The movie exhibition at the Dundee Museum of Transport is a must-see for film-lovers and car-lovers alike.
When you step foot inside the old slaughterhouse that is home to the transport museum, you are met with an array of quirky-looking vehicles on the floor.
These include the real vehicles that starred in the likes of Skyfall.
What caught my eye first of all was one of the museum’s newest stars, a replica of Fred Flinstone’s stone-age “car”. This one is on loan from the Tayside Classic Car Club.
I only uttered the famous “Yabba-Dabba-Doo!” line once (under my breath). I had to, right?
Planning permission for the museum’s move has now been approved. The museum will relocate to the former Maryfield tram depot and open in Easter 2024.
The museum’s curator told me that once the Dundee Museum of Transport makes its move, it will focus on local transport to begin with rather than another movie exhibition.
So any local film – or car – buffs are recommended to come along before the movie exhibition closes at the end of June.
At the Dundee Transport Museum you can find a Land Rover Defender that appeared in the opening scene of Skyfall.
It is one of the real cars that Miss Moneypenny speeds around Istanbul in – and as you can see, it got pretty bashed up.
They actually used 77 cars over the filming of this memorable high-speed chase scene.
You can learn about how the production company converted the cars to help with stunt scenes.
There are many cars that visitors can actually sit in. These are marked by a yellow star.
‘George Clooney’s butt has been here’
Irene Hallyburton is the museum’s curator, and has a vast knowledge of every single one of the vehicles in the museum.
One of her clear favourites of the movie exhibition is the huge snowmobile that featured in the film The Midnight Sky.
The vehicle is new to the exhibition and will hang around for the next two months.
The movie, released in 2020, starred Hollywood A-lister George Clooney.
Irene gleefully remarked: “George Clooney’s butt has been here.”
These vehicles are only at the museum for a short time before the movie exhibition closes at the end of June.
E.T., Back to the Future and Schemers in Dundee
Other movie vehicles include the bike from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – remember E.T. sitting in the basket at the front while they cycle in front of the moon?
It’s a red Kuwahara and the company reproduced the iconic bike to mark the 40th anniversary last year.
Ever heard of the Dundee movie Schemers? Neither had I, but this 2020 film was made in Dundee and has been described as a love letter to the city.
You can also find the red Yugo car from the film in the Dundee movie exhibition.
Plus, there’s the iconic 80s DeLorean from Back To The Future. This didn’t feature in the film, but it’s on loan from a car enthusiast in Newport.
While there are plenty of newcomers, there are also some old favourites.
This Chitty even has wings!
While the car didn’t feature in the iconic 1968 film, it did appear in a stage production.
It is truly an image of my childhood, and to see it in the heart of Dundee was very heart-warming.
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