See Wallace and Gromit van at Beaulieu

Wallace and Gromit

The Wallace and Gromit Anti-Pesto Van is the latest vehicle to drive into Beaulieu’s On Screen Cars display.

A plasticine version of the Austin A35 van was created for the film Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Nick Park, creator of the Wallace and Gromit animations used to own an A35 and thought it was the ideal model to use in the film because “the van needed to be big enough to transport Wallace’s invention, the Bunvac 2000, while slick enough to go on high-speed chases”.

The Anti-Pesto Van, loaned to Beaulieu in the New Forest, joins a host of other star vehicles. The ‘flying’ Ford Anglia on display was used during the making of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the film, the enchanted flying car is stolen a number of times by Ron Weasley, on one occasion to rescue his friend Harry Potter from the Dursleys’ house, and on another to return to Hogwarts after the gate to Platform 9¾ is sealed by house elf Dobby.

Sharing the spotlight with the Anglia is TV favourite, Mr Bean’s lime green mini – used in the character’s third series – making its first TV appearance on January 1, 1991.

Another favourite on display is Del Boy’s beloved three-wheel Trotter Van, featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the sole transport for the Trotter family of Del, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert, until Del Boy later went ‘upmarket’ and purchased a Capri Ghia.

On Screen Cars can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which also includes the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens.

Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk