Richard 'Jaws' Keil and Honor Blachman visit Bond In Motion at Beaulieu

Bond In Motion at Beaulieu until 5th January 2014

Honor Blackman in Goldfinger

Pussy Galore and her flying circus

Richard Kiel in The Spy Who Loved Me

Saturday 30th November & Sunday 1st December

On Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December, Richard Kiel and Honor Blackman will be visiting the BOND IN MOTION exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu between 10.30am and 4.00pm.
Richard Kiel played the formidable Bond villain Jaws, recognisable for his razor sharp steel teeth in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977) and MOONRAKER (1979).  Honor Blackman played Pussy Galore in GOLDFINGER (1964).

Visitors will be able to purchase Richard’s autobiography, Making It Big in the Movies. Both Richard and Honor will sign purchases and be available for photographs.

This opportunity is included in your general admission to Beaulieu, an all inclusive ticket covering the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Palace House and gardens and Beaulieu Abbey. For information call 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

BOND IN MOTION
On display until the 5th January 2014, BOND IN MOTION is the world’s largest official collection of original James Bond vehicles. Celebrating over 50 years of the franchise, the exhibition features 50 vehicles from the films.

To arrange an interview with Richard Kiel or Honor Blackman, please contact Jane Riddiford on 01329 822866, email jane.riddiford@polymedia.co.uk

Super Showdown Bank Holiday Monday 26th August at Beaulieu

Pagani Zonda S

Supercar Showdown

A Dodge Viper gets a smoking start

Lamborghini Murcielago

The summer is hotting up, and so is Beaulieu’s events season, with just over a month to go until the massively popular Supercar Showdown roars into action on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August. The show will see over one hundred high-performance supercars displayed in the stunning parkland surrounding the National Motor Museum, and revving into action throughout the day.

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting aspects of the event will be watching the participating supercars being put through their paces on the Demonstration Run, twice during the day at 12pm and 3pm, to wow the crowds. The length of the Run has been newly extended for this year, giving visitors an even better view as the supercars thunder through the parkland.

There will be lots of stunning cars to look out for at this year’s event, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Audis, Porsches, Fords and Mercedes, plus a rare opportunity to see a Pagani Huayra which is booked to attend – reportedly the only one of its kind for personal use in Europe.*

A large number of car clubs have already confirmed attendance, with members of Porsche Club GB, Wessex Car Club and the GT40 Enthusiasts Club bringing along their own vehicles for the day.

Local dealerships including Westover Nissan, Porsche Bournemouth, Meridien Motors, Bentley Hampshire and Morgan UK will also be out in force at the event, showing a selection of their most powerful and up-to-date models – you might even see some of them roaring to life on the Demonstration Run!

Blackball Media will be supporting the event, displaying on its stand some of the cars used in Car Dealer magazine’s latest supercar feature. The team will be on hand to chat to visitors and hand out copies of a variety of their publications.

Supercar Showdown is always a busy, colourful event, providing the perfect opportunity for enthusiastic photographers to take some fantastic motoring shots. Beaulieu invites you to grab your camera, get snapping at the event and enter your best photograph into the Supercar Showdown Photography Competition for the chance to win a family ticket to the Beaulieu Fireworks Spectacular on 26th October 2013. For more information on the prize and how to enter, please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk/photo-competition

In the People’s Choice Awards, visitors will be able to vote for their favourite supercar by filling in a voting form, available at the Entrance Hall on the day. The top seven supercars will take part in a cavalcade through the grounds to Palace House for the afternoon presentation ceremony. Event presenter, Kevin Harris, will be announcing the winner, who will receive a Beaulieu Trophy, with all the runners-up receiving a gift kindly provided by Autoglym, the car care specialists, who will also have their own stand at the event.

If this sounds like your kind of show, move quickly to take advantage of our extra special Early Bird Discount. If you order tickets before the end of Sunday 11th August 2013, you can purchase discounted Supercar Showdown Visitor tickets at Adult £14, Child £9 and Family £40. If booking after the 11th August, visitors to Supercar Showdown must purchase normal Beaulieu attraction tickets. Tickets are available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone no. 01590 612888.

Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Don’t miss one of the last opportunities to see BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. It displays some of the most iconic and best-loved vehicles from the films and is due to close at the end of 2013.

