RARE LORD SCRUMPTIOUS CAR JOINS BEAULIEU’S CHITTY EXHIBITION

RARE LORD SCRUMPTIOUS CAR JOINS BEAULIEU’S CHITTY EXHIBITION

A rare 1912 Austro-Daimler 27/80 Prince Henry that starred as Lord Scrumptious’ chauffeur-driven car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is to go on show at Beaulieu.

The Prince Henry joins an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious, original Child Catcher carriage, the film’s inventive machines created by Rowland Emett, a replica Grandpa Potts’ hut, original artwork and memorabilia in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years at the National Motor Museum.

The Austro-Daimler is one of just four known surviving examples of a model known as one of the world’s first sports cars – and its off-screen story is as astonishing as its on-screen exploits in the much-loved musical film.

Only about 50 of the exclusive Austro-Daimler 27/80 Prince Henry were built and this car has been in the same family for more than six decades. The current keeper’s grandfather, vintage and veteran car dealer Cecil Bendall, bought it for £310 in 1956 from the estate of Herbert Whitley who founded Paignton Zoo. Bendall restored the car before using it to compete in numerous Veteran Car Club rallies and Vintage Sports-Car Club motorsport events and often provided historic vehicles for filming.

The car starred as the transport of Lord Scrumptious and was driven by spies during the kidnap of Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which was released in 1968. By a decade later, its sophisticated 5.7-litre engine was in need of a rebuild and Bendall later hoped to drive it in the Land’s End to John O’Groats Trial but sadly passed away before the project could be completed. His grandson Tristan Jensen has since picked up the baton, with the goal of getting this impressive machine back in action to drive in historic motoring events once again.

Tristan said: “A busy life, family and many cars are slowing down the progress. However, all of the new parts have now been made and the engine just requires assembly. I am planning to enter events again in 2020.”

After many years off the road, the Prince Henry has been dusted down to join Beaulieu’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition from Easter and will remain on display until the exhibition concludes in November.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entrance to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. To buy tickets in advance online or for more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or Instagram @national_motor_museum and join the conversation with #Chitty50years.

CHILD CATCHER’S CARRIAGE JOINS BEAULIEU’S CHITTY EXHIBITION

CHILD CATCHER’S CARRIAGE JOINS BEAULIEU’S CHITTY EXHIBITION

Child Catcher’s carriage joins Beaulieu’s Chitty exhibition

The original Child Catcher carriage from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be on display for the first time in the UK at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu to celebrate the golden anniversary of the film. The Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition opens on October 20th.

Only two of the four carriages built for filming have survived and this ‘hero’ carriage, on loan from the Medieval Crime and Justice Museum in Germany, was used for all of the key scenes. Standing alongside will be the Child Catcher’s costume, as seen in the film.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years will tell the story of Chitty and feature an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious.

Coggins’ Garage will be recreated in the museum to house the film’s inventive machines created by Rowland Emett, including the Humbug Major Sweet Machine, Clockwork Lullabye, Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper and Hot Air Rocking Chair.

A full-size replica of Grandpa Potts’ hut has been built using the 50-year-old technical drawings from the archive of EON Productions. The actual Spy Phone prop used in the film will also be on show, together with Sally Anne Howes’ life-size music box doll dress.

A timeline wall will chart the Chitty story from its beginnings – like James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s inspirational book about the magical flying car – to Cubby Broccoli’s unique interpretation on film. Fleming was inspired by the real-life exploits of racing driver Count Louis Zborowski who designed and built four aero-engined racing cars that were named Chitty Bang Bang because of the sound they made while standing idle. The exhaust and leather bonnet strap from the Count’s original Mercedes Chitty will be on display as part of his legacy.

The cloud-shaped wall will also feature first edition copies of Fleming’s book which he wrote for his son Caspar and was published posthumously in 1964, alongside producer Cubby Broccoli’s programme from the Royal World Premiere of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film in 1968. Weird and wonderful Chitty memorabilia includes signatures of the star-studded cast, pedal and Corgi cars, comics, computer games, pop-up books and even lunch boxes made to celebrate the children’s favourite film.

Never exhibited before original film concept art by Sir Ken Adam, storyboard watercolour artwork by Robert Laing and technical drawings by Peter Lamont will be on display, along with the solid silver Chitty model bought for producer Cubby Broccoli by his wife Dana.

Outside in the grounds, visitors to Beaulieu can see a stunning Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reconstruction being driven around the attraction.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entrance to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. To buy tickets in advance online or for more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or Instagram @national_motor_museum and join the conversation with #Chitty50years.

BEAULIEU LAUNCHES CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG 50 YEARS EXHIBITION

BEAULIEU LAUNCHES CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG 50 YEARS EXHIBITION

To celebrate the golden half century of one of the world’s favourite films Beaulieu is to launch its Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years exhibition which can be seen in the National Motor Museum from October 20th.

The exhibition will tell the story of Chitty as the star of the fantasmagorical family adventure and feature an original screen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious in the much-loved musical film.

Coggins’ Garage will be recreated in the museum to house the amazingly inventive machines of Rowland Emett seen in the film, including the Humbug Major Sweet Machine, Clockwork Lullabye, Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper and Hot Air Rocking Chair.

Standing outside will be a full-size replica of Grandpa Potts’ hut, recreated using the original 50-year-old technical drawings from the archive of EON Productions. The actual Spy Phone prop used in the film will be on show alongside.

Costumes as seen in the film will include those of the infamous Child Catcher and Sally Anne Howes’ life-size music box dolldress which she wore while dancing with Dick Van Dyke for Baron Bomburst’s birthday surprise.

A timeline wall will chart the Chitty story from its beginnings – as James Bond creator Ian Fleming’s inspirational book about the magical flying car – to Cubby Broccoli’s unique interpretation on film. Fleming was inspired by the real-life exploits of racing driver Count Louis Zborowski who designed and built four aero-engined racing cars that were named Chitty Bang Bang because of the sound they made while standing idle. The exhaust and leather bonnet strapfrom the Count’s original Mercedes Chitty will be on display as part of his legacy.

 

The Humbug Major from Chitty 1968 / The Little Dragon Carpet Sweeper from Chitty 1968

The cloud-shaped wall will also feature first edition copies of Fleming’s book which he wrote for his son Caspar and was published posthumously in 1964, alongside producer Cubby Broccoli’sprogramme from the Royal World Premiere of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film in 1968. Weird and wonderful Chitty memorabilia includes signatures of the star-studded cast, pedal and Corgi cars, comics, computer games, pop-up books and even lunch boxes made to celebrate the children’s favourite film.

Never exhibited before original film concept art by Sir Ken Adam, storyboard watercolour artwork by Robert Laing and technical drawings by Peter Lamont will be on display, along with the solid silver Chitty model bought for producer Cubby Broccoli by his wife Dana.

Outside in the grounds, visitors to Beaulieu can see a stunning Chitty Chitty Bang Bang reconstruction being driven around the attraction – you may even be lucky enough to go for a ride!

Thanks to Fleming’s brilliant story about the beautiful, magical car and Roald Dahl’s screenplay adaptation, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang remains as popular today as it ever has been.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50 years can be seen as part of the general admission to Beaulieu, which includes entrance to the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu family home of Palace House, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and the grounds and gardens. To buy tickets in advance online or for more information see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

Find us on Twitter @Beaulieu_Hants, Facebook at /nationalmotormuseum or Instagram @national_motor_museum and join the conversation with #Chitty50years.

Count Zborowski in Chitty Bang Bang