Obsessed fan spends 12 years building Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[wildmanjoe]

Obsessed fan spends 12 years building Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Link:

http://www.telegraph...-Bang-Bang.html

Gordon Grant's labour of love is identical to the original car from the classic 1968 film that was driven by Dick van Dyke.

Chitty fan Gordon first watched the musical aged two and became obsessed with having his own version of the iconic car.

He began to plan the project when he was 16 and finally finished it three years ago aged 28 - and it is identical in every way to the original.

Gordon managed to get help from many people who worked on the original car, including Peter Lamont who was assistant art director on the musical film.

Lionel Whitehead, the mechanic who helped make the original, also assisted by passing on the plans.

And Terry Dan, who was the original car's boat builder, gave the detailed plans of the wooden stern.

The wheels were cast by the same firm that did the originals and the engine is a Ford V6 - meaning it can get to speeds of 140mph.

And because Dick van Dyke couldn't drive a manual, the winged motor is automatic.

Gordon, 31, from Gerrards Cross, Bucks, so impressed people with his skill in re-making the car he now works as an art director in the movie industry.

But he has decided to sell his beloved car at auction to raise money so he can pay for his parents to go on a dream holiday.

He said: "It all started when I was plonked in front of the film by my parents aged two - and from then on I was hooked.

"My parents were very good at encouraging me and when I decided to make a replica they helped me a great deal.

"When I was 16 I got in touch with the people who had made the original and told them what I was planning.

"They were amused, but very helpful and when I was 18 I started building the car along with my

father who is an engineer and mechanic by trade.

"I spent every last penny on it and ate Pot Noodles and I won't reveal how much it cost although I spent much more than I should have.

"I had the car in pieces stored in various locations and I became very geeky about it and everything had to be exactly the same as the original.

"It is the only exact replica in existence and none of the orignal remains. About half way through the project my father got cancer so I have used it to raise money for cancer charities.

"It was the perfect remedy for my father who has beaten cancer five times. And the reason I am selling it is for my parents.

"They have done a lot for me and they have at least ten years of fun left in them and I'd love to see them go on cruise to New York on the Queen Mary or something.

"I managed to build a career in the film industry because of Chitty.

"Nowadays everything is easily made from fibreglass but when the film was made everything had to be built properly.

"Racing driver Graham Hill got the original car up to 120mph and I've driven this one to 80mph but it got scary then - it could probably get to 140mph.

"The car really is a business and it could probably recoup the outlay in about five years. It has been on display at the Beaulieu Motor Museum over the last few years."

The script of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was written Roald Dahl and Ken Hughes and it was loosely based on Ian Fleming's novel Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car.

The film starred Dick Van Dyke as Caractacus Potts and Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious.

In the end, love and good triumphs over the evil Baron Bomburstand everyone lives happily ever after.

The car is being sold at Bonhams at Mercedes Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey, on December 1.

[Justin Bimmer]

My hero.

[67impss]

Looks to not have sold I guess he did spend too much $ making it

[G. David Felt]

WOW, amazing the way people will stick to such an expensive project, hope he is able to send his parents on that cruise.

[OhioTom76]

I was kind of surprised that he even knew what that movie was. I'm like 10 years older than him, and I barely remember that movie from my childhood. That is an incredible replica though and it would be neat to see it in person. 28 is a rather young age to be an art director, good for him!