The Beatles 1st. Company Car, a 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB Limousine known as CEL89. This bespoke car with special details as described on the Rolls Royce factory order sheet, was ordered by Brian Epstein for NEMS Enterprises in 1964 after The Beatles return to the U.K from America. In 1962, The Beatles and Brian Epstein formed NEMS Enterprises, the management company that would take care of the artists signed under their management. Delivered in 1965 from the Rolls Royce factory to R.S. Mead Ltd. in Maidenhead, CEL89 would become the first Rolls-Royce for the Beatles use.
With the rapid success of a group, each of the member could afford their own, Brian Epstein would keep CEL89 for his use. John Lennon specifically bought a 1965 Phantom V because of the Phantom’s prestige over the Silver Cloud Lennon stated. This 1965 Phantom V would late become his famous ‘psychedelic’ Phantom.
After the death of Brian Epstein in 1967, Ringo Starr acquired CEL89 were it ended up in Los Angeles. In 1969, Starr sold the car to his neighbor Marty Krofft who used it as his company car for Sid and Marty Krofft Productions in Hollywood, creators of H.R. Pufnstuf among other children’s television and film productions from the 60’sm 70’s and 80’s. In 1998, the car was sold and shipped to London. Just after the car’s arrival in London, CEL89 was bought for this collection and shipped back to the United States in Febuary 1999. It is near completing a full restoration back to its original specifications.
