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chitty chitty bang bang

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Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!)

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!) Report 7 Nov 2007 12:32

and there's this website:

http://www.chittythemusical.co.uk/behindthescenes/realchitty.htm

which gives you a lot of info about the cars and the address - Higham Court.

Researching:
London: Faber, Haysey, Spicer ...

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!)

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!) Report 7 Nov 2007 12:30

Googled: (apparently there were 3 cars built)

Chitty II, the only surviving car, was bought by Bill Hollis of Temple Ewell near Dover, Kent from a motor dealer for £300 and a Hillman Aero Minx. Hollis ran a fleet of motor coaches from his Orange Motors business in Dover and Chitty II was kept at his market Square premises. He used it regularly until the outbreak of war. During the war the car was moved to a barn on Hollis' farm at nearby Sutton but was later stored outside under a tarpaulin.

An American collector bought Chitty II in the 1960's for £16,500 and it eventually went on display at the Western Reserve Historical Society museum in Cleveland Ohio. Lord Montague of Beaulieu arranged for it to be loaned to The National Motor Museum in Hampshire and had Chitty II shipped to the UK in 1992. It was displayed alongside one of the 1968 Ford powered film cars that had been built by Alan Mann of Surrey

Researching:
London: Faber, Haysey, Spicer ...

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!)

Jill 2011 (aka Warrior Princess of Cilla!) Report 7 Nov 2007 12:27

I know that there's a connection to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a large house down here in Kent (near to Canterbury), and of course I cannot remember the name of the house. Anyway, the house is open to visitors on some days and it may be that they have records that might help. As far as I remember it's owned by two couples and the wives give the tour - they are lovely people and very approachable. If I can find out the name of the house I will post it here.

Jill

Researching:
London: Faber, Haysey, Spicer ...

Clive

Clive Report 7 Nov 2007 12:09

any information anyone?

Clive

Clive Report 15 Oct 2007 09:48

trying to trace a peter harris mayes born 1928-29 who i believe is my late dads cousin(ian burton watson).I have found newspaper cuttings o mr harris mayes driving chitty chitty bang bang in the 1960s (he was given the car in the late forties/early fifties).My dad also mentioned the name/nickname tony little holt but i dont know if this is mr harris mayes's nickname or a different cousin of my dad.I would be grateful if anyone has any information
regards clive watson