Blown up, machine-gunned, set on fire – and that’s just the cars. It’s not only the gravel-voiced cast who have endured tough storylines in the BBC drama Peaky Blinders. The hit series came to an explosive climax as the Shelby family hung up their razor-lined caps for good.
As well as a farewell to brothers Tommy and Arthur, played by Cillian Murphy and Paul Anderson, the final episode is a last chance for viewers to salivate over a smorgasbord of vintage motors. Since the first series aired in 2013, Peaky fans have been treated to an all-star line-up of cars from the 1920s.
Industrial Birmingham may have been the moody backdrop – even though many street scenes were shot in Liverpool – but the polished chrome and elegant lines of a Bentley 4 ½ Litre always added a touch of glamour to the otherwise grimy tale of a gangland family on the up.
I’ve pored over the BBC library archives and come up with my choice of the best. Michael Geary, managing director of Motorhouse Hire, in Bracknell, who has supplied cars for every series of the show, helps explain their significance – by order of the Peaky Blinders.
Ford Model T
Sold as the world’s first affordable car, the 20hp Model T was fitted with a simple 2.9-litre, four-cylinder engine. The Ford was hardly a getaway vehicle but a top speed of 42mph in the 1920s proved considerably faster than a police horse.
Geary said: “A Model T was perfect for Tommy. He had returned from the First World War and was starting to build his business empire. Just owning a car at that time was quite an achievement.”
Fiat 501
The Italian manufacturer’s small, open-roof family car was a huge success. The first model Fiat built after the War was powered by a 1,460cc four-cylinder engine, with a top speed of 44mph.
“Tommy’s Fiat was a modest step up but showed the Shelbys were becoming successful. Nothing overly special but another rung on the ladder to fortune,” said Geary.
Bentley 4 ½ Litre
Not to be confused with the 6 ½ Litre, this Vanden Plas-style tourer won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1928. In non-supercharged form the Bentley produced 110 hp – just enough to cruise long distances at high speed.
“Tommy’s Bentley arrived in Series 3 and is a very special car,” said Geary “We wanted a vehicle that showed the Shelbys had serious money but were not establishment.
“This particular model has a Tickford body and is incredibly rare – probably worth £3 million-plus. The moody colour and look are perfect for Peaky Blinders.”
Vauxhall 30/98 Peppercorn Tourer
Under that handsome polished bonnet lies a 4,244cc engine which a century ago gave the Peppercorn a rapid turn of speed.
“None of these cars are easy to drive – the Vauxhall in particular. It was powerful for the era and quite a handful,” said Geary. Tommy’s cousin Michael Gray has the keys in this image – the name relates to specialist Vauxhall coachbuilder, Eric Peppercorn.
Bentley 3 Litre
The 3 Litre was WO Bentley’s original vision of a ‘best in class’ car and won countless races, including Le Mans in 1924 and 1927. Famous owners included the Prince of Wales and King George VI. Originally priced around £1,100, the 3 Litre was said to cruise at 70mph in near silence.
It was the mainstay of the Bentley range from 1921 to 1927 – and another favourite with character Michael Gray.
Fiat Landaulette
“This car has been in so many productions – going back to Howards End and Brideshead Revisited,” said Geary. “You name it, that Fiat has been in it! The Fiat is very much a horseless carriage and bloody awful to drive. It feels quite unstable and likely to tip over at any moment.”
In this scene from Series 4 of Peaky Blinders, a gang of henchmen are on board – although they could probably have walked faster.
Bentley 4 ½ Litre
Polly Gray was played by the late Helen McCrory and her choice of wheels caused the production team some problems. “Tommy drove a Bentley and so Polly had to have one too,” said Geary.
“The issue was finding a car in a colour that was remotely feminine because the vehicles of that era just weren’t. The engine and chassis are the same as Tommy’s but this one has a tourer body.”
Is your cherished car a star in the making?
Geary’s company has provided countless cars to the film and television industry since the 1970s. Motorhouse Hire relies on individual collectors for most of its stock, but also has more than 100 cars of its own waiting in the wings.
“There are tens of thousands on file – every type of vehicle you could imagine. But whether it’s a Rolls-Royce or a Morris Minor, every owner is paid the same and the daily rate is in hundreds of pounds, not thousands,” said Geary.
“It won’t make owners a fortune but if you own something cheap, that doesn’t cost a fortune to maintain, it’s possible to do quite well from film hire. Right now, the best period of car might be something from the Eighties or Nineties.”
Surprisingly, Geary says that appearing on screen rarely improves a car’s value, unless it is the original yellow Reliant Regal van from Only Fools and Horses, or the Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own from the Herbie series. “Some of our vehicles have appeared in more films than the actors. I think the owners just enjoy seeing their pride and joy on screen.”
However, not every vehicle Geary has supplied will survive to be filmed another day. “When a car is blown up or destroyed I have to find another, matching example. It’s either a restoration project or a wreck that can be stripped of anything dangerous and then rigged up with explosive charges. Destroying a ‘ringer’ car on camera usually upsets somebody but that’s all part of the job.”
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