Cars from the movies & TV at the British Motor Museum

Did you know that the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire is home to a DeLorean from Back to the Future Part II (1989), the FAB 1 from the Thunderbirds movie (2004), even a City Cab from Judge Dredd (1995). Plus a few motors from Only Fools and Horses. Even Jaguar's from Fast & Furious 9, Die Another Day and an Austin Powers inspired Jag!

From the visit to the Brisith Motor Museum on Sunday 5th May 2024.

 

ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES (1981 - 1991, specials from 1996 - 2003)

1972 Reliant Regal Supervan 3

As driven by Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (David Jason) in the earlier series and episodes of Only Fools and Horses, with his brother Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst). It was used in the series from 1981. Under the Peckham Yellow paint, it appeared in Rowan Atkinson's Mr Bean in blue paint, before a new owner restored it to the Trotter's livery. It was then lent to the BBC to star in the 1996 Only Fools and Horses Christmas Special.

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1980 Ford Capri Ghia Mk III

As driven by Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter (David Jason) in later episodes of Only Fools and Horses, with his brother Rodney Trotter (Nicholas Lyndhurst). Derek initially used the tatty yellow three-wheeled Reliant Regal Supervan, but in some later episodes he traded it for a rather lurid liem green Ford Capri, his brother Rodney called it the "Pratmobile". This is the Mark III used in later programmes, but they used the Mark II is some earlier episodes.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE TRILOGY (1985 - 1990)

1981 DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future Part II (1989)

This DeLorean time machine has the OUTATIME licence plate at the rear, plus the barcode licence plate from the movie. It probably came from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, and probably relocated to the British Motor Museum after Back to the Future the Ride closed down. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) first showed up with the hover converted DeLorean at the end of Back to the Future (1985) to take Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) and Jennifer Parker (Claudia Wells, Part I and Elisabeth Shue, Part II and Part III) to 2015. As later seen in Back to the Future Part II (1989).

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The Reliant Regal from Only Fools and Horses seen from above with the DeLorean from Back to the Future Part II. City Cab from Judge Dredd in front.

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The Reliant Regal and DeLorean seen from ground level.

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JUDGE DREDD (1995)

1995 Land Rover City Cab

A special Land Rover designed for the 1995 Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone as Judge Dredd. Based on the British science fiction comic anthology, 2000AD. Set in the third millennium. Hidden underneath the fibre-glass body was the chassis of a 1970's Land Rover 101 inch military vehicle.

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Seen from above with the Judge Dredd Land Rover City Cab was a Concept Land Rover. To me it looked like a Land Rover Defender as used in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) that starred Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, but perhaps not. Was also an 'ancient' looking stone tablet with it.

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THUNDERBIRDS (2004)

2004 FAB 1 Thunderbirds movie Limousine

The Ford Thunderbird FAB 1 was from the live action adaption of Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds, as directed by Star Trek's Jonathan Frakes. The car driven by Parker (Ron Cook) to chauffeur Lady Penelope (Sophia Myles) in the back. Created by Ford of Europe's design team. It also flew in the movie.

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JAMES BOND 007 (1962 - 2021)

1998 Jaguar XKR 'James Bond' car from Die Another Day (2002)

This was the villain's car used in the film Die Another Day, the fourth and final movie to star Pierce Brosnan as James Bond (the 20th movie out of 25 official movies made to date). It was the car of Zao played by Rick Yune. It was equipped with a Gatling gun mounted centrally behind the seats with further armaments including missiles that fired through the front grille, rocket launchers in the doors and mortar bombs in the boot. Was filmed on location in Iceland in early 2002. The yellow BAD 1 licence plate was at the front, while the white one on the passenger seat. And also had Icelandic number plates.

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AUSTIN POWERS TRILOGY (1997 - 2002)

2001 Jaguar XK8 - Union Jack Livery. Replica of Austin Powers car from Goldmember (2002)

This car was used by Jaguar as a press car, originally in blue. Later re-painted in the Union Jack colour scheme of the car used in the Austin Powers film "Goldmember", before being handed over to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. The first Austin Powers film was the International Man of Mystery in 1997, was a comedy spoof of classic spy thrillers. The second film the Spy Who Shagged Me in 1999 used a Jaguar E-type, while the third film Goldmember in 2002 used a Jaguar XK8 convertible.

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SHAUN THE SHEEP (2007 - 2016, 2020 TO PRESENT)

2007 Land Rover Shaun the Sheep

Shaun the Sheep first appeared in the Wallace & Gromit short film A Close Shave in 1995. He later got his own TV series from Aardman Animations from 2007 onwards. The Farmer in the series drove a battered old Land Rover. This is a full size version, based on a 60 year old Land Rover Series I, to recreate the unique look of the Farmer's car.

