Lady Penelope's Rolls Royce, a real one

[garethj]

From the Bedford VAL thread earlier, a part of my brain remembered that one of those coaches was used to build a full size replica of FAB1 from Thunderbirds.  Come along, Parker.

 

 

In 1966, a full-sized replica of FAB 1, based on a "chinese six" (four front, two back) Bedford Duple Vega coach chassis, was built to transport writers-producers Gerry and Sylvia Anderson to the premiere of Thunderbirds Are Go in London. It was constructed by the company Toby Baxter Contracts in Poggleswade, errr, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire under Sylvia's supervision.

The replica was fitted with a Bedford six-cylinder petrol engine, connected to a two-speed Powerglide gearbox. The axles were widened to fit the width of the body, which was a steel-covered framework "moulded" with filler to simulate the angles of the vehicle as seen in the TV series and films. The wheels were supplied by Land Rover, and the aluminium bumpers by a specialist welding company. The replica's perspex sides lifted up on screws, while the sides of the body folded out and under the vehicle to form a step. The radiator grille, which was not vertical as in standard Rolls-Royce models, was custom-built and inclined forwards at the top, complete with moveable slats and imitation machine gun. Since a custom number plate with the registration "FAB 1" had already been issued, the replica incorporated revolving plates, which read "FAB 1" on one side and gave the real registration number on the other.

On the night of the premiere, the replica broke down after a few hundred yards and the Andersons were forced to make the rest of the journey by taxi. Rolls-Royce were not impressed by the car, which had a poorly built fibreglass body, and made several attempts to purchase it and have it destroyed. For a period, the company were successful in forcing the removal of the genuine RR radiator grille, which was replaced by a version bearing the initials "LP".

 

 

 

The car was still in Bedfordshire in the late '60s, here it is at Shaw & Kilburn motor dealership in Luton, Bedfordshire, 1968.

 

 

 

It was also used by Macintyre children's homes for fundraising through the early '70s but by the mid '70s it was in Heathfield Wildlife Park in East Sussex (pretty sure they also had one of the prop Chitty Chitty Bang Bang cars).  It was in a barn, OMG, BARN FIND there for a while and then some restoration work was done to get it back working as the safari park owner's son used it as a wedding car.

 

The vehicle survived and, after a full restoration, was installed at the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in Keswick, Cumbria. In early 2013, it was sold to the Dezer Car Museum in Miami, Florida.

[Supernaut]

That's proper Autoshite. Breaking down when being used to do the very thing it was built for.

[kirton]

I saw this on the M!, must have been when I was at Loughborogh University which will put the date around 1966 to 1970 - I was going north and it was headiong south

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I'd heard bits about this car, but never knew the full story. Cracking back story, and love the way RR had their nose put out of joint. Regarding the build quality and reliability, it could have proudly worn a large LEYLAND badge on it's nose without anyone batting an eyelid.

 

It's great that it's survived, but a shame that after so long in the UK, it's finally got to live in the States.

 

On an aside, Sylvia deserves to be in the 'cars and women' thread for sure - it's easy to see where Lady P's inspiration came from.

[garethj]

That's not Sylvia according to the text below

 

Here's the car, pre restoration, wearing its original number plate

 

And here, leaving the museum in Keswick (where I saw it), bound for the US.

[garethj]

 

 

How could someone let a car like this get to this state?

 

A few photos of it being being restored

 

 

 

The restoration wasn't big on accuracy, the curved bumpers have changed to ones much simpler to make and the interior has been vinyled over.

 

 

 

[AMC Rebel]

 

 

How could someone let a car like this get to this state?

 

 

 

I could piss it

[Felly Magic]

Those 'construction' photos look like it being restored when you look at the vehicles in the background such as the Merc minibus, but otherwise great photos

[Ghosty]

Those 'construction' photos look like it being restored when you look at the vehicles in the background such as the Merc minibus

There's a '90s Iveco Daily in that picture.

[vulgalour]

Yeah, we'll need to base it on a coach.  Just... make it wider, yeah?

[garethj]

Thanks, changed it around a bit!

[Guest Breadvan72]

I saw this car at a show in Birmingham in the late 60s or early 70s, along with a full size Thunderbird 3.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Tat version:-

 

http://www.fab1hire.co.uk/index.shtml

[Station]

Have you ever wanted to zoom around the world in Thunderbird One? Or maybe you were jealous of Gordon Tracy as he negotiated Thunderbird Four deep under the sea to rescue the world from certain disaster?

 

Well now everyone's dreams of taking a ride in one of the magnificent crafts has finaly become a reality.

Ha

[quicksilver]

Tat version:-

 

http://www.fab1hire.co.uk/index.shtml

WTAF? A four-door FAB1 saloon?! Any ideas what the heck it's based on as he doesn't mention that anywhere. I'm thinking maybe some sort of Yank?

[garethj]

Looks like a Jaguar XJ

[eddyramrod]

I could piss it

Me too, I have what Regan and Carter would call "Form" for this...

[DSdriver]

I think there was a version rocking around Orpington area based on a Cortina a looong time ago.

[Skut]

The only Roller id ever smoke about in. Saw it in Keswick and it was suitably awesome

[Junkman]

Should sir wish for a Chinese six for slightly more rapid progress and in less garish a colour:

 

 

Although the wheel count is equal, the number of breakdowns might differ, mind.

 

 

Should you however believe, prestige is merely depending on the number of wheels, step right this way, sir:

 

[quicksilver]

A Cadillac with only eight wheels? You sir are merely an amateur at this prestige game

That looks GR9 for the school run.

[garethj]

Yes, but none of those can call in Thunderbird 2 if things get tricky, which is one step above Audi Driver Assist.

[mercrocker]

FAB1 always reminds me of these, I wonder if Gerry Anderson was influenced.....

 

 

 

[Guest Hooli]

Didn't Stirling Moss drive one of them?

[mercrocker]

Didn't Stirling Moss drive one of them?

 

 

[Guest Breadvan72]

Facel Vegas are Faaaaaaaab.   There was one in the underground lockup where I used to store my heaps in that London.  I may have licked it.

[Sheefag]

Was it just off Edgware Road by any chance?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I knew Facel Vegas were a bit special, but I didn't realise you'd need well over 100k to procure one. The whole roof/windscreen/ A pillar thing of FAB is definitely along the same lines.

[Formula Autos]

FAB 1 could often be seen driving through Keswick. When it was moving it didn't sound like a Roller, so I can tell why RR would be upset about it having their badge on it.

 

When Cars of the Stars was on the go the owner would often exercise the street legal ones. I saw him a good few times out and about in the 'Prisoner' 7 and the Noddy car Fiat Gamine that he had.

 

The first one I saw though was KITT bombing along the A66. Quite a surreal moment.

[Guest Hooli]

I'm glad we went there when it was still open, was really quiet there so not surprised it shut.

 

Highlight for me was Max's Falcon XB Coupe