Luxury £215k Rolls-Royce that once drove the Queen and Princess Diana has been hidden underground for 16 YEARS
The 1963 Phantom V is only driven once a year to have its MOT renewed - and now locals want it put in the city's museum
CARDIFF council is hiding away a £215,000 Rolls-Royce in an underground garage - and it is only driven once a year to get an MOT.
The luxury 1963 Phantom V Roller has been kept underground for 16 years since being used to ferry around royals Princess Diana and The Queen on official visits to Cardiff.
But the glamorous limousine was last used officially in 2002, and has been left in storage for the best part of the last 16 years.
The motor is only driven out of the council HQ car park once a year to get its MOT, allegedly costing taxpayers around £200 a year to run.
And now a group on Facebook is calling for the car to be put into a museum.
The group, called Cardiff’s Rolls-Royce KG1, said: “It is a unique vehicle with an incredible history.
“Tragically the car has spent the last decade sitting under tarpaulin in the underground car park of county hall.
"I hope this group will raise awareness of the vehicle and that people will support me in lobbying the council to display the car in the Cardiff Story Museum.”
When the Phantom V was last valued in 2008 by the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club, it was given an estimated price tag of £70,000.
In the same year, its special number plate "KG1" was valued by Regtransfers and was thought to be worth £100,000.
According to experts, the plate and the car together are now worth a combined £215,600, after adjusting the 2008 valuations for inflation
The car has a silver dragon on the bonnet instead of the usual flying lady for which the council had to ask special permission from Rolls-Royce.
A Cardiff council spokesperson said: “The council has stored the car and number plate safely and a report is due to go to cabinet this summer which will contain recommendations on their future.”
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Councillor Adrian Robson, leader of the council’s Conservative group, said: "The council should be able to use the Rolls-Royce to raise income and to use it as a marketing tool.
"It’s a missed marketing opportunity. I have suggested that the Rolls-Royce could attend fairs and festivals around the country to act as promotion for Cardiff.
"The council should be using it to generate business and tourism. I’m sure there are many car enthusiasts who would relish the chance to maintain it and could be brought in to keep costs reduced."