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THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS SAGA (2001 TO PRESENT)

2017 Jaguar XE Project 8 from F9: The Fast Saga
A Development Version of the collector's edition 2019 Model Year Jaguar XE SV Project 8. It was built in September 2017. It was tested in April 2018 at the Goodwood Racing circuit. It was later selected to be used in the ninth instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise, F9: The Fast Saga (2021). It was later offered to be preserved by Jaguar Land Rover to the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, and was later added to the collection in 2021.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

The Gaydon Land Rover Show at the British Motor Museum

The Gaydon Land Rover Show was held in the grounds of the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire over the Early May Bank Holiday Weekend, Saturday the 4th and Sunday the 5th May 2024. Various Range Rover's, Land Rover Series, Land Rover Defender's and Land Rover Discovery's on display by their owners. Also classic music sung by My Favourite Things.

It was the Early May Bank Holiday Weekend of 2024, on Saturday 4th May 2024 and Sunday May 2024, that the Gaydon Land Rover Show was held in a car park outside of the British Motor Museum. This visit was on the Sunday.

After showing our e-tickets (bought in advance for general admission and the show itself), the first cars nearby was a collection of Range Rover's.

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There was also a club of Land Rover Series I.

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A variety of special Land Rover's.

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Land Rover 101 Forward Control

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Range Rover Ambulance

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Then you had a variety of modern Range Rovers, followed by Land Rover Series or Land Rover Defender's.

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More Land Rover Series and Land Rover Defender's from various decades.

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Some armoured military Land Rover Defender's.

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The Solihull Land Rover Trust with flags, such as the Black Country flag, Union Jack, Lest We Forget and an emoji.

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A purple Range Rover sandwiched between Land Rover Series cars.

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One Ton Land Rover Register

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Entertainment from My Favourite Things. The ladies are the UK No. 1 Vintage act. The all singing, all dancing trio. Singing classic hits from the 1920's to the 1950's.

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Views of the show from the Jaguar Heritage Trust and Collection Centre.

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Not Land Rover's here but a pair of Willys MB.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Some of the pavement sculpture circles at the original Midland Metro tram stops

These pavement sculpture circles can be found at the tram stops between Wolverhampton St George's and Birmingham Snow Hill (but not on the newly opened extension tram stops). Here is some examples I've found so far.

St Paul's Tram Stop

This resembles jewellery, one of two tram stops in the Jewellery Quarter.

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The Hawthorns Tram Stop

This resembles The Baggies aka West Bromwich Albion FC, who play nearby at The Hawthorns Stadium.

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West Bromwich Central Tram Stop

This one resembles three springs.

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Lodge Road West Bromwich Town Hall Tram Stop

This looks like lots of feet together in a wheel.

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Dartmouth Street Tram Stop

This one resembles the Dartmouth Street Bridge in West Bromwich with the tram line going through it.

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Dudley Street Guns Village Tram Stop

This resembles cannons and cannonballs in a circle.

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Bilston Central Tram Stop

This one resembles the sun at the centre.

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The Crescent Tram Stop

This one resembles the moon as a crescent forms during the month.

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The Royal Tram Stop

This one resembles a butterfly.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Trains at Walsall Station over the years

Walsall Station has three platforms. The Walsall to Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street was the first one to be electrified. The line to Rugeley Trent Valley saw electrification completed by 2019. So had diesel trains before then. London Midland until 2017, then West Midlands Railway (with London Northwestern Railway trains) since then.

Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley line

In the years before Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley was electrified, London Midland used the Class 170 DMU's from Birmingham New Street. Mostly going via Perry Barr or sometimes via Soho and Handsworth. Trains from Birmingham stopped at platform 1, while trains from Rugeley arrived at platform 2.

London Midland 170517 seen in 2014 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Midland 170508 seen in 2014 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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The line was electrified between 2017 and 2019, and by the time it opened, the line was run by new franchise operator West Midlands Railway. These Class 350 EMU's would also be used by London Northwestern Railway on the lines between Birmingham New Street and London Euston or to Liverpool Lime Street. Under West Midlands Railway the trains from Rugeley Trent Valley would go beyond Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International.

London Northwestern Railway 350 266 seen in 2021 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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London Northwestern Railway 350 259 seen in 2023 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350 240 seen in 2023 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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London Northwestern Railway 350409 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350122 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 1.

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London Northwestern Railway 350409 seen in 2024 at Walsall Station platform 2.

