You’ve likely seen Daniel Radcliffe’s character Harry Potter zoom around in a classic Ford car that refuses to abide by the laws of physics. It’s more than a magic machine, though. The culprit is a classic Ford Anglia 105E. Here’s why the Ford Anglia is so perfect for the movie interpretations of J.K. Rowling’s beloved books. 

What is the flying car from Harry Potter?

The flying car is a Ford Anglia 105E, a tiny British spec Ford car. The Ford has two doors, rear bench seating, and some adorable styling. In addition to a squat, classic front fascia, the Ford features little details that make it ‘cute,’ like a bumper resembling a mouth and headlights resembling eyes with a set of eyelids. As a result, British Ford had a cute, albeit strangely styled little car, perfect for the magical world of Harry Potter. 

In the film, the little Ford could fly, thanks to a Weasley family charm that endowed the car with flight. Oh, it could disappear, too. Better watch out, James Bond.

What year is the Ford Anglia from Harry Potter?

The car from the Harry Potter films is a 1966 Ford Anglia 105E, in an era-appropriate light blue and white. The car is a staple of the mid-sixties sensibility of the British market. The Anglia is a silly juxtaposition in an era when the United States was producing land yachts and muscle cars with engines up to six or more liters of displacement. 

Still, the Ford Anglia had steep British competition to battle with, namely the venerable Mini. According to the National Motor Museum, the Mini outsold the Anglia by a large margin, but that wasn’t enough to keep the 41 bhp four-cylinder car from being a part of J.K. Rowling’s worldwide phenomenon.

Which movies featured the flying Ford Anglia?

The flying Ford Anglia was only featured in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). In the film, Rupert Grint’s character Ron Weasley uses the car to rescue Harry Potter from the muggle, or non-magical, world and whisk him off to Hogwarts. However, the effort is detrimental to the vehicle, as it drives off into the woods, but only after safely(ish) delivering the two students to Hogwarts. 

Why did J.K. Rowling use a Ford Anglia?

Author J.K. Rowling chose the little blue Ford Anglia because it reminded her of her friend, according to Carsforsale.com. J.K. Rowling reportedly rode around in the car with her friend, Sean, and it represented escape and freedom. It was appropriate then that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley would use the car to escape. 

Did the flying car from Harry Potter get stolen?

The 1966 Ford Anglia 105E from Harry Potter was stolen in 2005. However, authorities recovered the car shortly thereafter. The National Motor Museum says that the thieves abandoned the vehicle, likely because the car was too high profile. Considering the wild popularity of the franchise, that is believable. 

Can you buy a Ford Anglia?

As with any other classic car, the savvy collector could potentially find a 1966 Ford Anglia. However, while car shoppers in 1966 could have snagged a new example for £495, modern hunters should expect a price tag of around £6,000 to £8,000, depending on condition. That means American car collectors will have to facilitate a sale of about $7,000 to $10,000, not including the import-related costs. 

Scroll down to the following article to read about other great movie vehicles!