The highlight of the London Classic Car Show was the appearance of the three remaining Beatles Minis of Paul, George and Ringo. The Luxury Minis were originally commissioned from Radford by the Fab Four’s manager Brian Epstein and there are almost as many opinions about what happened to Lennon’s Mini as the man himself.

It was probably Peter Sellers who had the idea of a Luxury Mini and his first was built by Hooper around 1963. Radford and Wood&Pickett introduced Luxury Minis as the little car’s appeal grew and celebrities like Sellers, Steve McQueen and Princess Margaret were seen in them. The Beatles’ cars were registered in 1965-66 when they were a regular sight around London but The London Classic Car Show was the first time the cars had been together in the capital since then.

Each of the cars has its own special features. McCartney’s Aston Martin ‘California Sage Green’ 1965 Cooper S Radford DeVille is the only Morris of the trio. It has Aston Martin DB5 rear lights, additional front spot-lights, Webasto roof and Grand Turismo alloy wheels. The Radford interior is in black leather and has their multi-dial dashboard in front of the driver and quarter light windows.

Harrison’s psychedelic 1966 Austin Cooper S Radford DeVille GT was originally black but appears in the Magical Mystery Tour TV Film painted with designs from the book ‘Tantra Art: It’s Philosophy and Physics’ complete with roof motif and gold Minilite wheels. Harrison eventually lent the Mini to his car loving friend Eric Clapton who had it painted blue. When Clapton returned the car Harrison decided to restore it, including the psychedelic paint scheme which was recreated using still photographs from Magical Mystery Tour.

Starr’s Rolls Royce ‘Regal Red’ 1966 Austin Cooper S is badged Radford and Hooper. The most recent restorer describes it as a Hooper, although the hatchback that allows a set of drums to go in the back was a Radford DeVille option. Ringo’s Mini has VW rear lights like Harrison’s and has been vertically deseamed, probably after he owned it and has lost its B-pillar repeater lights . Starr’s Mini has similar alloy wheels to McCartney’s but badged Cosmic.

Photographs: Keith Mainland – Words: Angelica Fuentes Garcia.