Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Discussion
Were one of the cars ever on display in front of a pub in or around Reading in early 70s?
[1quote=chittyexpert]I have had a long time interest in Chitty, and for 10 years ran the website for the owners of the most prominant car from the movie, GEN11.
Six versions were built for filming, five still exist today and I shall give a brief history of each. It is easy to identify which car is which on screen by certain differences, namely the support bars behind the radiator grille and the position of the handles on the bonnet (ie: which bonnet plate they're on)
CHITTY 1
Pierre Picton still owns GEN11 which was the primary road going vehicle. It is the car which Dick Van Dyke rolls out of the workshop. It was used in all bar two UK location driving shots. They drive to the beach in the vehicle. It is the car which sits on the beach, the car which delivers Sally Ann Howes to the gates of the Scrumptious estate, and the car which takes chase after the zeppelin. It is the car the Potts drive home in from the beach and the car which forces CUB1 into the duckpond on every occasion. Pierre has owned the car since the early 1970's after it completed its duties promoting the movie in the UK. It is due to be auctioned in Los Angeles on May 15.
CHITTY 2
This car had vertical bars behind the radiator grille. The steering wheel is considerably darker in colour and the metal on the dashboard is matt finish rather than shining. It also had an engine and a second steering wheel on the floor which was a feature used in one scene. It appears rarely in the movie, though may have been the first car off the production line as it appears in the first scene that was shot involving Chitty. It also is heavily featured in pre filming publicity shots, and is indeed the car test driven by Hopkirk as referred to in the earlier article. It appears in the shot where they are driving beside the train, in the shots where they are being harassed by James Robertson Justice from the car behind them (first driving scenes which were shot), in one passing shot on the way to the beach, and in the scenes shot in Bavaria where it comes to rest under the aquaduct and later when it is towed by infantry horses through the Town Square and into Neuschwanstein Castle shortly thereafter. It is also the car which drives itself into the castle to rescue our heroes during the overthrow of Bombhurst, and the car which descends the red staircase in triumph.
This car was in the USA immediately following the movie for promotional purposes. It vanished for a number of years only to turn up at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick in 2000, where it remains today.
CHITTY 3
This car appears to have had a removable chassis and was lighter in construction. From all accounts it was primarily mounted on a trailer for close up driving sequences and was used in the studio for some process flying and floating shots. The wings it sported were slightly different to the wings of the "flying version" (Chitty 4) It is also used in the studio pool for some shots during the transition to the water car sequence. Pierre Picton also acquired this version in the early 70's. It was the second UK promotional vehicle, and had an engine added for this purpose. Mr Picton modified it somewhat to become part of his circus act. In the mid 1970's it was sold to Heathfield Wildlife Park where it was on display in the park's motor museum. In 1978 it was sold to The Rotunda in Folkestone, and in 1980 was auctioned at PInewood Studios where it was purchased by private collector Anthony Bamford of the JCB family. Mr.Bamford still owns this version, and often loans it to the National Motor Museum at Beaullieau for static display.
CHITTY 4
This is the car with wings. It was the photographic model for the promotional image from the movie which featured on posters and merchandise. On screen it is the car which sprouts wings. It is used in a bulk of the process studio flying shots, it is the vehicle which lands in Vulgaria and the vehicle which sprouts wings and propellors in the castle forecourt before they leave Vulgaria.
The wings had a leading edge metal framework which housed folding propellors. This framework was covered by a rolling cover which was in place when the car sprouts wings and first flies from the cliff. This car also promoted the film in the USA, and was present at the New York opening. It was later sold to and appeared at The Cavalcade of Cars exhibit at the (now closed) Gaslight Village Amusement Park in Lake George, New York. It then was a feature at a Chicago Restaurant "The Retreat" before the venue went into receivership. The car was then auctioned in 2007 and sold to Ralph Spencer of Florida. I have spoken with Mr.Spencer who was delighted that even the motor which drives the wing mechanism and propellors was still in working order.