Opening times are from 10am – make sure you get there early enough to find yourself a good viewing spot for the Demonstration Run!

Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #supercarshowdown

*Vehicles are subject to change

We are always on the lookout for new supercars to take part in Supercar Showdown, so if you are a supercar owner and would like to participate in the show with your vehicle, please get in contact via one of the following methods:
Fill in an online booking form, available at www.beaulieu.co.uk/beaulieu-events/supercar-showdown
Email the Events Team at events@beaulieu.co.uk
Telephone the Events Team on no. 01590 614614.

All applications will be considered and we will notify you if your application has been successful.

Simply Classics - Sunday 25th August

Simply Classics - Jaguar XK140

For a quintessentially English day out with your classic car, nothing can beat Beaulieu’s Simply Classics on Sunday 25th August. This popular event is now in its third year and will see all manner of pre-1988 vehicles enter the picturesque Beaulieu parkland to create a stunning classic car display.

Classic car owners and their passengers can drive through the beautiful New Forest, straight into the grounds of the National Motor Museum to display their car alongside other classics and enjoy a wonderful day out at Beaulieu too.

Take a look around the National Motor Museum’s stunning collection of over 250 vehicles, which includes a stunning selection of vintage Rolls-Royces, a number of early classic racing cars and a wide range of classic luxury vehicles including a beautiful cream 1935 Auburn 851.

In BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles, see some of the most iconic Bond vehicles, including a classic Aston Martin DB5 from GOLDENEYE – a car which is famed for its association with the James Bond brand.

Enter World of Top Gear to see the actual vehicles used by presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May in some of their most adventurous challenges over the years, including the Hindustan taxi from the latest series to air, which was declared the world’s best taxi after winning a world taxi shootout.

Take a stroll to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538, and enjoy the peace and quiet in the cloister of 13th century Beaulieu Abbey.

During the afternoon, participating vehicles will drive through the parkland along the Demonstration Run, giving visitors the opportunity to see and hear these beautiful motors on the move.

Visitors to Beaulieu will be asked to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the vehicle with the most votes will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in the afternoon presentation ceremony.

Classic car owners are also invited to enter their vehicle into the Concours competition. To take part, simply download, complete and return the application form (available at www.beaulieuevents.co.uk ) by Friday 16th August.

For those people participating in the event with a classic car, ticket prices are Adult £10 and Child £5. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on telephone line 01590 612888. All other visitors to the event should enter via the Main Entrance Hall at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your classic car is from 9.30am when catering will be available. The event opens to the public at 10am.

Visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk for more information or telephone 01590 612345.

Join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyclassics or check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/nationalmotormuseum

Simply Japanese - Sunday 4th August at Beaulieu

Simply Japanese

Following on from the great success of last year’s event, Beaulieu’s Simply Japanese rally will be making a welcome return on Sunday 4th August. Owners of all types of Japanese marque cars can join the event, whatever the age, make and model of vehicle, from Nissan, Honda and Toyota family cars to sporty Suzukis and Mazdas.

Prepare to see some stunning vehicle designs and colourful artwork amongst the hundreds of Japanese marque vehicles on display. Take the opportunity to get chatting with other like-minded enthusiasts, and enjoy a great day out at the Beaulieu attraction. See over 250 vehicles on show in the National Motor Museum, from F1 racers to Land Speed Record Breakers and don’t miss BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. Whilst Bond is known for his love of the very British manufacturer, Aston Martin, both he and villain, Patrice, rode Honda bikes in the opening chase sequence for the latest Bond film SKYFALL. Their two Honda CRF250R motorcycles are now on display in the exhibition.

Enter World of Top Gear to see genuine vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James in their challenges on the BBC television show. You can also enjoy strolling through the beautiful gardens to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, or you can explore the grounds by hopping onboard the high-level Monorail or open-topped bus.

As with all Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day of the event will be invited to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the winning car will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in an afternoon presentation ceremony and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade of Japanese marque cars through the attraction.

For entrants arriving in a Japanese vehicle and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are only adult £10 and child £5. Telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Japanese vehicle is from 9.30am with catering available. Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Simply Japanese is one of the latest additions to Beaulieu’s rapidly growing calendar of Simply events, which has expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering a range of makes and models. For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyjapanese.

SIMPLY VAUXHALL - SUNDAY 28TH JULY 2013

Vauxhall Astra 2010

Vauxhall Insignia SE 2011

Calling all Vauxhall owners! On Sunday 28th July, drive your Vauxhall to Beaulieu for the first ever Simply Vauxhall rally. Whichever type of Vauxhall you own, be it a classic Prince Henry Vauxhall or a shiny new Insignia, motor into the Beaulieu parkland, and join a fantastic display of Vauxhalls.

This is a great opportunity to view hundreds of Vauxhalls, meet up with other like-minded enthusiasts, and enjoy a great day out at the Beaulieu attraction. See over 250 vehicles on show in the National Motor Museum, from F1 racers to Land Speed Record Breakers and don’t miss BOND IN MOTION, the world’s largest ever exhibition of original James Bond film vehicles. The collection includes the Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car from THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, a QUANTUM OF SOLACE Aston Martin DBS stunt car and two Honda CRF250R motorcycles and a Land Rover Defender 110 from the latest Bond film to be released, SKYFALL.

Enter World of Top Gear to see genuine vehicles created by presenters Jeremy, Richard and James in their challenges on the BBC television show, including Richard and Jeremy’s “Grannymobile” and the P45 micro car driven by Jeremy through a shopping centre and the British Library on the latest series.

You can also enjoy strolling through the beautiful gardens to Palace House, home of the Montagu family since 1538 and 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, or you can explore the grounds by hopping onboard the high-level Monorail or open-topped veteran London bus.

At intervals throughout the day the Band of the Royal Yeomanry will be keeping visitors entertained with rousing British songs and anthems and, as with all Simply Rallies, visitors to Beaulieu on the day of the event will be invited to vote for their favourite vehicle in the People’s Choice Awards. The owner of the winning car will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in an afternoon presentation ceremony and will be given the opportunity to lead a cavalcade of Vauxhalls through the attraction.

For entrants arriving in a Vauxhall and joining the event on the Beaulieu parkland, entry prices are adult £10 and child £5. Please telephone 01590 612888 or visit www.beaulieushop.co.uk to book advance tickets. For all Vauxhall-related trade stand enquiries, telephone 01590 614614. All other visitors should enter Beaulieu via the main Reception at normal Beaulieu attraction admission prices.

Entry into the Beaulieu parkland with your Vauxhall is from 9.30am with catering available. Admission to the event includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction; the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens.

Simply Vauxhall is one of the latest additions to Beaulieu’s rapidly growing calendar of Simply events, which has expanded to include a wide variety of themes covering a range of makes and models.

For more information please visit www.beaulieuevents.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #simplyvauxhall.

Celebrate Father’s Day With Dad At The Custom & Hot Rod Festival Sunday 16th June 2012

1931 Ford Model A

Instead of buying Dad the usual socks or beers for Father’s Day, why not treat him to a day out at Beaulieu’s fun-filled Custom and Hot Rod Festival on Sunday 16th June? A great day out for all the family, this fantastic festival features the Custom Car Show, in association with Victory Wheelers, as well as the Custom Motorcycle Show, also taking place over the weekend.

On the Sunday, anyone owning a Hot Rod, Custom or Classic American car or motorcycle can drive to Beaulieu and display their vehicle alongside hundreds of others in the beautiful grounds of the National Motor Museum.

Admire some of the quirky and unusual designs that can only be found on the colourful custom scene, and enjoy some great entertainment, including live music from The Mad Bones as well as free rides on the fairground dodgems. You can also browse a number of trade stands selling clothing, Americana memorabilia, merchandise, accessories and the latest custom magazines.

In another exciting feature at the 2013 show, Europe’s first dragster, Sydney Allard’s 1961 Allard Chrysler, will be on display in the grounds alongside Andy Robinson Race Cars’ Pro Mod 1969 Camaro and both will be firing up at intervals throughout the Festival to demonstrate their engine power to visitors.

Custom Motorcycle Show

The Allard Chrysler, which is owned by the National Motor Museum Trust, has been fully restored by a group of enthusiasts, the Allard Chrysler Action Group (ACAG), in a lengthy, but very successful five year project.

All custom vehicles at the Festival will have the opportunity to win one of the Beaulieu awards up for grabs in categories including Best Hot Rod, Best Chopper, Best American and Best in Show. Each winner will receive a Beaulieu Trophy in the afternoon awards ceremony, before taking part in a cavalcade around the attraction’s grounds. There will also be a People’s Choice Award, given to the owner of the vehicle voted for the most by Beaulieu’s visitors that day. The winner of this category will receive an exclusive trophy from Willydog Hotdogs.

The Custom Motorcycle Show taking place on Saturday and Sunday, a “World Class” event promoting engineering excellence and celebrating the wonderful world of custom and modified motorcycles, will be making a welcome return to Beaulieu as part of the Festival. This show gives visitors a rare opportunity to view a unique collection of stunning custom bikes and check out the bike-related trade stands in and around the Grand Marquee. As part of the show, a UK affiliate round of the AMD World Championships will be taking place, with the winner being invited to attend the Grand Finals of the World Championships in Essen, Germany in May 2014.

Admission to the Festival includes entry to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which features the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION exhibition, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the grounds and gardens, plus unlimited rides on the high-level monorail and open-topped veteran London bus.

On the day ticket prices for those participating in the Sunday Drive-In with a custom vehicle are £10 per adult. One child will receive free entry when accompanied by a paying adult, and any additional children will be charged £5 each.

All those wishing to visit the Sunday event as spectators should buy normal Beaulieu attraction admission tickets on the day from Visitor Reception.

Or why not take advantage of a special discounted rate for advance tickets for both participants and spectators, available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or on ticket line 01590 612888.

For those arriving in a custom vehicle on Sunday, entry is from 8am, when catering will be available. The show opens to the public from 10am.

If you fancy making a weekend of it, camping tickets for the whole Festival weekend are also available. These weekend tickets give access to the whole Beaulieu attraction and on-site camping all weekend, and entry to the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, with the opportunity for custom car or bike owners to take part in a Saturday Cruise Out in the surrounding New Forest. Each day, evening entertainment and catering will be available from 7.30pm, with a pub-style atmosphere and background music in the Brabazon Restaurant on Friday night and on Saturday night a DJ and karaoke in the restaurant plus a live set from The Mad Bones near the Beaulieu Arena. To find out more about weekend tickets please visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk

For more information about the Custom and Hot Rod Festival, please visit www.beaulieucustomfestival.co.uk or join the conversation with @Beaulieu_Hants on Twitter using #customfestival

Richard 'Jaws' Kiel visits Bond In Motion

If you are an avid James Bond fan, be sure to put Sunday 26th May in your diary, as this will be your opportunity to meet Bond actor, Richard Kiel.  Richard, who played Jaws, one of the most famous Bond villains, will be visiting the BOND IN MOTION exhibition at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.

Richard starred in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1979) and MOONRAKER (1979).  Standing at over seven feet tall, he played the formidable Bond villain Jaws, famously recognisable for his razor sharp steel teeth.

Richard will be accompanied by Blanche Ravelec, who played his love interest Dolly in MOONRAKER. You will be able to find them in the BOND IN MOTION exhibition, inside the National Motor Museum for periods between 1030am and 4pm.

On the day, visitors will be able to purchase Richard’s, Making It Big in the Movies, plus copies of his official photographs.  He will happily sign your purchases and pose for a photograph with you, so don’t forget to bring your camera.

This fantastic opportunity is included in your general admission to Beaulieu, an all inclusive ticket covering the National Motor Museum, BOND IN MOTION, World of Top Gear, Palace House and gardens and Beaulieu Abbey.

For information call 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Set Sail For Beaulieu Boatjumble Sunday 28th April 2013

Beaulieu’s annual Boatjumble, held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, is this year taking place on 28th April. Now in its 36th year, the Boatjumble is the largest outdoor sale of boating items in Europe, so come along and hook some nautical bargains.

Beaulieu’s Events Manager, Judith Maddox, said: ”We were very disappointed to have to cancel the Boatjumble last year because of adverse weather conditions but were very encouraged by the positive response from stallholders, many of whom carried their stand booking forward to this year.  New bookings are now coming in well.

