CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG ‘FLIES’ INTO SOUTHPORT
Report by Julia Brough of Alexander Corporate Communications

THE remarkable car made famous in the magical 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be flying into Southport for a special appearance at the North West Historic Car Rally.

The spectacular vehicle, recreated using original parts, will take centre stage at the rally, which will be held at Victoria Park on July 24th and 25th.

Owned by Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film enthusiast Tony Green, the car has been created with special permission from US filmmakers MGM, which holds the copyright for this classic film. Tony also acquired the plans for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and worked with the original producers of the film cars in building his Chitty.

Tony Green's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the version with the wings, is a fully licensed roadworthy magical vehicle. Tony was also given special permission from MGM in naming the vehicle and he has also managed to get the license plate GEN 22 from Registration Transfers. The original Chitty was GEN 11.

Said Tony:- “I was absolutely stunned when I found that GEN 22, Chitty's double, was available. I couldn't have wished for a better registration number. To get permission from MGM is extremely rare and they were very helpful not only in granting permission but allowing me to call my car Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the DVLA registration documents. Since turning the key after all the work last June I haven't stopped and I'm really looking forward to bringing Chitty to Southport.

Tony's car has taken three years to build with the coachwork completed by Terry Dann, one of the builders of the film cars. He has also met with the original mechanical engineer. The parts are all handmade and even the brass snake horn came from one of the original Chitty cars.

Of the six cars created for the film, which starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious, just four remain, one of which is roadworthy being GEN 11. The only other road-licensed version of Chitty is Tony's GEN 22.

Chitty weighs around 1.5 ton and is nearly 18 ft. long and 6 ft. wide, the brass lamps are all original period pieces, the engine is a 3L V6 (Essex) Ford with an automatic BorgWarner gearbox and the tyres are 36 inches by four inches. It even makes the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang sound after Tony recorded a sample of the engine noise from the film.

Chitty Chitty Band Bang was back in the headlines at the end of last year due to the 35th anniversary of the film, MGM's release of a wide-screen DVD and the hugely successful musical at the London Palladium. Working with MGM Tony and Chitty transported Father Christmas to Hamley's Christmas lights switch-on in November and at Christmas travelled to Seoul in South Korea for the Hollywood Motor Show.

In just a year Tony's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has appeared on numerous UK TV programmes including Richard and Judy and Granada Reports and also made two appearances on stage at the famous Winter Gardens in Blackpool. 

Tony Corfield, Head of Sefton Council’s Tourism Department:- “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is going to be a real crowd puller. Everybody knows this film, young and old alike, so we are delighted to have the car as a major exhibit at the rally. The film is one of the best family movies ever made which is why 35 years on it is still very well known. It’s a classic film and now we have a classic car for a classic rally.”

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will join hundreds of other vintage and classic cars for the two day North West Historic Car Rally, which will be a real celebration of Southport’s motoring heritage.

The event also gives local businesses the opportunity to be there to promote their own product and services. Trade stands or exhibition areas are available at very reasonable rates. Companies can invite business partners, customers and friends to the event and entertain them in the hospitality areas.

During the weekend there will also be a parade of exhibiting cars along Lord Street and an awards ceremony will take place on the Sunday afternoon.

Historic cars, vehicles, cycles and motorcycles from the 1900s to the present day are welcome to apply. For an application form or for information on corporate hospitality or trade stands telephone 07785 364758.