CHITTY 5
This car was clearly built for one scene, the transition from car to hovercar. For this reason, costcutting is evident with aluminium being used on most features (radiator surrounds, exhaust pipes, windscreen) in place of brass. Aluminium may also have been used to stop the discolouration of the brass and copper in the sea water. This car was unceremoniously placed in the sea off the coast of France, with an air compressor nearby. The cast were ferried to the vehicle in motorised dingheys and on cue, the car backfired, two panels at the rear opened to release a propellor and an inflatable floatilla was pumped full of air under it pushing the hinged wheels outwards. At this point it was replaced by another car mounted atop a speedboat. Chitty 5 promoted the film in Australasia. It was star attraction at the 1970 Motor Show, and toured the country right through until 1974. It reappeared in 1983, the property of Luxafles, a canvas awning company and was regularly seen alongside their displays in shopping malls and promotional events. Luxafles fitted a GM Holden engine into the static vehicle. In 1991, it was sold to Peter Nelson of Cars of the Stars in Keswick, UK, and in 2000 he sold it to Barbara Broccoli's EON productions. EON refurbished the car, painted some of the aluminium features gold and used the car throughout the world to promote the stage musical. This is the car which was famously banned from the Norwich Parade as it was not in possession of an MOT certificate.
The irony to the banning is that photos of Pierre Picton in his fully MOT'd roadworthy Chitty accompanied the news stories causing his future rental clients considerable unfounded concern. Twelve months later when Pierre announced he was selling his car, the newspapers featured photos of the EON owned car to accompany that story.
So, for anyone with questions, I hope this has answered most.
As for spotting the differences, I don't want to spoil all your fun, so I'll leave that up to you.
[/quote]
[1quote=chittyexpert]I have had a long time interest in Chitty, and for 10 years ran the website for the owners of the most prominant car from the movie, GEN11.
Six versions were built for filming, five still exist today and I shall give a brief history of each. It is easy to identify which car is which on screen by certain differences, namely the support bars behind the radiator grille and the position of the handles on the bonnet (ie: which bonnet plate they're on)
CHITTY 1
Pierre Picton still owns GEN11 which was the primary road going vehicle. It is the car which Dick Van Dyke rolls out of the workshop. It was used in all bar two UK location driving shots. They drive to the beach in the vehicle. It is the car which sits on the beach, the car which delivers Sally Ann Howes to the gates of the Scrumptious estate, and the car which takes chase after the zeppelin. It is the car the Potts drive home in from the beach and the car which forces CUB1 into the duckpond on every occasion. Pierre has owned the car since the early 1970's after it completed its duties promoting the movie in the UK. It is due to be auctioned in Los Angeles on May 15.
CHITTY 2
This car had vertical bars behind the radiator grille. The steering wheel is considerably darker in colour and the metal on the dashboard is matt finish rather than shining. It also had an engine and a second steering wheel on the floor which was a feature used in one scene. It appears rarely in the movie, though may have been the first car off the production line as it appears in the first scene that was shot involving Chitty. It also is heavily featured in pre filming publicity shots, and is indeed the car test driven by Hopkirk as referred to in the earlier article. It appears in the shot where they are driving beside the train, in the shots where they are being harassed by James Robertson Justice from the car behind them (first driving scenes which were shot), in one passing shot on the way to the beach, and in the scenes shot in Bavaria where it comes to rest under the aquaduct and later when it is towed by infantry horses through the Town Square and into Neuschwanstein Castle shortly thereafter. It is also the car which drives itself into the castle to rescue our heroes during the overthrow of Bombhurst, and the car which descends the red staircase in triumph.
This car was in the USA immediately following the movie for promotional purposes. It vanished for a number of years only to turn up at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick in 2000, where it remains today.
