1966 ?
Gerry Anderson and FAB 1
pic: network nine news
I first came across the story of the lost life-size FAB 1 in Engale Marketing's excellent Century 21 magazine, where an extensive article and photo gallery described the discovery of the car, completely trashed, in an old barn and its subsequent transformation. I can't find my copy of the magazine anymore so here's an account culled from various online sources. Alas I can't find a picture of the car wreck in the barn. I'm sure there was a second large-scale film prop FAB 1 biult as well. Does anybody know?
A full-sized replica of FAB1, based on a Chinese-six (four in front, two in back), Bedford Duple Vega coach chassis, was constructed to transport Gerry and Sylvia Anderson to the London premiere of Thunderbirds Are GO (the vehicle broke down within a few hundred yards of departure and Gerry and Sylvia were forced to take a taxi cab to the premiere). However Rolls-Royce were not impressed by the car, which had a very poorly executed fibreglass body, and made several attempts to purchase it and have it destroyed. For a time they succeeded in forcing the removal of the genuine, RR grille which was replaced by a replica, bearing the initials LP instead [Wikipedia].
The subsequent history of the car is a bit obscure, but it is known to have been purchased by the owner of a small safari park and motor museum, who let it gradually decay. In 1989 it was eventually traced by Peter Nelson, owner of the [now closed] Cars of the Stars museum in Keswick, Cumbria who successfully outbid Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and the Bee Gees manager to acquire it, although it was by then in a state of total disrepair. Nelson commissioned Mellor Coachcraft of Rochdale, better know for making minibuses, to carry out a restoration [Telegraph 2004].
A full-sized replica of FAB1, based on a Chinese-six (four in front, two in back), Bedford Duple Vega coach chassis, was constructed to transport Gerry and Sylvia Anderson to the London premiere of Thunderbirds Are GO (the vehicle broke down within a few hundred yards of departure and Gerry and Sylvia were forced to take a taxi cab to the premiere). However Rolls-Royce were not impressed by the car, which had a very poorly executed fibreglass body, and made several attempts to purchase it and have it destroyed. For a time they succeeded in forcing the removal of the genuine, RR grille which was replaced by a replica, bearing the initials LP instead [Wikipedia].
The subsequent history of the car is a bit obscure, but it is known to have been purchased by the owner of a small safari park and motor museum, who let it gradually decay. In 1989 it was eventually traced by Peter Nelson, owner of the [now closed] Cars of the Stars museum in Keswick, Cumbria who successfully outbid Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and the Bee Gees manager to acquire it, although it was by then in a state of total disrepair. Nelson commissioned Mellor Coachcraft of Rochdale, better know for making minibuses, to carry out a restoration [Telegraph 2004].
A year later the revitalised FAB1 was a star of the 1990 Great British Film Rally, where Nelson encountered the men from Crewe. "I had received a letter from Rolls-Royce saying I couldn't use the radiator, but there was already that letter dating back to the original request, giving permission. Then I was approached on the rally by a Rolls-Royce representative asking if I'd sell. It seemed pretty obvious to me that if I did, the car would disappear for good. So I refused [Telegraph 2004].
1990
Trevor Nelson and the restored FAB 1
picture: Cars of the Stars/ Telegraph
1 comment:
here's a pic of the second one, just below the first:
http://tinyurl.com/9q8lwd8
I'm sure I've seen a pic of that car in its pre-restored state, but that could've been in the museum itself, or (maybe) they had a book which I bought and mislaid...
Best -- Paul
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