The former limousine used by the Beatles in the mid-1960’s, is now currently owned by Rod Pitman of Portland Oregon, who reports that it was stolen in 1983 in Arizona and has been missing since then. It may have sighted in 2007 at a local classic car show, near Pittsburgh, PA.
The details of the car are as follows: 1965 Austin Vanden Plas Princess Saloon, UK Registration Mark FGO 586C, Serial number VDM4 16087.
Pitman, Executive Producer of Hempsters, recalls the first Beatles 45 record he owned was “When the Saints Go Marching In”. He’s been an avid Beatles fan ever since and wanted to purchase a piece of Beatles history when he bought the Princess Saloon more than two decades ago with plans to restore it.
If you think you might know the current whereabouts of this former Beatle’s-owned Austin Vanden Plas limo, email: car {at} rocknrollcars {dot} com. There’s a reward offered.
What’s your story? Do you have a rock n roll car story to share? Contact us to tell us your story.
Regards,
Eva Abreu, Editor
Follow us on Twitter: @RocknRollCars
A recent comment was posted on my Flickr page in response to the missing Beatles car photo, currently owned by Rod Pitman:
“Not really sure this paticular car was owned by the beatles the beatles tour limo had a registration number beginingn with BOY the same car was used on the set of their film Hard Days Night not sure where this particular car came from but Ian Coombes of the princess club might know more” –posted by Flickr user: Andy4475
Looking for more leads on this case. Rod Pitman (@7thscreen on Twitter) is using the art of transmedia storytelling to locate the car which he believes to still be in someone’s collection in The United States after it was stolen back in the 80’s. And there is a reward!
Contact us if you have any information that Rod can follow up with: email: car {at} rocknrollcars {dot} com
Here’s a photocopy of the original UK Registration Book, provided by Rod Pitman, Portland Oregon, including the signature of Brian Epstein, showing that the Beatles LTD, London, were the new owners of the car on Sept. 15, 1966:
~Eva Abreu, Editor, Follow us on Twitter: @RocknRollCars
No need leads in the case of the missing Beatles car, a black 1965 Austin Princess limo, currently owned by Rod Pitman of Portland, Oregon (UK Registration Mark FGO 586C,Serial# VDM4 16087). We need your help to be on the look out for this automobile; there’s a reward offered if the car is recovered.
There’s a long history to Pitman’s Beatles car, which we’ll go into more detail in future posts. In reviewing certified copies of original documentation provided by Pitman, the first owner of the Austin Princess limo was apparently a mortuary in the U.K. which purchased the new automobile in September of 1965. After a year, the car was then sold to the Beatles Ltd of London on September 15, 1966. Beatles manager Brian Epstein signed the original U.K. vehicle registration book on behalf of the Beatles for the purchase of the car (see Pitman’s documentation here).
If cars could talk, I wonder what back seat stories this one could tell, with it’s original owners being a mortuary and The Beatles?
Contact us via email at: car {at} rocknrollcars {dot} com if you think you might have a lead in this case. Pitman seems to think his former Beatles car is still within the United States, but we’ll open up the search to anywhere in the world.
If you have any information or sources of photos for this particular vehicle, especially from it’s early days in the U.K., we’d like to hear from you as well.
Thank you for your help.
Eva Abreu, Editor @RocknRollCars on Twitter
If you have your own rock n roll car story that you’d like to share, we’d love to hear about it.
We’re launching a global search for a car that was previously owned by the Beatles. Current owner Rod Pitman of Portland, Oregon last saw the vehicle over 23 years ago, when it disappeared in Arizona. He ran into one roadblock after another trying to track down and retrieve his car, then finally gave up his search. Until now.
We’re on a mission to try to help Rod relocate his car and bring it back. Can you help? His goal: To restore the Princess to it’s original condition as it was when the Beatles used it as their personal limousine in the mid-1960’s. He’s willing to offer a reward too. Contact us at: car {at} rocknrollcars {dot} com if you have any information, sightings or leads that may help solve this case.
Here are the details: 1965 Austin Vanden Plas Princess Saloon UK Registration Mark FGO 586C with a serial number of VDM4 16087. Rod Pitman, owner.
A possible lead in the case: the car may have been last seen at a classic car show on July 7, 2007 in New Castle, PA in front of Eat n Park (just outside of Pittsburgh). Here’s a screen shot and closeup taken from a video of the event:
If you think you might know the current whereabouts of this former Beatle’s-owned Austin Vanden Plas limo, email: car {at} rocknrollcars {dot} com. There’s a reward offered.
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