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  1. James Bond Experience At The National Motor Museum

    By Devin Zydel on 2007-09-09

    Fans of the cars and props from the James Bond films will definitely want to take notice of the ‘James Bond Experience’ exhibition at the National Motor Museum located in the Hampshire village, Beaulieu.

    Created in association with the Ian Fleming Foundation, the exhibition also features the famous flying car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Full details follow:

    James Bond Experience at the National Motor Museum

    A fascinating exhibition of glamorous–and lethal–genuine James Bond Boats and props.

    This is your chance to view an extensive selection of authentic vehicles featured in the James Bond films, including:

    • Jaguar XKR Roadster used in the 2002 film ‘Die Another Day’:
      Used in the car chase scenes across the ice and inside the Ice Palace this 400-horsepower Jaguar XKR comes with rear-mounted Gatling gun, front and side missile launchers and a trunk full of mortar bombs.
    • Parahawk used in the 1999 film ‘The World Is Not Enough’:
      These dangerous parahawks are snowmobiles attached to a parachute propelled through the air using a large propeller at the rear. Bond and Elektra are confronted by these flying machines when they go skiing but Bond draws them away and manages to defeat all the parahawks.
    • World record jumping boat used in the 1973 film ‘Live and Let Die’:
      Filmed in just 2 takes, this was the boat that 007 used to famously jump over Sheriff J W Pepper’s car, covering 120 feet which set a world record.
    • A model of Tanaka’s Helicopter used in the 1967 film’You Only Live Twice’:
      Armed with a massive electro-magnet it removes Osato’s henchmen who are following Bond by picking them up in their car, flying over the sea and dropping them.
    • The world’s first ever jet ski used in the 1977 film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’:
      This Wet-Bike was the world’s first aquatic motor-bike and could be assembled from parts carried in a large tote bag.
    • BMW R1200 Motorcycle used in the 1997 film ‘Tomorrow Never Dies’:
      In an extended chase sequence, Bond and Wai Lin use this motorcycle to escape Elliott Carvers pursuing henchmen.
    • AMC Hornet used in the 1974 film ‘The Man with The Golden Gun’:
      Bond steals this car from a Bangkok showroom to chase of Francisco Scaramanga. During the films most impressive stunt, Bond performs a 360-degree jump in this car over a half-sunk bridge.
    • Skidoo used in the 2002 film ‘Die Another Day’:
      Gustav Graves equips his henchmen at the Ice Palace with the latest in skidoo technology to hunt down Bond in his Aston Martin Vanquish.

    Get close to the tools of the trade of 007’s secret world–genuine artefacts you will remember from many of the films–even Jaw’s shirt! Plus a genuine shooting script from the making of ‘Thunderball’.

    Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

    This summer, visitors to Beaulieu’s National Motor Museum can see the nation’s most famous flying car, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The car, star of one of the best loved family films of all time, is one of the museum’s most requested vehicles, from visitors of all ages.

    The book of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, written by James Bond author, Ian Fleming, was published in 1964, with the film following four years later. It tells the story of an eccentric professor called Caractacus Potts, played in the film by Dick Van Dyke, who invents a magical flying car. Chitty helps the professor and his two children, Jemima and Jeremy, alongside Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts, as they try to outwit the dastardly Baron and the evil Child Catcher.

    Visitors can also see another of the cars from the film, the 1909 Humber, which is one of the National Motor Museum’s permanent exhibits. The car which has a monocle windscreen and a wicker basket to hold a lady’s parasol, was driven in the film by Truly Scrumptious and, famously, ended up in a pond! Following this mishap, Truly Scrumptious, played in the film by Sally Ann Howes, befriends the professor as they rescue imprisoned children in the land of Vulgaria.

    The ‘James Bond Experience,’ which will run through 2008, is open daily 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from 26 May through 30 September and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM from 1 October through 25 May. For further information, visit the official website.

    Keep watching CBn for all the latest James Bond news and events.