below are screen grabs from 1966 footage.

DVLA Vehicle enquiry


Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

An interesting story. Sounds to me like there's is a log book waiting to be restored.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I wonder if the owner isn't aware of potential value. Although not paired with the shell I am convinced it could be worth a hell of a lot of money... unless it is reshelled into a Mini and then sold to a museum and left to worship as 'John Lennons' Mini for many years to come.

I would love to own the log book, although the car would not be original, can you imagine owning a registration owned by that of John Lennon, it truly is priceless. Would the V5 say 'John Lennon' as a previous owner?

Edited by Mini-Mad-Craig, 12 April 2013 - 12:13 AM.

[mab01uk]

More info on the Mini, log book, etc, here:
http://www.minispace.../john/index.htm

I also posted Craigs link on the Mk1 forum and got some interesting replies:
http://mk1-forum.net....php?f=5&t=7171