“The new street-style Boat Mall, introduced in 2011 proved very popular and was fully booked for 2012 so we anticipate strong bookings again for this year. Trunk Traders also goes from strength to strength with a larger area devoted to this feature for 2013.”

Thousands of new and used marine and boating items at competitive prices, spread over 1,000 stands, make for an unmissable event. With big name chandleries offering show prices, plus accessories, clothing, gadgets and literature, you can be sure of picking up some real treasures.

In the BoatMall, see new boats from leading manufacturers and brokerages plus all the latest products. See the trailerable boats up-close, try on clothing and tinker with up-to-the minute technology.

If you are looking for a used boat, head for the BoatMart which brings together a wide range of used boats, from classics to nearly new and those in need of restoration, which can be viewed before you buy.

In the enlarged Trunk Traders area, amateur jumblers who have been   clearing out their lockers, sheds and garages can sell their surplus second-hand sailing items from the boot of their car. Trading is brisk, so get there early.
Don’t miss a display by The Classic Motor Boat Association of members’ classic boats and antique outboard engines.  Members will also be on hand to talk to visitors about the activities of the Association, whose aim is to promote affordable preservation and enjoyment of classic runabouts, racing boats and engines through active rallies around the UK.

Younger visitors can also enjoy Bubble of Fun, an activity allowing you to walk on water in giant transparent balls, as well as Boats of Fun and giant nautical themed slides.

Visitors to the event will be able to enjoy all the Beaulieu attractions including the National Motor Museum’s exciting exhibition, BOND IN MOTION, with its run now extended for a further year. The exhibition showcases 50 original vehicles from the James Bond films, including the Glastron GT-150 which performed a jaw-dropping jump over an 85ft levy in Live And Let Die, and the world’s very first Wetbike from The Spy Who Loved Me.

Visitors can also see On Screen Cars, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens at the one, on-the-day, inclusive price of £9.70 for adults and £7.50 for children. Advance tickets are available to purchase at an even lower price, by telephone on 01590 612888 and will shortly be available online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk
Free shuttle buses will be running from Buckler’s Hard Marina, Lymington Isle of Wight Ferry terminal and Brockenhurst Station.

Stand prices start at £55 with BoatMart and Trunk Traders spaces at £30. To book a stand, Trunk Trader or BoatMart space call the Events Department on 01590 614614, fax 01590 614615 or email events@beaulieu.co.uk.

BoatJumble is supported by Practical Boat Owner Magazine.

BoatMall and BoatMart are open to visitors at 9am and Boatjumble at 10am.  The show closes at 5pm.

The Goldfinger Aston Martin Db5 Returns To Bond In Motion

Turkish Merchant's bike & Turkish police bike from Skyfall

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is pleased to announce the return of the most iconic of all Bond cars, the GOLDFINGER Aston Martin DB5, to its BOND IN MOTION exhibition.

This stunning original film car, a must-see for Bond fans and classic car enthusiasts everywhere, will be on display for a limited time only, so if you don’t want to miss out, visit Beaulieu before the end of the Easter holidays to see this elegant motor showcased alongside 49 other vehicles used in the Bond films.

The car has been kindly loaned to the exhibition by the Louwman Museum, Holland, and returns just as an exciting new exhibit has been revealed. Joining the three SKYFALL vehicles currently on display – two Honda CRF250R motorcycles and the Land Rover Defender 110 – is a third scale miniature model of the Aston Martin DB5 which was used in filming SKYFALL.

Parahawk, Jaguar XKR and Aston Martin V8

BOND IN MOTION is the world’s largest exhibition of original James Bond vehicles ever staged, and features a whole range of vehicles from the films, including cars, boats, motorbikes, sleds, jets and many more.

Other star exhibits include the gadget-laden Jaguar XKR driven by Bond villain Zao in DIE ANOTHER DAY, the Aston Martin DBS from QUANTUM OF SOLACE, the Bede Acrostar jet famously flown in OCTOPUSSY, and the BMW 750iL from TOMORROW NEVER DIES, plus iconic vehicle action clips from the James Bond films. This exclusive, one-off exhibition will remain open to visitors until 5th January 2014.

Lotus Esprit 'Wet Nellie' from The Spy Who Loved Me

BOND IN MOTION can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which includes the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, Palace House and the gardens. Beaulieu is open daily from 10am – 5pm.

For more information please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

Top Gear send Beaulieu its P45

For the first instalment of the 19th series, Jeremy returned to our screens in possibly the strangest mode of motoring transport viewers have yet seen. Following the mass popularity of his video demonstrating the many benefits of the world’s smallest car, the Peel P50, the big man was set a new challenge. His mission? To create and drive a car even smaller than the Peel P50. The result? The brilliant yet bonkers P45 micro car.

A team of talented students from Coventry University’s Automotive Design course were commissioned to work on styling, whilst the aluminium bodywork was hand crafted by the people who make the fabulous Petersen Bentley. Showing extraordinary attention to detail, the P45 was painted with blue twin stripes, paying homage to legendary AC Cobra creator, Carroll Shelby. Fortunately for Shelby, that was where the similarities between the two cars ended.

Ever the professional, Jeremy embarked on an extensive road test of the vehicle, which saw him driving at top speeds of around 30mph on the A3, taking the vehicle onboard a coach to London... to demonstrate how easy it is to get onboard a train, and then driving it through Westfield Shopping Centre and the British Library. Despite its many, many shortcomings, including a microscopic fuel tank, high risk of nose-smashing and inability to get through a car wash without jamming the machinery and soaking the driver’s suit, Jeremy then entered the Dragon’s Den, seeking investment from the dragons for mass production – their verdict was a unanimous and resounding “I’m out”.

Throughout the test drive, Jeremy was singing its praises, describing the car simply as “completely excellent”. Richard and James, however, were a little less enthusiastic, preferring to call it “utterly ridiculous” and “a complete death trap”. The P45 is now on display at Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear exhibition, where visitors can make a thorough inspection of the car and decide for themselves whether it is ingenious... or just plain insane.

The unique motor joins a whole host of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Another recent addition is the budget Bond Lotus Excel submarine car from the 50 Years of Bond Cars special and the collection is awaiting the arrival of another new creation from Series 19, due to be unveiled shortly.

The ‘Enormodrome’ recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio with regular features from the programme, including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ board, kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments.

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

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Hammond’s Budget Bond Submarine Car At Beaulieu’s World Of Top Gear

Following the airing of Top Gear’s 50 Years of Bond Cars special, fans of the show visiting Beaulieu’s World of Top Gear can now see the actual Top Gear Lotus Excel Submarine driven by Richard Hammond into a lake.

In honour of the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and the release of the 23rd Bond film Skyfall, Richard Hammond paid tribute to some of 007’s greatest moments on wheels with an hour-long Top Gear special, looking at some of the famous, and not so famous, cars used by the world’s favourite spy. Carried along on a heady wave of nostalgia, Hammond even decided to make a couple of amazing real-life Bond cars on a budget.
 
One of these budget creations was based on the unforgettable Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car used by Roger Moore’s James Bond in The Spy Who Loved Me. The Top Gear version of this iconic aquatic vehicle uses the never-popular Excel model (because 007-style Esprits were too expensive) and features extendable rear dive planes, electrically-powered rear thrusters, a double skinned passenger compartment, a roof hatch for access and a cunning ballast system which involved filling the tyres with concrete.

Amazingly, this is one of the few cut-price Top Gear projects which actually worked, and this ingenious creation can truly claim to be the world’s first fully functioning submarine car. Although perhaps its biggest achievement is that it has made it to World of Top Gear at Beaulieu, and isn’t lying at the bottom of the lake in which it was tested!

The Lotus Excel Submarine joins a growing collection of cars at Beaulieu created by the Top Gear presenters for some of their most ambitious challenges. Latest additions include the mobility scooters which the presenters raced against wounded servicemen, the cars which they drove through India in the Christmas Special 2011 and Jeremy Clarkson’s TGV12 sports train.

Regular features from the programme including the Cool Wall and the Celebrity ‘Lap Times’ boards are kept up to date in line with the show. Visitors can also watch behind-the-scenes footage of the Top Gear production zone and clips of some of the best Top Gear moments in the ‘Enormodrome’ which recreates the feel of the Top Gear studio, where the TV show is filmed in front of a live audience.

