The Home-Made Car

The Home Made Car is an Oscar-nominated short film directed by James Hill about a young man who rebuilds a vintage car and finds love. Made in and around Farnborough, Hampshire, it became a cult success when regularly broadcast on the run up to the start of BBC2 colour transmissions. Originally screened from September 1968 until August 1973, It was one of a series of short films broadcast to help television engineers set up new colour television sets. Other popular offerings were The North Sea Quest, Overhaul, Crown of Glass, Roads to Roam, The Small Propeller, The Cattle Carters, Prospect for Plastics, A Journey into the Weald of Kent and Evoluon.

Blackwell Cottage, where the car was built, is on Cambridge Road West, Farnborough, Hampshire, UK. The house remains, although the garage has been replaced by a detached house. The house where the little girl lived,next-door, is still there.

As well as Farnborough, parts of the film was made in Bucks Horn Oak, Hampshire and Seale, Surrey. Made by BP, the Bucks Horn Oak scenes were based at a petrol filling station.

The music was by Ron Grainer and it includes a pastiche of the theme from Steptoe and Son when an old rag and bone man tries to steal the wheel arches from the still incomplete car.

Cast

• Ronald Chudley - Young man
• Caroline Mortimer - Young woman (daughter of John Mortimer)
• Sandra Leo - Little Girl with ray gun