007,

We visit The Ford Centenary Tour at Elstree Studios with iconic film cars like James Bond’s Ford Mondeo & Thunderbirds' FAB1, Harry Potter’s flying Anglia

Tuesday, May 08, 2012 Craig Grobler 0 Comments

A while back we were fortunate enough to be invited along to the legendary Elstree Studios to celebrate a 100 years of Ford Motor’s in the UK with the opportunity to get up close 5 iconic Ford cars from film, exhibited as part of the part of The Ford Centenary Tour.

Not only was it a thrill being on Elstree Studios’s George Lucas Stage (home of Star Wars in the UK) but I got a one time only close up look at some of the most iconic cars from cinema including; James Bond’s Ford Mondeo from Casino Royale, Jack Regan’s Consul GT (Ford Granada) from The Sweeney, A replica of Dr Who's SIVA Edwardian - Bessie, a replica of the Ford Anglia used in Harry Potter and most impressive of all Lady Penelope's modified Ford Thunderbird Fab1 fromThunderbirds
.

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour at Elstree Studios on The George Lucas Stage
The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour at Elstree Studios on The George Lucas Stage




James Bond’s  Ford Mondeo seen in Casino Royale

In 2006’s Casino Royale we are re-introduced to James Bond played by Daniel Craig. James Bond is younger, leaner and hungrier he is also car - less. Later in the film he wins arguably the most famous car ever featured in a film - his trademark Silver Aston Martin DB5 from Dimitrios in a game of Texas Hold'em Poker at the The One & Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas.

But before Bond earns his wheels, and on his arrival in the Bahamas he his given a 2007 Ford Mondeo rental car. Which he drives to The One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island.

    Video: Casino Royale (2006) Ford Mondeo and James Bond               


This is the  first car we see the new James Bond drive and the first time the public got to see new Ford Mondeo body shape which was released a year after Casino Royale was released.

    Video: 2007 Ford Mondeo in Casino Royale Advert               


But as this is James Bond's Ford Mondeo - this particular model is a one-off prototype with a hand built sports body fabricated at Ford’s Design Studio in Cologne and featured special Tonic blue paintwork.

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - James Bond’s Ford Mondeo rental from Casino Royale 2007 at Elstree Studios

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - James Bond’s Ford Mondeo rental from Casino Royale 2007 at Elstree Studios

James Bond’s Ford Mondeo can be seen at the Bond in Motion Exhibition at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum: http://www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/bond-in-motion and James Bond will be back in Sam MendesSkyfall this October.




Detective Inspector Jack Regan’s Ford Granada seen in The Sweeney

The Sweeney is the definitive British cop show as well as one of the UK’s most popular TV shows and spawned 2 feature films. Starring Dennis Waterman as George Carter and John Thaw as the original British bad ass Detective Jack Regan.

    Video: THE SWEENEY OPENING TITLES               


This Strato Silver Mk2 Ford Granada 2.8iS was featured in 7 episodes of The Sweeney season 4 as well as Sweeney 2 film. But probably most well known as the Ford Granada in The Sweeney season 4‘s title sequence and brought both muscle and menace to the flying squad.

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - Mk2 Ford Granada 2.8iS from The Sweeney at Elstree Studios

A remake of The Sweeney starring Ray Winstone as Regan and Ben Drew as Carter along with Hayley Atwell and Damian Lewis is currently in production with a September release date.

    The Establishing Shot: THE SWEENEY TRAILER BEN DREW, RAY WINSTONE - 12 September           





Arthur Weasley's flying Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Possibly the most recognised car of this generation is Arthur Weasley's blue 1963 Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe as seen in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter films this one came complete with Hedwig.

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - Arthur Weasley's 1963 Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at Elstree Studios

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour at Elstree Studios

The turquoise 105E featured prominently in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets when Harry turnrd Arthur Weasley's car invisible and gave it the ability to fly.



    Video: Harry Potter Beach Boys Mashup - Fun Fun Fun                


Ron later crashes the Anglia into the Whomping Willow attempting, along with Harry, to reach Hogwarts on time after missing the Hogwarts Express. Harry sees the Anglia later on running wild in the Forbidden Forest.

The Ford Anglia is a British car designed and manufactured by Ford in the United Kingdom. It is related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular. The Ford Anglia name was applied to four models of car between 1939 and 1967.

Unfortunately the original Angliaa was stolen but there are many replicas around and you can get up and close, very close to one on The Warner Bros. Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter Tour - http://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/

The Establishing Shot: THE MAKING OF HARRY POTTER TOUR - OUTSIDE SETS DRIVE ARTHUR WEASLEY'S 1963 FORD ANGLIA 105E DELUXE




The Dr Who SIVA Edwardian replica Bessie

After the third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) was exiled to earth by the Time Lords, to get around he borrowed a canary yellow antique roadster. He liked it so much he got one for himself with the registration WHO 1 and it proved a crucial bit of kit for Dr Who.

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - Bessie Dr Who’s 1957 Ford Popular Siva at Elstree Studios at Elstree Studios

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - Bessie Dr Who’s 1957 Ford Popular Siva at Elstree Studios at Elstree Studios

The Doctor made a number of useful modifications to Bessie including: an anti-theft force field; a remote control and a minimum inertia hyperdrive.

    Video: Doctor Who - Pertwee era - a clip from The Silurians                







Lady Penelope's FAB1 as seen in the Thunderbirds movie

Easily the most spectacular car of the day was Lady Penelope's 6 wheeled FAB1. A show piece of Ford engineering FAB1 is a fully functional, completely road-legal heavily modified Ford Thunderbird.

The Establishing Shot: FORD CENTENARY TOUR - LADY PENELOPE'S SIX-WHEEL FORD FAB1 FROM THUNDERBIRDS 2004 AT ELSTREE STUDIOS

The Establishing Shot: FORD CENTENARY TOUR - LADY PENELOPE'S SIX-WHEEL FORD FAB1 FROM THUNDERBIRDS 2004 AT ELSTREE STUDIOS

The Establishing Shot: Ford Centenary Tour - Interior of Lady Penelope's six-wheel Ford FAB1 from Thunderbirds 2004 at Elstree Studios



    Video: Thunderbirds: Lady Penelope's Pink World                


Featured in the live-action film Thunderbirds the pink, six wheeled FAB1 had a number of useful modifications including:

The boot panels could open to expose the gas turbine engine before flight and wings would extend from the undercarriage. During flight, the rear set of wheels folds into the vehicle's body completely. This prevents them from creating unnecessary drag and so slowing the aircraft down.

Skis for going over heavy snow are also added to the vehicle. The bullet-proof, run-flat tires are fitted with studs in order to give extra traction.

The central passenger compartment of FAB1 doubles as an emergency life raft in the event of an emergency at sea. Buoyancy tanks hidden in the body panelling ensure that the compartment remains afloat after it has broken away from the rest of the vehicle.

Lady Penelope's FAB1 can now be seen at the Heritage Motor Centre - http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk



The Ford Centenary Tour went on to visit 20 locations across the UK in 31 days, including Ford plants and dealers, allowing Ford customers, employees and enthusiasts to engage with special and unique cars from Ford’s portfolio.

THE ESTABLISHING SHOT: WE VISIT THE FORD CENTENARY TOUR AT ELSTREE STUDIOS WITH ICONIC FILM CARS LIKE JAMES BOND’S FORD MONDEO & THUNDERBIRDS' FAB1, HARRY POTTER’S FLYING ANGLIA

0 comments: