Mr Toad Rides Again, Or At Least His Car From The Wind In The Willows Film Does

The film car belonging to Mr Toad from The Wind in the Willows rides again at the National Museum Beaulieu after restoration - Mr Toad's car at Beaulieu

If you’re a fan of The Wind in the Willows, you might be pleased to see that Mr Toad’s car will ride again at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu this summer following the restoration at the Museum workshop.

The star of the film was obviously the replica Edwardian car that was used for all the driving scenes in what was to become Mr Toad’s Wild Ride. the National motor Museum have spent a great deal of time bringing the car back to life and will be driving the car around the grounds.

Although the car may look as if it dates from the early days of motoring it was in fact built in 1995 at Shepperton studios especially for the film. The film directed by Terry Jones, who also played Mr Toad, contained many other famous stars including former members from Monty Python.

Mr Toad's car at Beaulieu

What might surprise people is that underneath the handmade and bespoke Roi-de-Belges style bodywork, which is built with a steel frame in the shape of a 1910 Hotchkiss 20/30, is a short-wheelbase Land Rover chassis and running gear.

it’s obvious when you think about it as the Land Rover underpinnings are a sensible choice for the hard work needed being a film prop.

After the filming was complete the car went on tour to promote the film. It is thought then that the wings were damaged to stage a crash by Mr toad, who was somewhat reckless. the car then spent many years hanging from the ceiling in a Plante Hollywood restaurant in Florida before being put into a shipping container. The trouble was that it got so hot in there that many of the rubber components melted leaving the car immobile and with the tyres coming off the custom made wheels.

The car was rediscovered in 2020 by film experts Gordon Grant who had it shipped back to the UK.

Mr Toad's car as found

The restoration work took place at the National Motor Museum in the workshop. Getting the Land Rover four cylinder engine running again, fixing several oil leaks, rebuilding the brakes, fitting new tyres and getting the car cleaned up and back to running order.

Now the car is running around the grounds Beaulieu as a moving attraction.

You can see the car and the National Motor Museum, Little Beaulieu, On Screen Cars, the ancestral Montagu home Palace House, Secret Army exhibition and the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

 

Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk to find out more

Thanks to Beaulieu for the images,

Simon

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