<P> For the 1968 film, six cars were created, including a fully functional road - going car with UK registration GEN 11 . This car was designed by the film's production designer, Ken Adam, and cartoonist and sculptor Frederick Rowland Emett, built by Alan Mann Racing in Hertfordshire in 1967, fitted with a Ford 3000 V6 engine and automatic transmission and allocated a genuine UK registration . This car was privately owned by Pierre Picton of Stratford - upon - Avon from the early 1970s until May 2011 . Actor Dick van Dyke, who drove the car in the film, said that "the car was a little difficult to maneuver, with the turning radius of a battleship". Public appearances of the car in 2010 are listed on the GEN 11 official website, with a note that there will be no more as the car was sent to Los Angeles, USA, to be auctioned on 22 May 2011 . The auction price was expected to reach US $1--2m, but capped at $805,000 (£ 495,415) with the winning bidder New Zealand film director Sir Peter Jackson, who according to his spokesperson said he would use it as a charity fund - raising vehicle . It is registered in New Zealand as GEN 1I, as the registration GEN 11 had already been issued . </P> <P> Five other car props were built by the studio: a second, smaller road - going version; a transforming car; a hover - car; a flying car; and an engineless version for trailer work . Most had engines added after filming was complete and were used to promote the film throughout the world . </P> <P> The second road version, which only appears in 12 seconds of the movie, is on display at the Dezer Car Museum in North Miami, Florida . There were construction flaws on this vehicle which made its use impractical . Eon Productions made a less - detailed transforming version which they use to promote the stage musical but, as it does not have an MOT certificate (of roadworthiness), is not allowed on public roads . The final road version is privately owned by Anthony Bamford, and is on display at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, UK . The hover - car was a shell mounted on a speed boat, and was destroyed after filming . Only the original road - going version used the registration GEN 11 legitimately and it was owned by Pierre Picton of Stratford upon Avon . One of the cars used in the film was displayed at a Chicago restaurant for many years, then sold at auction in 2007 for $505,000 to a Florida resident . </P> <P> One car appeared in a humorous Public information film aimed at British motorists, intended to remind them to pay their Vehicle excise duty . Ironically, there was criticism as all cars built before 1 January 1973, including the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang model, are exempt from vehicle excise duty in the UK . The PIF was a parody of the MGM film . </P>

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