The Screen Cars Of Beaulieu

It’s what is known as Autumn Half Term on the strange, eccentric, damp island called Britain, where a few Outposters hail from. For those of you who don’t come from there, so are still familiar with a thing called “sunshine”, this is a school vacation period before the winter term begins.

This means that British parents face the horror of having to entertain their little shi… I mean, darlings… just as the British winter is starting to get up to speed. This means rain. Not just any rain, but sideways rain that mocks you as it sets about ruining your day.

But this is Britain, so the middle classes tog themselves up in robust “adventure clothing” from Mountain Warehouse and head off out to keep the small folk from eating each other, or getting nonced up on Roblox.

Earlier in the week it was Boba Phil who was out and about in the drizzle, and found himself contemplating a famous work of literature.

Yesterday, it was my turn. I am down in the New Forest for a family trip and to avoid a torrential downpour, I decided it was about time my sons continued their journey into manhood by being forced to find cars interesting. So they were taken to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

While I was staring thoughtfully at many examples of automotive wonderment, I realised there were a lot of “screen used” vehicles in the collection, and as an Ouposter this meant I had a camera on my phone, and a job to do.

Here is that I found:

Ford Anglia – Harry Potter & The Chamber Of Secrets

This example featured in the filming as a non-stunt car. It was actually stolen in 2005 but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves probably due to the media interest surrounding the car. When launched in the Muggle world, Ford’s new Anglia model was overshadowed by the Mini at the 1959 Motor Show but went on to be a sales success with over a million of the 105E and more powerful 123E being built before production ended in 1967.

Volvo 850S – Gavin & Stacey

This one is a bit parochial. It is from the hit British sitcom Gavin & Stacey that was, among other things, responsible for launching James Corden into the world. Sorry about that! In reality, the Volvo 850S was the station wagon for people who really knew about cars, and the choice of police forces all over the world for the combination of power and space.

Leyland Mini 1000 – Mr Bean

Mr Bean is inexplicably huge in both the China and Germany. He’s also, somehow, such a globally recognised figure of fun that he turned up in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. His car is almost as famous as he is. Decades before being remodelled and relaunched, becoming the car of choice for London estate agents with ideas above their station, and women who though it was a substitute for a personality, this version was made in 1977 and the “Citron” yellow paintjob with the mat black hood was created specially for the series.

Siva Tourer “Bessie” – Doctor Who

This car was used by the Third Doctor, Patrick Troughton, during his exile on Earth, although other incarnations of the Doctor have also used the car on rare occasions. The canary-yellow Edwardian roadster was part of his compensation package from UNIT, and the only specific demand he made of the Brigadier when he agreed to be UNIT’s scientific advisor. The real Siva Tourer was a kit car, produced in Blandford Forum / Dorset and Aylesbury, in England between 1969 and 1974. The 2-seat veteran-style “Edwardian” fun car utilized a fibreglass body kit mounted typically on a Ford (E93A Popular, Anglia, or Prefect) chassis with a Ford 103E/105E engine.

Jaguar XKR – Die Another Day

It’s just typical that one of the weakest Bond movies featured not one, but two, of the best Bond cars. In Die Another Day, James Bond’s Aston Martin Vanquish faced off among the ice flows of Iceland against Zao, driving this tricked up Jaguar XKR. When not kitted out with an extendable minigun and rockets behind the front grill, the real life XKR was an exquisite car and a tremendous drive. The two-door 2+2 grand tourer was made from 1996–2014 across two generations of design.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Another exhibit connected to Ian Fleming, this time from the beloved film that was based on his children’s story. There is no real car to talk about here, as it was created specially for the film. It was designed by production designer Ken Adam and built in 1967 by the Ford Racing Team in Hertfordshire, England using nothing but salvaged and custom parts.

The Unavoidable

The crushing sense of inevitability is real. You were never going to manage to avoid, in a museum dedicated to cars, some of the actual Cars. Or, to use their full name as given to them by parents everywhere, Those Fucking Cars.

The three present in a dedicated annexe to the main museum are prop reproductions used for film premieres and promotional events. When they are not being used, they reside at the museum and delight thousands of squealing children every day.

The rain continued to fall, so we remained firmly in the dry to take in the rest of the vehicles on display. There used to be a much more extensive collection of 007 cars here, including the Vanquish, “Wet Nellie – the Lotus sub from The Spy Who Loved Me, and the DB5 itself. These were loaned from the Bond In Motion exhibition which is now on tour.

I did, however, find a newer model Lotus Esprit nestling at the back of one corner.