Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car sells for £500k

The iconic car which starred in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has sold at auction – for £500,000.

The car was recognised around the world after it starred in the 1968 hit film alongside Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes and Benny Hill.

Chitty, with the registration number GEN11, has been seen by thousands of fans and spent more than 30 years competing in charity races around the country.

Michael Jackson once tried to buy it for his Neverland Ranch but owner Pierre Picton refused to sell to the late King of Pop – wanting to keep it in the UK.

It was expected to fetch between $1 million and $2 million (USD) but eventually went under the hammer for $805,000 (£495,415) at the auction in Los Angeles, USA, on Sunday.

Pierre said: ”Chitty has been a great friend to me over the years.

”I hope that the car will continue to bring great enjoyment for generations to come.”

The classic car was one of a number of items of film and music memorabilia to be auctioned in Beverly Hills by auction house Profiles in History.

A crystal ball used by the Wicked Witch to observe Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz sold for $126,500 – more than double the presale estimate of $40,000-60,000.

John Lennon’s original handwritten lyrics for “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” went for $230,000.

And a tweed jacket worn by James Dean in the 1956 film Rebel Without a Cause sold for $63,500.