Back in October, the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger was auctioned off for a cool $4.5 million. Well, another car inspired by an Ian Fleming creation is being auctioned this year, but it has nothing to do with James Bond. That's right, in case you didn't know this, the same man who thought Pussy Galore was an acceptable character name also spawned the adored children's tale Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In modern terms, this is like Tarantino directing Shrek 8.
Where was I? Ah yes, the custom-built Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car used in the filming of the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang movie will be auctioned off May 14 with a pre-sale estimate of $1 million to $2 million.
It was built by Ford Racing Team and designed by Ken Adam, the same iconic production designer who did the sets for Dr. Strangelove as well as James Bond films Dr. No, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Love Me and Moonraker.
According to the Profiles in History auction description, "The bonnet is crafted of polished aluminum; the boat deck is hand-crafted of red and white cedar built by boat builders in Buckinghamshire, and the array of brass fittings were obtained from Edwardian cars. Even the alloy dashboard plate is from a British World War I fighter plane!"
Personally, I'd rather have a James Bond car, but this is certainly your chance to place your butt in the same seat as Dick Van Dyke. Profiles in History didn't mention if the engine and exhaust note really is "chitty chitty bang bang."
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this little gem.
parchisi64 says:
05:38 PM, 04/25/11
OMG, that brought back so many memories. One of my favorite movies as a kid. I would watch it at least once a week, and I thought that car freaking awesome....still do.
firstwagon says:
05:48 PM, 04/25/11
So what are the odds Jay Leno will buy it?
blueprint1 says:
05:52 PM, 04/25/11
And why are we seeing a toy car in the pic above?
desmolicious says:
01:08 PM, 04/26/11
C'mon, Fleming came up with some great names! Pussy Galore, Honey Dew, Allota Fagina..
Riswick, you didn't like Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?