Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's Headlamp
Name/Title
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's HeadlampEntry/Object ID
OPPS25Description
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's headlamp from Ken Hughes' musical adventure Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Widowed inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) restored a dilapidated Grand Prix racing car for his children Jemima (Heather Ripley) and Jeremy (Adrian Hall), who named it "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" for the distinctive sound of its engine. The fantastical vehicle carried the Potts family on their adventures, including their journey to the Kingdom of Vulgaria to rescue Grandpa Potts (Lionel Jeffries). The car's headlamps were made by London-based picture vehicles builder John Mitchell under the business name "Toby Baxter Ltd.", created specifically for the production. This company name is stamped prominently on the top of the headlamp, as was the case for all headlamps made for the car. This headlamp originated from the collection of Pierre Picton, who worked as a driver on the production. After production wrapped he bought two of the vehicles, including the main driving vehicle, which he owned until 2011. Constructed from brass and nickel alloy, the headlamp originally featured a sprayed brass finish to reduce reflectivity, suggesting that it may have been produced specifically for the flying version of Chitty. The original finish has since worn away and been replaced with a flat brass surface. Dimensions: 29 cm x 23.5 cm x 30 cm (11.5" x 9.25" x 11.75")Use
PropCategory
Object / Artifact