Those wanting a drive down nostalgic childhood lanes can now bid against each other to own Toad in the Hall's vehicle used in the filming of Wind in the Willows.
The custom-built car for Terry Jones' celebrated film adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's children's tale is up for auction and is expected to fetch up to £23,000.
Built in 1995 for the Hollywood film, the Edwardian-style open-top tourer was driven around by exuberant owner Mr. Toad, as a symbol of the spirit of early motoring.
Designed to evoke the elegance and bravado of pre-First World War motoring, the car's bespoke Roi-de-Belges-style body, crafted over a steel frame and inspired by a 1910 Hotchkiss 20/30 achieves a strikingly authentic period appearance - just as it did on the set of the Shepperton Studios production.
The model, called Wind in the Willows, has been on display at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, but is now being sold after undergoing extensive restoration by the engineers of the National Motor Museum.
But, while it serves as a remarkable piece of film memorabilia and is fully operational, the car is not registered, nor is the registration shown.
Mr. Toad's custom-built car for Terry Jones' celebrated film adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's children's book Wind in the Willows is up for auction and is expected to fetch up to £23,000
Rediscovered in 2020 by a film vehicle specialist and repatriated to the UK, Mr. Toad's motor has a shortened Land Rover chassis with leaf-spring suspension and a four-cylinder engine, hidden beneath theatrical coachwork.
While looking convincingly vintage for the film shoot, the clever engineering proved durable and reliable for the duration of filming and then saw it through a colourful and varied post-production life: It was employed in promotional appearances, during which its wings were intentionally damaged to simulate one of Mr. Toad's infamous crashes.
It was also displayed suspended from the ceiling of a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Florida before being relegated to long-term storage in a shipping container.
After being rediscovered, it underwent extensive work including recommissioning the Land Rover engine, rectifying severe oil leaks, rebuilding the braking system, fitting new tyres, and returning the car to full working order.
The car's bespoke Roi-de-Belges-style body, crafted over a steel frame and inspired by a 1910 Hotchkiss 20/30 achieves a strikingly authentic period appearance
Rediscovered in 2020 by a film vehicle specialist and repatriated to the UK, Mr. Toad's motor has a shortened Land Rover chassis
It will be part of the Farnborough International line-up on May 16th. The Edwardian-style open-top tourer symbolises early motoring enthusiasm
Now it stands as a remarkable piece of motoring memorabilia for an enthusiastic and well-read driver who wants to recall the 1905 story of Mole, Ratty and Badger as they try to help Mr Toad after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and gets into trouble.
Mr Toad was one of the first to have 'motor mania' - and his driving of his car immortalised the motorcar as a thrilling, if somewhat perilous, symbol of modernity.
Estimated to sell for £19,000 to £23,000, the open-top historically significant vehicle offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire a unique intersection of cinematic history and Edwardian motoring fantasy.
It will be part of the Farnborough International line-up on May 16th.
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