On Screen Cars
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu has one of the finest collections of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in the world. You may recall having seen some of the cars before you visit on the big or small screen. Some of our collection of vehicles that have starred in TV and film favourites and they are included in the On Screen Cars display at Beaulieu.Current exhibits include:
Mr Bean’s Mini
This car once belonged to the hapless Mr Bean, played by Rowan Atkinson, and featured in the character’s third series.
It made its first television appearance on 1 January 1991. In this episode, Mr Bean discovers he does not have enough change for the multi-storey car park ticket machine and tries to outwit the exit barrier!
On another occasion, Mr Bean oversleeps, becoming late for his dental appointment, and deftly manages to dress whilst driving the Mini to the surgery.
In real life, Rowan Atkinson is an accomplished historic racing car driver. He is one of only a handful of people trusted to demonstrate the awesome 1933 24-litre Napier-Railton Brooklands racer.
Mr Bean’s vehicle was central to several antics such as Bean getting dressed in it, driving while sitting in an armchair strapped to the roof or attempting to avoid a car park fee by driving out through the entrance.
Throughout the sitcom, Bean keeps it locked with a bolt-latch and padlock rather than the lock fitted to the car. In two episodes, he demonstrated an additional security measure in that he removes the steering wheel instead of the key.
There were three Minis painted green and black used in the series, as well as two others painted with the same colour scheme but with no engine that got crushed by a tank. Our Mr Bean Mini was used to promote Mr. Bean: The Animated Series.
Del Boy’s Reliant Van
Possibly the nation’s most famous three-wheel vehicle, this Reliant Regal Supervan III (often mistakenly referred to as a ‘Robin’) featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
For a time it was the only transport for the Trotter family of Del, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert until Del Boy went ‘upmarket’ and purchased a Capri Ghia.
What a plonker! Several Reliant vans were used during the ten year run of the popular BBC TV sitcom, which began in 1981, as well as in the TV specials that followed.
Bond film Die Another Day Jaguar XKR
In the exciting build up to Die Another Day’s finale, Zao and James Bond engage in a deadly duel on the ice with two evenly matched, fully tooled machines — 007’s Aston Martin V12 Vanquish versus Zao’s lethal Jaguar XKR, going head to head on a frozen lake while glaciers loom behind.
At the time of filming, the Ford Motor Company owned Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo among others, allowing the Bond producers their pick. They opted for the production line model XKR, with its supercharged, 400bhp engine, as the villain’s vehicle. Rather impractically for a vehicle used in Iceland, Zao’s splendidly finished XKR is a convertible.
Eight Jaguar XKR cars used in filming! Half of these were standard cars with only cosmetic modifications, the rest were rather more special as they were built on a complete four-wheel drive chassis, apart from having all the weapons systems. The work was done in the Pinewood Studios workshops in Buckinghamshire. From the outside all the cars looked the same, and all were finished in the same metallic light green that was used for the Jaguar Racing Formula One Grand Prix cars.
The car featured in a dramatic car chase on ice, filmed on location in Iceland in early 2002.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Ford Anglia
This is the actual Ford Anglia 105E that was once owned by Arthur Weasley. It used to be a standard Ford Anglia until Mr Weasley enchanted it making it able to fly, become invisible to Muggles and to carry his entire family despite its modest size.
The car has been stolen by his son Ron on a number of occasions. Once to rescue his friend Harry Potter from the Dursley’s house and once with Harry to return to Hogwarts after the gate to Platform 9¾ is sealed by Dobby. Considering they crash landed the car in the Whomping Willow when returning to Hogwarts, the car is in amazingly good condition.
In the Muggle world Ford’s new Anglia model was overshadowed by the Mini when it was launched 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. In 1963 the production line was moved from Dagenham to a new factory at Halewood on Merseyside.
This Anglia was used during the filming of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was stolen in 2005 but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves probably due to the media interest surrounding the car. It on on loan from Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint.
Doctor Who’s car Bessie
Bessie, Dr Who’s bright yellow car driven by The Doctor after he was banished to Earth by his fellow Time Lords in 1970, materialised in Beaulieu in 2017.
The Edwardian roadster appeared in numerous episodes of the cult sci-fi show and became a firm favourite with viewers. It boasted several space-age modifications that helped The Doctor save the universe, including an anti-theft force field and a remote control device that allowed him to operate her from a distance. He also fitted the four-seater with his own registration number – WHO 1 – and named her after his assistant, Liz Shaw.
The eye-catching car was initially used by the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee. Aware of the need to remain mobile in his never-ending battle against the forces of evil, he adopted the vehicle after the Time Lords immobilised the TARDIS.
The car was also driven by the next three doctors, Tom Baker, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy, making its final appearance in 1993. As with everything in Doctor Who, Bessie is not quite what she seems, she may look like a vintage car but in reality she’s a 1954 Ford Popular 103E fitted with a fibreglass body. The engine was low-powered, which meant Bessie was not a fast machine. Bessie was one of a limited edition of a kit car made by Siva/Neville Trickett (Design) Ltd of Blandford, Dorset.
For the benefit of fans of series, Doctor Who Stories featuring Bessie are The Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Daemons, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, The Green Death, Planet of the Spiders, Robot, The Five Doctors, Battlefield, Dimensions in Time, and The Name of the Doctor.
Bessie is displayed in On Screen Cars at Beaulieu alongside two replica Daleks and a replica of Doctor Who's dog K9.
Police motorcycle ridden by Matt Damon as Jason Bourne
A Greek police motorcycle ridden by Matt Damon as Jason Bourne in Paul Greengrass’ action-thriller sequel Jason Bourne is now at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.
In the film Bourne rode this motorcycle through a riot in Athens, after stealing it from a police officer. The scene featuring the bike sees Jason Bourne use the motorcycle to fight off police and ‘The Asset’ played by Vincent Cassel, before rescuing Nicky played by Julia Stiles.
The motorcycle is a 2015 Husqvarna FE 450 modified with front blue police lights, a rear police light stand that was damaged for the production, a rear carrying case and pannier decorated with Greek police decals. Filming for the sequence with the bike took place on the island of Tenerife in 2015 for the movie which was released in 2016.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Getaway Car
The high-profile getaway car used by Jennifer Saunders as Eddy and Joanna Lumley as Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie. The Piaggio Ape, which has come straight from the film set to Beaulieu in 2016 is featured in a key scene as Eddy and Patsy make their bid to escape from the police trying to track them down.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie stars Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks and June Whitfield in the storyline’s cinematic adventure alongside returning cast members Kathy Burke as Magda, Helen Lederer as Catriona, Harriet Thorpe as Fleur, Celia Imrie as Claudia Bing, Mo Gaffney as Bo, Chris Ryan as Marshall and Emma Bunton and Lulu as themselves. In true Ab Fab style, the cast is also joined by a host of stars from the acting, music and fashion worlds.
B.M.W. Isetta 300 – Heartbeat
Heartbeat, ITV’s police drama set in the 1960s, was renowned for its immersive period authenticity.
The vehicles featured in the show were no exception and barmaid Gina Ward drove this 1962 right-hand drive, sliding-window red B.M.W. Isetta 300. This is the original car used in the series
Museum Car Stars
In addition to vehicles in our On Screen Cars display our main museum also houses a few notable cars that that stared in film and TV.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Arguably one of the most extraordinary cars ever to grace the silver screen, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has captured the imagination of millions of families around the world.
Six original chittys were built for the film by Alan Mann of Alan Mann racing. Beaulieu’s Chitty was used for the hovercraft and some ‘blue screen’ special effect flying sequences. It is mainly made of lighter weight aluminium to make it easier to manoeuvre during filming.
Although a number of different Chittys have been displayed here over the years EON productions kindly allow us to display this vehicle There are also a number of high profile replicas
Read more about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the temporary exhibition celebrating the film at Beaulieu in 2019 to celebrate 50th anniversary of the movie.
Humber 8hp from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
This car starred in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the car driven by Truly Scrumptious. The 8hp model was an attempt by Humber to produce a low-cost car and lacked many of the more luxurious features of other Edwardian cars. However, it did share many mechanical features with larger Humbers. The clockwise running engine is cranked anti-clockwise to start, an idea introduced to protect the chauffeur’s arm when using the starting handle.
Humber was one of Britain’s earliest motor manufacturers and, like many others, had its origins in the bicycle industry. The company started in motor manufacture in Coventry during 1896, building French Léon Bollée three wheelers under licence. By 1900 Humber were building motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles. Their first production car appeared in 1901.
Le Mans 24 hour Porche 917
The Porsche 917 is one of the most successful racing cars ever. This car, chassis 917-13, competed during the 1970 and 1971 seasons.
In 1970 it appeared in the Steve McQueen film Le Mans, crashing during filming while driven by David Piper.
The rebuilt 917-013 was raced by the JW Automotive/Gulf team during 1971, winning races at Daytona, the Österreichring, Monza and Monthléry with drivers such as Pedro Rodriguez, Jo Siffert, Jackie Oliver and Derek Bell.
Mercedes-Benz once owned by actor and writer Sir Peter Ustinov
Not quite a screen star, but the Mercedes-Benz 36/220 in the museum is one of the most desirable vintage sports cars and was once owned by actor and writer Sir Peter Ustinov.
It is now owned by the National Motor Museum Trust. The supercharged Model S was the first all new design to appear following the amalgamation of Daimler and Benz in 1926. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, only 146 of the cars were built.
Unic Taxi Cab
From 1906 onwards, the Unic appeared in increasing numbers on the taxi ranks of London. This 1908 taxi was discovered in 1950 in buildings alongside a Dorset watercress farm, and restored by Jack Sparshatt.
The taxi appeared briefly in Carry On Screaming and was filmed with the stars the Avengers (probably when Patrick McNee and Diana Rigg were filmed at Beaulieu for a The Avengers in 1966 – they also drove the 1904 Vauxhall).
All Creatures Great and Small Morris Commercial PV Hardware Shop
This 1946 Parcels Van is one of seven remaining roadworthy. Purchased new by shopkeepers Daniels & Sons of Snettisham, Norfolk, the factory-built body was converted to a mobile hardware shop by the addition of roller shutters, shelving and a 150-gallon paraffin tank.
Following Mr Daniels’ retirement in 1975, the van fell into disrepair. Three years later it was purchased by the Wells family and extensively restored, taking part in many road rallies.
The family donated it to the Museum Trust. In 1989 it starred in the television programme All Creatures Great and Small. The mobile shop is now on display in the Streets Ahead gallery.
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