Writer Joanne Rowling once told an interviewer that some of her happiest memories were of zipping around during highschool in her childhood friend's Ford Anglia. Years later, as the magical world of Harry Potter blossomed in J.K. Rowling's imagination, rooted in her real-life experiences, the Anglia would grow into an important role. Let's look at the car model featured in the Harry Potter series, explore the quirks of this little Ford, and find out where the movie car landed in real life.
The Chamber Of Secrets Car Is A Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe
The Anglia was a compact car manufactured by Ford UK from 1939-1967. The Anglia 105E was the fourth-generation of the badge, launched in 1959. All three body styles (saloon, rear hatch estate car, and windowless panel van) had just two passenger doors and a 90.5-inch wheelbase. The average Anglia weighed 1,624 lbs; power came from a 997 cc OHV inline-4 engine. Ford UK mated this engine to a four-speed transmission; new to the fourth-generation were synchros for the top three gears.
The U.K. design team emulated many styling cues from the larger American sedans. Ridges ran down each side of the car, from the bug-eye headlights to the mini tail fins. The deluxe edition featured a full-width chrome grille. The car sported a distinctive, backward-slanted rear window, similar to the 1958 Lincoln Continental. The little car also came in various 1950s art deco colors and was even available with a two-tone paint job. But the 1959 Anglia was released after the 1960 models were rolling into the U.S. market, and the big three were styling the new decade of American cars very differently.
The Ford Anglia had other shortcomings: Its engine was smaller than the powerplant in some of its motorcycle contemporaries; the 0-60 time a yawn-inducing 26.9 seconds. The two-door was marketed as a "family car" but could barely seat four adult passengers.
In the end, the vehicle's cute, vintage styling charmed car buyers for nearly a decade. Its 40+ miles per gallon fuel efficiency won it a diehard fanbase. The Anglia was a success in multiple foreign markets. The U.K., Australian, and South African factories had to produce over a million Anglia's before the Ford Escort replaced it in 1968. We admit, Harry Potter isn't on top of our best car movies list, but the flying Ford Anglia was an endearing addition to the franchise.
Arthur Weasly Bewitched The Flying Harry Potter Car
For us muggles, flying cars are still a distant dream. But the magical world isn't so limited. If you were a wizard, interested in muggle artifacts, and looking for an unassuming car to modify, then the Anglia would be a perfect choice. In the world of Harry Potter, a charm expanding the car's interior space could un-cramp the Anglia. And a spell to make the car fly through the sky would solve the lack of horsepower. Arthur Weasly must have had similar thoughts when he was shopping for a family car.
At some point, the Weasleys purchased a turquoise-colored Anglia 105E Deluxe. The car was from before the 1963 model redesign, but its exact year is unclear. Arthur Weasly, the family patriarch, illegally enchanted the vehicle to fit his family (with six tall children and their friends) plus all of their luggage.
Arthur also modified the car with a flying charm. In the Chamber of Secrets film, it appears the gear-shift lever adjusts the altitude of the flying car while the steering wheel turns the vehicle, often causing it to pitch dramatically. The pedals control the speed of the airborne vehicle. When on the ground, the vehicle seems to operate like a normal car.
Finally, Mr. Weasly added an invisibility generator with a large silver dash-mounted button. Mr. Weasly had a weakness for tampering with muggle manufactured objects; he would eventually face a 50-galleon fine from the Ministry of Magic for enchanting the car. Perhaps bewitching the car was illegal because enough spells gave it a sort of sentience. Whatever the cause, the car developed a mind of its own. After Harry Potter and Ron Weasly crashed the Anglia into a whomping willow, the vehicle got sick of the abuse, kicked them out, and drove away into the forest. We think the autonomous little vehicle is one of the most memorable movie characters that were actually cars.
Sixteen Cars Were Used In Multiple Harry Potter Films
The Ford Anglia appeared in three major scenes during Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Fred and George Weasly piloted it first, and later Harry Potter and Ron Weasly did the same. Watch the scene on youtube. Finally, the feral car emerges from the forbidden forest during the film's climax to save Harry and Ron from giant spiders. The vehicle also can be seen in the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The screenwriters discussed the car once more emerging from the forest to save Ron from the death-eaters in its heroic final act. J.K. Rowling shot down the idea, and in the end, the car can be seen, discarded, in the "room of hidden things." The poor car likely burnt up with the rest of the room's contents.
In real life, the Warner Brothers production crew prepared sixteen Ford Anglias to serve different roles in various scenes. Some cars hung from a gimble to appear to fly. Other cars served as the backdrop for interior shots. The crew roughed up some cars to make them appear as if they had been living in the woods. A range of production years were used in the movie, but all have pre-1963 trim. See more trivia about the Anglia on the Harry Potter fandom website.
After the Harry Potter movies finished filming, a range of fates awaited the cars featured. Singer Liam Payne paid a six-figure price for one of the movie cars, now on display in his garden. Another car is on display at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Actors Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint drove a different, operational version of the Ford Anglia to the 2010 opening of the same theme park.
In 2005, one of the movie cars disappeared from the South West Film Studios in Cornwall. The prop's whereabouts were a mystery until it turned up a year later, abandoned on the grounds of an ancient Scottish castle. It was in a scene reminiscent of the film itself; the theft appears to be an elaborate prank by an overzealous fan.