Visitors to Beaulieu can also see the original James Bond Lotus Esprit S1 ‘submarine’ car, the inspiration for this Top Gear challenge, currently displayed in BOND IN MOTION, the National Motor Museum’s exhibition of 50 genuine James Bond cars. This is the largest official collection of Bond vehicles displayed anywhere in the world and showcases all 007’s modes of transportation, including cars, trikes, bikes, sleds, boats and many more.

World of Top Gear and BOND IN MOTION can be viewed as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction which also includes the National Motor Museum, Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.

Beaulieu is open every day, except Christmas Day, from 10am. For more information telephone 01590 612345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

Celebrate Global James Bond Day At Beaulieu Friday 5th October 2012

In celebration of Global James Bond Day, Friday 5th October 2012, why not make a visit to BOND IN MOTION at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu? This exclusive exhibition of 50 original James Bond vehicles is the largest of its kind ever staged, and includes some of the most iconic vehicles from the James Bond films.

As part of the day-long series of celebrations taking place all around the world on 5th October, Beaulieu will be presenting the first 50 individuals, couples or families* who purchase a Beaulieu admission ticket and enter the attraction on Global James Bond Day a Bond themed gift. So make sure you arrive for the 10am opening for your chance to receive a gift and enjoy a day at the unique BOND IN MOTION exhibition and the wider Beaulieu attraction!

BOND IN MOTION marks the 50th year of James Bond films. It features a whole range of original vehicles used in the films – some which have never been publicly displayed before – including cars, boats, motorbikes, jets and many more.

See the Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye, the instantly recognisable Lotus S1 ‘submarine’ car from The Spy Who Loved Me, affectionately referred to as ‘Wet Nellie’, the Crocodile Submarine cunningly used in Octopussy and Xao’s Jaguar XKR from Die Another Day.
The exhibition has proved to be very popular with film fans and car enthusiasts alike, and has attracted a number of Bond cast and crew members, including James Bond himself, Sir Roger Moore, Bond actresses Britt Ekland, Eunice Gayson, Jenny Hanley and Madeline Smith, actor Colin Salmon who appeared as MI6 Chief of Staff, Charles Robinson, and Bond special effects supervisor Chris Corbould.

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

Beaulieu is open daily from 10am – 5pm. 
For more information please visit www.beaulieu.co.uk or telephone 01590 612345.

*excluding pre-booked groups and entrance with an annual gift aid pass or return for free voucher.

Skyfall Land Rover Defender joins BOND IN MOTION

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is delighted to announce the arrival of the Land Rover Defender from the set of the 23rd James Bond film, Skyfall, for display in the museum’s BOND IN MOTION exhibition.

The 2012 Land Rover Defender is driven in the opening sequence of the film in Turkey. It is a left-hand drive 110 double cab pick-up, boasts a four cylinder 2.2 litre engine, capable of a maximum speed of 90mph.

The Defender joins two Honda CRF250R motorcycles already on display in the exhibition that also feature in the Skyfall opening sequence.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director Stephen Munn said: “This is another fantastic new addition to BOND IN MOTION. We are delighted that we have been able to welcome three Skyfall vehicles into the exhibition since filming wrapped, and they have already attracted a lot of interest from visitors. We wanted BOND IN MOTION to represent as many of the films as possible, from the Sean Connery classics right through to the current Daniel Craig films, and it is a privilege to be able to give visitors a glimpse of what awaits in the 23rd instalment.”

BOND IN MOTION showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles – some never publicly displayed before – in celebration of the 50th year of the James Bond films.

The exhibition features a whole range of vehicles which have appeared in Bond films over the 50 years including cars, boats, motorbikes, jets and many more. This collection of iconic movie vehicles includes the Aston Martin DB5 from GoldenEye, the 1937 Phantom lll Rolls-Royce from Goldfinger, and theLotus Esprit S1 affectionately nicknamed ‘Wet Nellie’ from The Spy Who Loved Me.

BOND IN MOTION can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction.  For further information visit www.beaulieu.co.uk

The world premiere for Skyfall takes place in the UK on 23rd October 2012.

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The Treasure Houses of England (THE) is a consortium of 10 of the country’s finest palaces, historic houses and castles. Unique in character, each property has its own magical blend of magnificent architecture, fabulous surroundings, world class collections and family attractions to enjoy.

For more information visit www.treasurehouses.co.uk