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Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street to Walsall line

Trains on this line always usually go via Aston, Witton and Perry Barr, and terminate at platform 3. Until 2019, it was the only platform to be electrified. Under London Midland, they used the Class 323 EMU's on the line to and from Wolverhampton via Birmingham New Street.

 London Midland 323202 seen in 2016 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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London Midland 323201 seen in 2016 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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After West Midlands Railway took over in late 2017, they replaced the Class 323's on the line with the Class 350 EMU's.

London Northwestern Railway 350 106 seen in 2018 at Walsall Station platform 3.

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From 2024 West Midlands Railway have started to introduce the new Class 730's on the line, but on my last visit to Walsall on a Sunday, they weren't running, so ended up going on the Class 350's instead (on the Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley line). Although did travel to Smethwick Galton Bridge earlier, and caught a Class 350 to Birmingham New Street, and switched lines.

London Northwestern Railway 350 238 seen in 2024 at Smethwick Galton Bridge Station (low level) platform 4.

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Soho EMU Depot

The only place to see the Class 730's not in service in the West Midlands is at the Soho EMU depot near the Soho Loop. You can also see them from the train. Some have come into service on the Wolverhampton to Walsall via Birmingham New Street line (but I'm not sure on what days). And they are due to enter service on the Cross City Line from April 2024.

West Midlands Railway 730 006 seen at Soho EMU Depot during 2023.

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Train view of West Midlands Class 730's during 2023 from the train.

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West Midlands Railway Class 323's and Class 730's seen at Soho EMU Depot from the train in 2024.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

A look around the new look University Station

The new University Station buildings were opened on Sunday 28th January 2024, and I went to have a look around two weeks later on Sunday 11th February 2024. I got a train one way up from Longbridge, then checked out the buildings inside, the went over the bridge to the campus, and walked around to Vincent Drive and Pritchatts Road. It looks good and fresh. The old building is exit only.

University Station, the new buildings at the West Gate of the University of Birmingham and at Vincent Drive was fully opened on Sunday 28th January 2024. With the ASLEF train driver strikes the following weekend (3rd and 4th February 2024), thought it was best to wait until the next weekend (10th and 11th February 2024) to come back and check out the buildings.

 

I got the 12:43 train from Longbridge to University, and to my suprise it was West Midlands Railway 323221 in the classic Regional Railways livery. I got to University shortly before 1pm on Sunday 11th February 2024.

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The waiting room on platform 1, there is also a new waiting room on platform 2. Probably useful for passengers going with Cross Country on the line between Cardiff Central and Nottingham via Birmingham New Street (if not the Cross City Line, as trains are frequent during the week).

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A look at the main concourse from platform level, toilets are to the right. Soon there will be an NHS facility to the left.

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Tickets and information near the stairs, way out to the Medical School.

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Up the steps from platform 1 concourse, there is seats to sit on near the lift.

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View out of the window on the new bridge above the tracks, platform 1 on the right, platform 2 on the left. Towards the 1978 building, now exit only.

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Steps down to the platform 2 concourse. Also a lift.

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Exiting the station over the new footbridge to the University of Birmingham campus, with a view to Old Joe, it crosses the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

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There is also an entrance to University Station from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal towpath. I used to have to leave the canal via the steps to Westgate to get to the 1978 entrance.

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To the right is a ramp for disabled passengers (wheelchairs etc) to use, or 45 steps down to the University campus.

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Looking back at University Station from the new footbridge.

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There is some unfinished areas near the footbridge, including in this view towards the canal and new station building.

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This grassed area is currently all fenced off, awaiting completion, other than that the steps, ramp and bridge above are open.

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Following the Westgate path towards the 1978 building, as we see the 2024 building alongside the canal. This was part of the site of Metchley Roman Fort.

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Now heading to the new University Station building from the new path from Westgate.

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It is well landscaped with lampposts and a grass lawn.

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The station building is close to Vincent Drive. Bollards should prevent vehicles going beyond and parking where they shouldn't do.

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One of the many new University Station signs at the station.

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The University Station sign from Vincent Drive.

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One last look at the station from the bridges on Pritchatts Road, heading to the North Gate of the University of Birmingham, as West Midlands Railway 323218 arrived at platform 2.

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We hope you enjoyed our tour of the new University Station. Experience it yourself by buying your tickets at West Midlands Railway. We recommend using their app, which has a QR code ticket (once tickets purchased). But you can still buy tickets at the station of your choice (ticket machines or ticket office) such as Birmingham New Street. There is ticket gates at the station, on the platform level. Trains on the Cross City Line go between Redditch or Bromsgrove to Lichfield Trent Valley.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown