The British Motor Museum is to launch a brand-new sound-based exhibition ‘Beep-Beep,
Yeah!’ which will open on 18 July and run until spring 2026 in the new Rubery Owen
Gallery. The centrepiece of this exciting exhibition is a Rolls-Royce once owned by music
legend, John Lennon!
From the favourite tunes we play when we’re driving, to the songs that were inspired by
motoring cities; push button radios to streaming podcasts; the sensation of our favourite
engine noises to the quietness of modern cars; sound, music and the motor car have
always had an emotional connection. Beep-Beep, Yeah!: The Sounds and Songs of the
Motor Car explores this connection from the engine rumble to the rhythm of our favourite
tune and examines why the sounds we listen to in our cars can influence the way we
drive.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the sound experience through a range of interactive
elements such as tuning a 1970s radio, feeling the noise of a BRM V16 P15 race car
engine, or sitting inside a 2022 Bentley Bentayga to experience its incredibly powerful
audio systems!
The exhibition also features a 2019 Wells Vertige Prototype demonstrating how music
shaped an entire design while, on the other end of the scale, is the 2018 Nissan Leaf
whose electric motor is so quiet it generates a pedestrian warning sound as a safety
feature.
Throughout the exhibition is the connection between cars and music and this link is
demonstrated by the star car of the exhibition, a white 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V,
once owned by John Lennon! The Rolls-Royce appeared in the Beatles film, Let It Be and
was sold in 1969 to Allen Klein, founder of ABKCO Records and the Beatles’ manager at
the time. It has remained with the family ever since and has been kindly loaned by Jody
Klein.
As a result of the generous support of Rubery Owen, Beep-Beep, Yeah! will be housed in a
brand-new exhibition space which gives visitors the chance to explore more than ever
before.
Richard Jenkins, Group CEO, Rubery Owen Holdings, commented “As one of Britain's leading engineering companies and one of the earliest to be involved in the motor
industry, Rubery Owen shares the Museum's commitment to preserving the history of
Britain's automotive industry - both now and into the future. Rubery Owen is proud to support the creation of a new gallery space at the Museum.”
Cat Boxall, Curator at the British Motor Museum, said “We’re really excited to open an
exhibition with a different focus by bringing sound to the forefront in an immersive and
interactive way. This has given us a fantastic opportunity to explore our collection from a
fresh perspective. When you visit, be sure to think about your favourite driving tunes.
Leave your suggestions and scan to take away the playlist which we will be updating
throughout the course of the exhibition!”.