Dick Van Dyke Gets Epic Replica of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ Car as a Gift for His 100th Birthday

Dick Van Dyke just received a birthday surprise straight out of a Hollywood fairytale — and it left him “blown away,” his wife Arlene Silver told People.

To mark the entertainment icon’s 100th birthday in December, family friend Michael Mulligan hand-built a replica of the movie’s beloved swimming and flying car, and personally delivered it to Van Dyke’s home in Temecula, California, per the outlet.

Van Dyke played Caractacus Potts in 1968’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Silver, 54, said she dreamed of gathering “as many Chitty Bang Bangs in one spot as possible” to celebrate the milestone. The replica arrived at the party and instantly became the emotional centerpiece of the festivities.

“It was just like a symbol of him, Dick, whether he’s there or not,” Silver told the outlet, adding that the whimsical vehicle, featured in the 1968 classic based on Ian Fleming’s book, “pulls on the heartstrings and makes middle-aged men cry.”

Neighbors have been equally enchanted. “I just love having it in our driveway because [you’ll hear], ‘Oh my God, is that a Chitty Bang Bang?’” from passersby, Silver said.

She hopes the car may eventually live inside a future Dick Van Dyke museum, but for now, the magical machine sits in their driveway — a perfect tribute to a century-long career still inspiring joy.