CHITTY 3
This car appears to have had a removable chassis and was lighter in construction. From all accounts it was primarily mounted on a trailer for close up driving sequences and was used in the studio for some process flying and floating shots. The wings it sported were slightly different to the wings of the "flying version" (Chitty 4) It is also used in the studio pool for some shots during the transition to the water car sequence. Pierre Picton also acquired this version in the early 70's. It was the second UK promotional vehicle, and had an engine added for this purpose. Mr Picton modified it somewhat to become part of his circus act. In the mid 1970's it was sold to Heathfield Wildlife Park where it was on display in the park's motor museum. In 1978 it was sold to The Rotunda in Folkestone, and in 1980 was auctioned at PInewood Studios where it was purchased by private collector Anthony Bamford of the JCB family. Mr.Bamford still owns this version, and often loans it to the National Motor Museum at Beaullieau for static display.
CHITTY 4
This is the car with wings. It was the photographic model for the promotional image from the movie which featured on posters and merchandise. On screen it is the car which sprouts wings. It is used in a bulk of the process studio flying shots, it is the vehicle which lands in Vulgaria and the vehicle which sprouts wings and propellors in the castle forecourt before they leave Vulgaria.
The wings had a leading edge metal framework which housed folding propellors. This framework was covered by a rolling cover which was in place when the car sprouts wings and first flies from the cliff. This car also promoted the film in the USA, and was present at the New York opening. It was later sold to and appeared at The Cavalcade of Cars exhibit at the (now closed) Gaslight Village Amusement Park in Lake George, New York. It then was a feature at a Chicago Restaurant "The Retreat" before the venue went into receivership. The car was then auctioned in 2007 and sold to Ralph Spencer of Florida. I have spoken with Mr.Spencer who was delighted that even the motor which drives the wing mechanism and propellors was still in working order.
CHITTY 5
This car was clearly built for one scene, the transition from car to hovercar. For this reason, costcutting is evident with aluminium being used on most features (radiator surrounds, exhaust pipes, windscreen) in place of brass. Aluminium may also have been used to stop the discolouration of the brass and copper in the sea water. This car was unceremoniously placed in the sea off the coast of France, with an air compressor nearby. The cast were ferried to the vehicle in motorised dingheys and on cue, the car backfired, two panels at the rear opened to release a propellor and an inflatable floatilla was pumped full of air under it pushing the hinged wheels outwards. At this point it was replaced by another car mounted atop a speedboat. Chitty 5 promoted the film in Australasia. It was star attraction at the 1970 Motor Show, and toured the country right through until 1974. It reappeared in 1983, the property of Luxafles, a canvas awning company and was regularly seen alongside their displays in shopping malls and promotional events. Luxafles fitted a GM Holden engine into the static vehicle. In 1991, it was sold to Peter Nelson of Cars of the Stars in Keswick, UK, and in 2000 he sold it to Barbara Broccoli's EON productions. EON refurbished the car, painted some of the aluminium features gold and used the car throughout the world to promote the stage musical. This is the car which was famously banned from the Norwich Parade as it was not in possession of an MOT certificate.
The irony to the banning is that photos of Pierre Picton in his fully MOT'd roadworthy Chitty accompanied the news stories causing his future rental clients considerable unfounded concern. Twelve months later when Pierre announced he was selling his car, the newspapers featured photos of the EON owned car to accompany that story.
So, for anyone with questions, I hope this has answered most.
As for spotting the differences, I don't want to spoil all your fun, so I'll leave that up to you.
[/quote]
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/HVqY28eB.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/NV7dCCfw" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/NV7dCCfw.jpg)
Anyone remember the guy who converted a Series Landrover into a CCBB clone,
https://www.chitty.org.uk/how-we-built-our-chitty/
https://www.chitty.org.uk/how-we-built-our-chitty/
Allan L said:
Let's not forget that the Chitty name had an earlier provenance than that 1960s film and its numerous clone film props.
Here's Chitty I
Welcome to 8 years ago on page 1 ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... ):Here's Chitty I
Fane said:
It's nothing compared to the real deal....
4rephill said:
Welcome to 8 years ago on page 1 ( https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Your link simply returns to your post on this thread. I have a white metal model of the "Chitty" in the black and white photo. The instructions were to do it all black, and it doesn't have the nose section ahead of the radiator. It looks well alongside John Cobb's Napier Railton. I have a soft spot for these aero engined monsters, but no ambition to drive one. (Well, maybe a little!)
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