GUESTS at the opening of an exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang included an actor from the film.

Adrian Hall played one of two children transported to Vulgaria - home of evil Baron Bomburst - after Chitty goes off a cliff and sprouts wings.

The year-long exhibition opens at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, on Saturday.

Lord Montagu was at the wheel of a reconstructed Chitty when it was pushed out of a replica of Coggins Garage as Beaulieu recreated a scene from the film.

At the same time 30 children sang the song Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

 

The garage is below a gallery which is home to one of the museum's star exhibits - one of the six Chittys used in the 1968 film.

Lord Montagu said: “I remember seeing Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a seven-year-old. The thought of a flying car was so exciting and the music has stayed in my head for 50 years."

Guests included Rupert Howes, the nephew of Sally Ann Howes, who played Truly Scrumptious in the movie.

The exhibition opens to visitors on Saturday and will be on display until November next year.

 

Exhibits include the Humber 8hp driven by Truly Scrumptious and a replica of Grandpa Potts’ hut, plus costumes and original film artwork on display for the first time.

It tells the story of Chitty from its beginnings as Ian Fleming’s book – and the real-life racing car which inspired it – to Cubby Broccoli’s unique interpretation on film.

The Ccads Theatre stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be at the Kings Theatre in Portsmouth from November 1st - 3rd.

The movie tells the story of a former racing car which ends up in a garage owned by a Mr Coggins. It catches the eye of two children whose father, Caractacus Potts, raises enough money to buy and rebuild the vehicle.

Chitty gives chase after Grandpa Potts is kidnapped by two of the baron's henchmen.

Caractacus, Truly and the children fly to Vulgaria, where they defeat the baron and his evil sidekick, who imprisons any children he finds.

Other characters include a toymaker played by Benny Hill, who lived on Southampton.

 

The film was based on a 1964 novel by Ian Fleming, better known as the author of the James Bond adventures.

Fleming was inspired by the real-life exploits of Count Louis Zborowski, a racing driver who designed and built four aero-engined racing cars which were named Chitty Bang Bang because of the sound they made when the engine was idling.

The exhaust and leather bonnet strap from the count’s original Chitty will be on display