Watch: A restored - and real Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film car - now calls Jacksonville home

Ralph Tyler Spencer says he's always loved the winged car driven by actor Dick Van Dyke in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film. He tracked one of the film's cars down in 2007, and has restored it. Now the car, plus a replica Batmobile, go on public display at his new Mulch Manufacturing business on North Lane Avenue.

[@silvertbird1]

Chitty is a Ford at heart. I’ve seen a few other replicas, but this original car looks much larger. Just beautiful.

[@OneFlyingLap]

It was the Ford motorsport team that actually built the pure driving car ‘chitty’ for the film

[@tomprovenza7857]

Need to get this on a Jay Leno’s garage episode. This was such a huge part of my childhood.

[@scotthamp384]

Jay saw the main car from the movie when Dick van Dyke went to be on Jay's show, and he was very impressed with it

[@darthstarkiller1912]

*I VANT IT I VANT IT I VANT IT I VANT IT!* Seriously, I have GOT to see that car!

[@drewski1535]

😅😅😅😅

[@drewo.127]

ARE YOU GIVING ME AN ARGUMENT!?!?

[@coffeehubby]

I had assumed the engine was steam because of the sounds, instead it was a V-6. It is a beautiful car and I'm glad you restored it.

[@aspecsof1]

This is marvellous to see. Having spent many happy hours riding in and polishing the original hero road going Chitty whilst she lived in England with Pierre Picton, I'm thrilled to see this Chitty - so memorably beautiful in the scene on the steps of the Baron's castle - restored so brilliantly and gleaming!

[@aspecsof1]

@Alan-NoCo I’m very well aware of that and who owns Pierre’s Chitty. In fact Pierre owned two film cars at one point. My comment did not suggest this was one of them.

[@MikeDyer6378]

One of the most beautiful movie cars ever!

[@camsmith4559]

The 1968 film is one of my all time favorites. Looks like she has been well-preserved and nicely restored. Thank you for posting!

[@scotthamp384]

It is my all-time favorite movie

[@myleftthumb2294]

I get all teary-eyed just looking at that. I was five years old when I saw it in the theater. Then, two years later we had the great go-cart race of 1970. My entry, the Mach 5, basically just a pointy piece of plywood, suffered break problems and was defeated by the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang handsomely constructed by the architect father of my buddy. Ah, the memories.

[@roberthudson6284]

I've been 8 years old for the last 45 years. I VANT ZAT CAR!

[@JC-qx5hd]

What a thrill! It's just B E A U T I F U L Thank You for taking such good care of my childhood dream!

[@salvatoreluppino6271]

OMG I live in Jacksonville! How did I not know this happened?!?! I need to see this car!

[@davestover1584]

Looks so good better then when she was new what an amazing job

[@thejonofalltrades]

I got to see this in person and ride in it last week, it’s really insane to look at honestly. I got to see it because my dad is working with that company but I don’t think the owner actually understands how much demand there is to see this thing

[@johnnyralf3453]

I had the pleasure of driving it back in the 70's It was owned then by the British Car Auction group. I worked for a subsidiary company of theirs and i was asked to transport it to a country fair and give children rides for the day. The car then was in pretty bad shape but ran. Good fun.

[@darthvalor07]

I WANT THAT CAR!!

[@scotthamp384]

If you'd like your own Chitty car, there's a gentleman in California named Jay Ohrburg who can make you a drivable replica of the car. Now, nine years ago, the car would have cost $30,000, but I don't know what it would be now. Maybe 35 or 40

[@TheButchBerryCompany]

What an amazing work of art and piece of history. I'm glad someone had the means to buy and restore it.

[@dfwjac]

Who knew Mulch was so profitable?

[@brucelucas1756]

What a gorgeous restoration job. 😮

[@drewo.127]

This…this is the Chitty I would love to own or at least ride in! I did ride/“fly” in a smaller stage prop of the car that one of my local schools rented for their production of the musical, (they allowed guests to take turns in the car after the production finished.) and it is still a core memory, right alongside going to see the original stage musical during their visit to NYC! However…if I ever get the chance to ride in this fantasmagorical machine, you bet you bottom dollar I will do it!!!

[@Fireblade918]

Fantastic to see,what a brilliant job you've done,one of the original cars came pass my school in Lowestoft Suffolk England one morning in the early 1970s will never forget it,i'm 55 now and remember it like it was yesterday

[@steelyman08]

"Our fine, four fendered friend!" Just brilliant! Made my day to see this (-:

[@mauiart1]

Love that car and the Batmobile too! Good show Ralph!

[@ScorpioDreamer1984]

The ONLY famous car from my childhood I would want more than 60s Batmobile or Doc Brown's DeLorean. 🎶Chitty Chitty Bang Bang we love you!🎶

[@dfwjac]

What's really weird is the guy filming who says "Oh You pretty chitty bang bang" sounds exactly like me, down to inflection. I WISH I'd been there...

[@stevewright8143]

Chitty the most beautiful car ever built.it my dream car. Wish it was my car my favorite movie

[@djs2356]

..you're sleek as a thoroughbred, your seats are a feather-bed, you'll turn everybody's head today..... (sherman & sherman)

[@Gina-bk5do]

I need my childhood car😭😭😭😭😭chitty chitty bang bang

[@alvinwoods639]

A very beautiful car..

[@colinhurry9798]

Wonderful, Superb!

[@HalfEatenMedia]

That is definitely the show stealer. Arguably the most collectible since the movie title “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang” is the car itself unlike many other cars except “the Love Bug” It’s worth every penny they put into it cause I’m sure it brings a lot of smiles.

[@kermitefrog64]

Watching the movie 8/5/20 Beautiful car.

[@ToddCarpenterToddPCWV]

I hear "chitty, chitty" from the engine, but no "Bang! Bang". :(

[@thattannielilpawtouchedbyt771]

Hear clearly at 2:22

[@austinjohnson5040]

I WANT THE CAR, I WANT THE CAR ME: "Gets car". - "This thing doesn't fly"

[@timothycole5266]

My life will be complete if I could ever own a full sized, drive-able Chitty replica. But, I'd settle for being able to drive it for a day!

[@redstonecommander5190]

I watch this ever since I was born in 2002 and I was even impressed

[@brianlumadue5405]

I don't live far from Jacksonville so on a whim I called this gentleman's company to see if he still shows the car. He apparently doesn't own that mulch business or isn't involved any longer. I was told he still has the car but couldn't get any information on whether it will be shown in public. Perhaps he will get a Facebook or social media page going and still let fans like us appreciate it.

[@redstonecommander5190]

I swear once this video ends I’ll would literally………… Cry

[@scotthamp384]

Was this the car that was used in the scene when the Potts family and Truly left Vulgaria?

[@redstonecommander5190]

This is literally a true oracle a living legend

[@redstonecommander5190]

And by that I mean a legend that people will never forget for the rest of their lives

[@stanleybest8833]

I also have a wrecked race car rebuilt as a family car. The trick to a smooth engine is a "granny" true fundamental profile four cycle camshaft. I've made them for two cars already. They climb hills, hold the speed you feed, and you can balance a nickel on them at idle. Many motor designs are idiotic because fundamental four stroke motors are what most people want in a powerplant.

[@notajpgunstriker]

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE... TOTALLY INSANE CAR! (STUNNING)

[@frankrizzo3922]

I love the Chitty Chitty movie car ❤ However - I keep reading it's powered by a Ford V6 engine well, back in Probably 1967' when the car was on the drawing board - V6 engines may not have even existed 😳... mostly all 6 cylinder engines from Ford or any other manufacturer were Inline 6s.... like the 170 or 200 cubic in engines that were popular in the Mustangs/Falcons back then were all inline 6 cylinder engines 🤔... So, my guess is the guys writing the articles on the Chitty movie car do not really understand the differences in those engines... Pistons arranged in a straight line instead of a V shaped engine block.. like a V8 has pistons arranged 4 on each side of the block.... when Inline you'll notice spark plugs are all in one row...thus Inline engine... Its No biggie really but thought I'd put this out there ....... I know the sounds chitty makes doesn't even sound recognizable to me at all.. So I don't know whats under that hood.. Fabulous Car all the same! ❤ 😊

[@TKTailsVR]

I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT!!!!!

[@sebastianfloyd372]

I love that car

[@lincbond442]

Lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@danbookleiner1565]

where is the rest of 5 other chitty chitty bang car? i know there are actually 6 chitty bang cars out there.

[@nknighton70]

2:01 Restored by Santa Claus.

[@thattannielilpawtouchedbyt771]

Hahahhaha

[@scotthamp384]

He's lucky. He doesn't have a replica. He has an original

[@davestover1584]

Wow just wow

[@leemerson76]

How can I see this car?

[@michaeljordan6008]

Would it start to fall apart at anything over 40mph?

[@ovidiosantiago4123]

How can I contact you about the car?

[@hawks6726]

keep it away from the baron

[@Robolocks]

does it make the chitty chitty bang bang sounds?

[@Janet71990]

What engine is

[@redstonecommander5190]

This is literally everything you’ve done Based on what you see this is not a grade this is real

[@officialstevenma]

1:45 anyone know what those sticks next to the steering wheel do?

[@vintagesimplexfirealarmsof6440]

does it really fly

[@guycore5478]

Why didn't we get to see the wings deploy? That's the money shot.

[@davestover1584]

Who owns this chitty love to have a chat with them

[@voornaam3191]

That is rotors, not propellers. Amazing, how people ALWAYS get something wrong.

[@mycarolinaskies]

I think of all the hero cars ever built Chitty Chitty Gen 11 is the most iconic because young or old the car has an appeal unlike any other. It's open touring design means you're part of where-ever you drive it unlike most hero cars. The styling and combination of metals and wood make it artwork. Most hero cars don't come close to the ingenuity either or tend to look dated. Of the most famous hero cars, namely the Batmobile, Bond's Astin Martin, Delorean BTF, and Munster mobile, they place distant to Chitty by a fair margin.

[@Nickthejoker2003]

Having been very fortunate enough to have seen the "original" screen used Aston Martin, the #1 Batmobile, the Hero Deloren, and taken a ride in the Munster Koach, you haven't lived till you hear and feel the power of the Munster Koach. A beautiful and whimsical beast. Chitty is beautiful, but I'm a hot rod guy, and the Koach is in a class by itself.

[@davestover1584]

Good jo its amazing shame it's over in the usa

[@nicolemarinelli3369]

Is this car still in Jacksonville?

[@keouine]

Forget Disney World, I'm going to visit Mulch manufacturing in JaxFla. Does one manufacture mulch?

[@yahya2925]

He parks it on mulch... mulch.

[@davestover1584]

Where is this car now

[@scotthamp384]

Fantasmagorical

[@randallpether3547]

If you ever want to sell it, please contact me leave a message.

[@MrCarringtonshire]

wow

[@steamandsmoke97]

Would be awesome if they yanked the Ford engine out of her, and put a legit period correct T or L head Straight-Six in. I know finding a Maybach MBIVa is not practical, but something like a LaFrance or if possible, a Rolls engine who's original chassis is long gone (would never seperate an original Rolls just for the engine!).

[@stanleybest8833]

Wrong. Many motors can be de-hotrodded. Mostly it's the cam.

[@steamandsmoke97]

@stanleybest8833 The hell are you on about? I'm not talking about Hot Rodding or De-Hotrodding anything. Why would anyone put a performance cam in this? I'm talking about fitting a Period Correct Engine to this Chassis that would be more in keeping with the vintage that this Car is trying to portray which would be the Brass Era. So when you open the Bonnet, it's authentic to the period. A Ford 3.0 litre Essex V-6 is the pretty dang far from the Brass Era. So you're the one who's wrong, my dude.

[@stanleybest8833]

@@steamandsmoke97 Yep. Wrong if you misunderstand my post. Look around you, and notice your audience before you get steamed up more about a 1968 car and a kid movie.

[@steamandsmoke97]

@stanleybest8833 Whatever... 🙄🥴🤣

[@MrCarringtonshire]

where is it

[@scotthamp384]

Jacksonville

[@marvinthemaniac7698]

It's uncategorical.

[@davestover1584]

Where is it now

[@scotthamp384]

It was sold at auction in 2011 for $805,000. And I found out on the comments of a video of the main car that appeared at a wedding with the original owner, who also drove the number 3 in the movie (no joke), and the original owner passed away just a few years ago

[@davestover1584]

@@scotthamp384 jet he passed away I thought this one was a replica sir peater Jackson Owen's the original one

[@scotthamp384]

Dave Stover Oh. My apologies. I was talking about the main car

[@mikeellard3361]

Ralph do the wing props go up automatic ,or by hand. I'v built My own Chitty ,and spent 6 month working out how to do it .with a turn of a key. Look me up on Chitty Bang Bang Berry and message me Face book. Your car look great. Regards Mike Ellard Berry N S W.

[@adstaton8461]

8 down votes from 8 child catchers!

[@ltgaming8022]

That cars an English car I how much does it cost I might by it

[@drewski1535]

Ggrrrrr I vant that Kah I vant it i vant it vhere are my two spies?

[@asymmetry9988]

It doesn't fly so it is NOT real.

[@guppyspop]

That's a HORRIBLE Batmobile replica

[@ianexcalibur7096]

What the he'll is this car doing in America? Its British heritage and should be in Britain.....