Who owns the car from chitty chitty bang bang?

Answer 1

June 4, 2007- The vintage roadster that could sprout red and yellow wings to fly in the 1968 children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been sold at auction for just over half a million dollars on Saturday, June 2.

Ralph Spencer of Jacksonville, Florida bought the car for $505,000.00 during a sale at the 16th Annual Auburn Spring Motorfair in Auburn, Indiana. Spencer, who also reportedly owns one of the Batmobiles used in the campy 1960s Batman television series, stated that he has always been a fan of the film.The car had been a prominent display at the Chicago restaurant JR's Retreat. Restaurant owner Jim Rich had been forced by a bankruptcy debt to sell off the car. Two other versions of the car made for the film's production are currently on display in a automotive museum in Keswick, United Kingdom.Dean Kruse, president of Kruse International, the firm which handled the auction, had appraised the car in 1998 at $980,000.00. However, its value may have depreciated due to it requiring some restoration work after a term in storage.

Five vehicles and a car mounted on board a speedboat were created by Ken Adam and built by Alan Mann for the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The original roadgoing vehicle was registered in the UK as GEN 11, the plate she wore in the movie.

Chitty "1" was one of two Chittys used to promote the film in the UK. Pierre Picton purchased this vehicle and Chitty "3" from Cubby Broccoli in the early 1970's. He later sold Chitty "3". Chitty "1" remains in his ownership.

www.chittygen11.com

Chitty "2" has a chassis housing the iconoc wings and can transform with the flick of a switch. She was used in the primary flying scenes, studio process and location, and after filming was used to promote the movie throughout the USA. She is currently privately owned by Ralph Spencer in Florida.

.June 4, 2007- The vintage roadster that could sprout red and yellow wings to fly in the 1968 children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has been sold at auction for just over half a million dollars on Saturday, June 2.

Previously the car was the star of the Cavalcade of Cars Museum, before being on display at The Retreat in Chicago which went bankrupt.

Chitty "3" was on display at the Heathfield Wildlife Park in the UK and The Rotunda in Folkestone during the 1970's after being sold by Pierre Picton. In 1980 she was sold to private collector Anthony Bamford. She is occasionally displayed at the Beaullieau Motor Museum in the UK. She had no engine and was trailer-mounted during filming and used for studio process scenes with wings or floatilla added. An engine was added after filming and she was used to promote the film inthe UK.

Chitty "4" is easily distinguishable. The exhaust pipe and the windscreen and radiator surround are silver aluminum and not copper as on the other models. She appears on screen for approximately 20 seconds being the vehicle which transforms into the floating car before the fixed speed boat version stands in. Used to promote the film in Australia, the car returned to the UK in the early 90's where it was displayed at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick in the UK. In 2002, EON productions purchased the car to promote the West End stage musical. It was refurbished, and remains in their ownership promoting the stage play worldwide.

Chitty "5" is also readily identifiable. She is a road-going version but was only ever used in two scenes on-screen and is easily identifiable as the support strips behind the radiator grille run vertically unlike those which run horizontally on all of the other versions. She was used to promote the film in the USA and disappeared for a number of years. She is currently on display at the Cars of the Stars Museum in Keswick, Cumbria in the UK.