Just a little bit of fun,
Who is the first to give the registration number of the car in the two pictures:
www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~ijl/pictures/mystery/i...l
(Click on image for larger version, click again for full scale image if you have broadband)
StarGazer
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The car is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
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Oh well, 3 minutes to identify and 8 minutes for the answer. I thought it might last a little longer than that.
StarGazer
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The LPG powered version? (Look carefully at the first pic)
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Yes, it was the original fully roadworthy film version (as opposed to the lightweight water borne versions used as duplicates.
Ford V6 under the bonnet now converted to LPG.
Yes, it was taxed and it really does have the GEN11 numberplate.
Anyone else at the Banbury Steam Fair last weekend?
StarGazer
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So what car IS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Is it not based on anything and was knocked up as a special or does it really come from an old sports car as in the film?
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It was designed by production designer (also for the James Bond films) Ken Adam. It was built by Alan Mann Racing around a Ford V6 and automatic transmission. The wheels were specially cast to look like wooden ones but with brake drums hidden inside.
All the dashboard parts, boa-constrictor horn etc were taken from various Edwardian wrecks.
I think there were 5 cars built, the racing car from the start doesn't survive but the others all do.
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