Matthew Blaney, our resident investigator of Notts weird history, delves into the story of Dr Who's car which was created in 1970s Notts...
Whether a sonic screwdriver is your weapon of choice or you are someone who prefers the great outdoors, there is no denying the impact that the Time Lord has had on British pop culture. I would even venture to say that the programme’s writers have proven writer’s block to be a complete myth. There’s no end to their creativity – so much so that Peter Capaldi’s Doctor spent an episode defending Sherwood Forest, alongside Robin Hood, against a robotic knight army – and all before AI!
But while I would love to ponder on where ideas for the Doctor’s adventures come from, I must focus our attention on one particular Nottingham legend behind the creation of one of the Time Lord’s very own spaceships…
Back in the 70s, Pete Farries, a very creative car manufacturer from Beeston, was showcasing one of his latest automotive designs at a Ford Showroom in the city. Purely by chance, the third Doctor, and dandy supreme Jon Pertwee, spotted one of his designs and approached Pete to build an entirely original vehicle for the next season of Doctor Who. Presumably, he said yes, and in six months’ time had built a spaceship-car that featured in various escapades of the show’s 1973/74 series.
Whilst Farries’ Whomobile was arguably one of his most famous designs, he also constructed a plethora of quirky and memorable automobiles during the 70s, with some of his designs capable of reaching 60mph in three seconds
It measured 14ft long and 7ft wide – creating the illusion that it was a hovercraft – with 8inch rubber skirting hiding its three wheels. Whilst it was unfortunately land bound, the vehicle could reach up to 105mph (genuinely terrifying considering it was only on three wheels). Pete once said in an interview that it’s the only thing he’d ever seen that “moves lorries” as “when they glance in their mirrors to see you’ve got no wheels, they quickly shift over.” It’s of course not difficult to spot the spacecraft tearing down the M1 at 100mph in pursuit of Cybermen.
The car was auctioned off in the early 80s and has not seen the light of day since 1996. Rumours began circulating that Pertwee allegedly wanted to be buried in the Whomobile, but since the flashy silver coating had begun to fade to an unpleasant yellow, it was decided that a silver coffin would suffice.
Whilst Farries’ Whomobile was arguably one of his most famous designs, he also constructed a plethora of quirky and memorable automobiles during the 70s, with some of his designs capable of reaching 60mph in three seconds – others were displayed at motor shows across the UK.
Farries didn’t restrict his creations to time travelling aliens but also constructed several vehicles for circuses around the country, most notably a slightly horrifying clown car made for the Blackpool circus. I pray that this was only driven in the daytime, as I personally would enter a state of fear if it approached me in the dark (google it for evidence), especially if it were travelling at its top speed of 80mph.
While clearly an adrenaline junkie, Pete Farries’ weird and wonderful creations were surprisingly road legal. They also speak to a not-to-distant time when health safety regulations were much laxer, and asbestos considered the number one insulator for homes, garden sheds, and Tardis'. Perhaps asbestos poisoning is the real reason behind the Doctor’s countless regenerations. Seems the only possible reason for fifteen different galactic GPs.
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