Now open, and running until April 2026, the exhibition at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire explores everything from the engine rumble to the rhythm of our favourite tune and why the sounds we listen to in our cars can influence the way we drive.
Beep-Beep, Yeah! The Sounds and Songs of the Motor Car, named after a lyric from The Beatles’ 1965 song, Drive My Car, looks at the favourite tunes we play whilst driving and songs inspired by motoring cities. So much is explored, such as push button radios, streaming podcasts, the sensation of our favourite engine noises and the quietness of modern cars.
Visitors can immerse themselves in the sound-based exhibition through 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 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.
The star car of the exhibition is 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 loaned for the exhibition by Jody Klein.
About the British Motor Museum
Based in Gaydon, Warwickshire the British Motor Museum is home to over 400 classic British cars. Groups can explore the collection and learn about the people behind the cars and the places they were built.
Featured exhibitions explore a range of topics in the motoring industry, from exploring motoring art to focusing on iconic models such as the Jaguar E-type.
Pre-booked groups of 12 or more people qualify for discounted rates, as well as free coach parking and guided tours of the museum and collections centre. Beep-Beep, Yeah! The Sounds and Songs of the Motor Car is included within the admission price.
For more information about the British Motor Museum visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk.
