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Sir Topham Hatt uses his car to go to places when the engines are busy or to see what the engines are doing. Over the years, he has been seen driving many different cars. Although Sir Topham Hatt still uses his car frequently, he often uses Winston whenever he has to accompany his engines in locations beyond the road where his car cannot reach. In addition, Elizabeth was the first road vehicle he owned.

The Original Blue Car

Sir Topham Hatt used this blue car to drive to different locations to meet the engines, with the most common location being Tidmouth Sheds. He once used the car to drive to Tidmouth Sheds when the engines went on strike.

Technical Details

Basis

These cars do not have a specific basis and are heavily inspired on various British saloon cars made between 1936 and the 1950s.

In particular, the Series 1 car most closely resembles a 1938 Riley Adelphi, 1938 Austin Cambridge, 1947 Humber Snipe Saloon and 1951 Daimler Consort. Whereas, the Series 2 car resembles a 1938 Riley Touring Saloon, 1939 Daimler DB18 Saloon, 1947 Sunbeam-Talbot Ten, 1949 Rover P3 4 Light Sports Saloon and 1950 Bentley Mark VI.

Livery

The car is painted blue with a black radiator. From the second to fourth series, the car's radiator and hubcaps were painted silver.

Appearances

Official Description

From Official Media[1]

Sir Topham Hatt's Car: Quite naturally, The Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt prefers trains to any other way of traveling. But he does need his faithful saloon car to take him to work every day.


Historical Note: The Fat Controller, Sir Topham Hatt's car is loosely based on saloon cars made in the 1950s.

Trivia

  • This car was never seen moving and was always used as set dressing.
  • There were three different models of this car.
    • The main model used in the first series was a four-door saloon with six side windows and had transparent glazing.
    • The second model was a small blue coupe that only appeared in the first series episode, Thomas in Trouble.
    • The final model was used from the second to fourth series was a two-door saloon with only four side windows, and had a lower level of detailing overall (there were no panel lines and the headlights and glazing were painted silver).
  • In the book, Thomas the Tank Engine's Sounds, the car is illustrated as a convertible on the front cover.
  • The Ertl toy of this car was based on a 1936 Ford Coupe; it was also a repaint of the black 1936 Ford Coupe from their Dick Tracy vehicles range.

Merchandise

The Current Blue Car

From the fifth series to the twenty-fourth series, Sir Topham Hatt was seen driving a new blue car. It once had a flat tyre when he drove it into a pothole, but he still thinks it is very reliable and would not want to get to work in any other vehicle.

In the eleventh series episode, Thomas and the Runaway Car, Sir Topham Hatt replaced the car with a new identical car. Thomas had to take the car from Brendam Docks to a show, however, the flatbed carrying the car rolled down Gordon's Hill and eventually the car went flying off and landed in a haystack. With the help of Rocky, the car was soon loaded back onto the flatbed and Thomas let Gordon deliver the car to the show.

Technical Details

Basis

This car is a freelance design created by art director, Robert Gauld-Galliers. It does not have a specific basis and is inspired on various British saloon cars made between 1948 and 1959.

The car's body closely resembles a 1945–1957 Hillman Minx and a 1949-1954 Singer SM 1500. The radiator is loosely based on a 1953–1959 Rover P4 90. While in the original Model Series, the car had rear-hinged doors similar to a Jowett Javelin. In addition, the spare wheel boot outline is based on saloon cars made between 1938 and the 1940s.

Livery

The car is painted blue all over. In Thomas and the Runaway Car, this livery is affectionately referred to as "Hatt Blue".

Appearances

Thomas & Friends

Specials

Music Videos

Official Description

From Official Media[2]

Sir Topham Hatt's Car: Sir Topham Hatt is the Controller of the Railway and is responsible for making sure the engines are always “Really Useful”. His car helps him get around the island so he can check that everything is running “Right on Time.”

Audio Files

Horns

First used Last used Sound Effect
Series 6 Series 7
Series 13 Series 24
The Big Freeze
Thomas & Friends Storytime

Trivia

SirTophamHattCarTakeNPlay

The car depicted as a convertible.

  • The Wooden Railway, Take Along and Take-n-Play toys of the car are depicted as convertibles which allow Sir Topham Hatt inside the car.
  • The car has a similar appearance to Sir Topham Hatt's car in The Railway Series, however, the car had six side windows in The Railway Series, while in the television series, it has four side windows.
  • Unlike the previous cars, which were static and were used as a background element, this car is seen moving. This allowed it to play roles in episodes such as Lady Hatt's Birthday Party from the fifth series.
  • The car's first model is currently owned by ThomasTankMerch as of 2022 and made an appearance in The Good Old Days, a fan-created video by User:FlyingPringle.
  • The car's second model used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios. It then went on display at the Clearwater Exhibition on 23 October 2021.
  • The car's horn sound used in the sixth and seventh series was later used for Bulgy's main horn. It was also used for one of the cars in the seventh series episode, The Runaway Elephant.
  • The car's horn sound from the sixth to seventh series and Bulgy's main horn sounds similar to Alfie's horn sound.
  • The car's horn sound in the Storytime podcast series was later used for Cleo's horn sound.
  • Red and black versions of this car were seen in the Hero of the Rails video game. A scrapped red version of this car also appeared in the nineteenth series episode, The Truth About Toby.
  • In the Model Series, the car had rear-hinged doors. This was later changed in the CGI Series.

Merchandise

The Black Car

In some episode of the third series, Sir Topham Hatt was seen with a black car. He used this car to drive to different locations to meet the engines, such as Tidmouth Sheds and Ffarquhar Quarry.

Technical Details

Basis

The car is a freelance design and is loosely based on various coupe cars made between the 1930s and 1950s.

Livery

The car is painted black with grey wheels.

Appearances

Trivia

Audio Files

Horn

Only used Sound Effect
Read and Play!

The Yellow Car

A yellow car has often been seen in promotional illustrations and merchandise. It is often depicted as a convertible.

Technical Details

Basis

The car is a freelance design created by illustrator, Owen Bell. It does not have a specific basis and is inspired on various British two-door convertible cars made between the late 1930s and 1950s.

Livery

The car is painted yellow and has a beige boot cover.

Appearances

Official Description

From Official Media[3]

Sir Topham Hatt's Car: Quite naturally, Sir Topham Hatt prefers trains to any other way of traveling. But he does need his faithful car to take him to work every day.

Trivia

STHYellowCar(2)

The car depicted with a solid roof.

Merchandise

The Red Car

A red car was once driven by Sir Topham Hatt in a poster illustrated by Owen Bell. It is depicted as a convertible.

Technical Details

Basis

The car is a freelance design created by illustrator, Owen Bell. It does not have a specific basis and is inspired on various British two-door convertible cars made between the late 1930s and 1950s.

Livery

The car is painted red and has a beige boot cover.

Appearances

Non-rail vehicles

* Other Media only | --- Dropped
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