FUNDING ACHIEVED
Delighted to report that a private donor has helped us to achieve our funding target.
Of course we are always grateful to receive donations towards upkeep amd maintenance so please check our Facebook page to find out how to donate.
Big thanks,
Tom & The Busketeers.
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WNO 481 is the 1953 Bristol KSW 5G ECW open top double-decker bus that carried Paul McCartney, family and new band Wings to 25 concerts in 25 cities across 9 countries in Europe racking up 12,072 kilometres - 7,500 miles hotly pursued by the world's press hungry for news of what John, Paul, George and Ringo were going to do next after the break up of The Beatles.
John went off and had his adventures, Paul got himself an old English open-top double-decker bus had it painted in the style of The Beatles, Woodstock, Magical Mystery Tour and set off on his first major tour without John, George and Ringo. By the time the European tour was over his new band was the real deal ready to take on the UK and then the USA. Just four short years later in 1976 what started on the bus, James Paul McCartney's 'Bond' mission with his new musical mates, culminated in him writing and performing his way back to the pinnacle of stadium rock acts. Sir Paul McCartney is a national treasure. The most successful, biggest selling singer-songwriter performer ever.
Paul McCartney gave WNO 481 its Wings. For two months in 1972 WNO 481 was the most famous bus in the world. Down the years many books, videos and articles have documented Paul McCartney, Wings and WNO 481. 48 years after that 1972 tour a recent video of the bus on its Facebook page achieved over 25,000 views. WNO 481's Facebook page has 2,928 registered Followers with many thousands of Likes, Loves, Wow's, Hugs etc. for its many posts, photos and videos. If you Google 'WNO 481' or '1972 Wings Tour Bus' you will get some idea of its very full history. It is probably still the most famous bus in the world.
WNO 481 needs restoration following years of neglect, quietly forgotten in a dusty ravine in Tenerife.
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Our goal is to bring the bus back to its glorious best. Representing 67 years of classically beautiful automotive ‘transport of the people’ design heritage and approaching 50 years of rock and roll art and history on wheels.
This is how it will look when restored.
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WNO 481 is a living, mobile museum on wheels patiently waiting to be restored to delight the people, the fans and future charitable fundraisers. The bus is back in the UK and restorers are ready and waiting to work extra hard to put it back on the road but we need your help. Hop on board, contribute today and become part of the legend, there are choices galore! Join us for the next chapter in the story of The 1972 Wings Tour Bus; the restoration. Ding ding! - plenty of room on top!
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The history of WNO 481 can be viewed on the 1972 Wings Tour Bus website, link below:
http://www.1972wingstourbus.com
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The 1972 Wings Tour Bus page on Facebook can be viewed on the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/1972wingstourbus/
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To all the Fans, Friends, Followers and Moderators of the Facebook Groups and Facebook Pages that have embraced the bus thank you for bringing these truly amazing Comments. Please keep them coming, we see them all, we love them and really appreciate them.
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Send us a comment on Facebook. We'd love to hear from you.
The Busketeer Club
Some time ago we started The 1972 Wings Tour Bus Supporters Club, known as The Busketeers. In the style of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers the motto is, “One for all and all for the bus” Everyone who supports WNO 481 through a Facebook Like, Love, Wow, Hug etc. is made an Honorary Busketeer and receives a Certificate Of Appreciation.
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Donors also receive a limited edition Busketeer badge. So far badges have gone out to WNO 481 supporters in the UK, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain, Germany, USA, Australia, Uruguay etc.
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We have put together our appeal for donations in Lennon-McCartney song titles which we hope you will enjoy:
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The Future
The bus will travel far and wide and has already received messages of goodwill and invitations to appear not only at very special events but also to spend time on loan at transport museums across the country. A list of some of these events and venues, including the Classic Motor Show at NEC in 2021, is at the bottom of the page and on the website. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of that legendary 1972 tour and plans are being discussed to re-create the tour across Europe.
WNO 481 - The 1972 Wings Tour Bus has many more stories and adventures to live and tell and with your support we can secure the future that she deserves. We look forward to putting your donations to work and we will bring you full updates on the restoration including videos which will be available via the website, Facebook page and YouTube Channel.
UPDATE - Anonymous Donor:
We are delighted to announce that we have received a pledge of £10,000 from a private donor who insists on remaining anonymous. Though we cannot reveal the identity of the donor we are incredibly excited and thankful to receive such a generous donation but more is needed to complete the restoration and secure the future of 1972 Wings Tour Bus - WNO 481.
Donate today if you care about heritage, if you are a Beatles, Wings, Paul McCartney fan, friend or follower. This is your opportunity to contribute. In return you will help preserve for future generations the heritage of this historic iconic vehicle and at the same time become part of the rock and roll legend that is the 1972 Wings Tour Bus - WNO 481.
Perks and Items Of Interest
As a thank you we have put together some Perks and Items of interest based on level of donation and these can be viewed on the Perks page. More information is available on the web page: http://www.1972wingstourbus.com/support-wno-481...
The first 100 donors will receive a free Busketeer badge.
Thank you and we look forward to you joining us on WNO 481's forthcoming onward journeys.
Tom and The Busketeers
The 1972 Wings Tour Bus Restoration Team.
www.1972wingstourbus.com
www.facebook.com/1972wingstourbus/
About:
I have been a Beatles - John, Paul, George and Ringo fan since 1962. In 2019 I rescued the 1972 Wings Tour Bus with the intention of bringing this iconic bus back to the fans of the bus not only because it is a classically beautiful example of 1950's transport of the people design heritage but also because of its incredible well documented time with the biggest rock star on the planet, Paul McCartney, at one of the most important times of his musical life. A true rock and roll legend.
What They’re Saying:
“We would like to wish you the best of luck with the refurbishment and please do send photographs when the bus is completed” - MPL - (Sir Paul McCartney's Company)
"We only wish you the best of luck on restoring the bus and look forward to seeing its wonderful completion!" - Denny Laine
"It sounds like you're doing a beautiful thing here. I wish you well with it" - Denny Seiwell
“Wishing you every success” - Richard Curtis
"We would like to invite WNO 481 to appear at The Classic Motor Show at The NEC as soon as she is restored, 2021?" - FBHVC
“It is a great object and it will be brilliant when it’s restored” – Museum of Liverpool
"What a great piece of music history..." - National Trust
"An interesting heritage focus" - Lottery Heritage Fund
"Fantastic historical bus" - Culture Coventry
"We would love to have it at an event at Beaulieu" - Beaulieu Motor Museum
"You would certainly be very welcome at any of our events"- London Bus Museum
"What a fab project!" - Brighton Fringe
"A unique piece of transport history" - National Museums NI
"Sounds fascinating!" - Handel and Hendrix Museum
"It would be fantastic if you and the KSW could join us for the event." - Showbus
"I am sure we can assist with your quest to bring WNO 481 back to life and promote its historic journey, educate and aid in its heritage preservation so that future generations can enjoy the marvel that it is." - Emma Balaam FBHVC
“This international treasure, a living museum on wheels, is parked firmly at the intersection of timeless, chart-topping music, rock and roll, a time-capsule of art and classically beautiful automotive design heritage”…anon
“WNO 481 - Probably the most famous bus in the world.”
“The Bus That Rocked”
NOTE: If luck and generosity are on our side and we are over subscribed all proceeds will go towards the future maintenance and upkeep of the bus.