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Warning!
At least some content in this article is derived from information featured in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells. Spoilers will be present within the article. |
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"Are you a wizard, or what?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title. |
The Dursley family owned a number of cars during the late 20th century.
History[]
Early 1970s[]
In the early 1970s, when Vernon first met his future wife Petunia, he drove what Petunia deemed a "perfectly correct car", which he used to take her on a series of dates. Later, on a date after their engagement, Petunia would confess to Vernon that his future sister-in-law Lily was a witch while sitting in this car.[1]
1980s and 1990s[]
The Dursley's car in 1981, which appeared to be a Vauxhall Chevette
Vernon drove this car to work on 1 November 1981. On this day, Vernon witnessed a number of unusual things travelling to and from work at Grunnings, including a tabby cat reading a map and people in bizarre clothing.[2]
Another car was owned by the Dursley family in at least 1991, possibly earlier. Vernon Dursley nearly crashed it while on the way to the Zoo, when Harry Potter mentioned that he had had a dream about a flying motorbike.[3] Later in 1992, Harry was made to wash the car by Petunia as part of chores given for his taunting Dudley.[4]
Late 1990s[]
The Dursley's car in 1997
At the beginning of the summer holidays, Vernon acquired a brand new company car. While the Dursleys stood outside "loudly" admiring the new car (so the other residents could hear them), Harry was able to use this time alone in the house to sneak some of his spell books out of the cupboard that Vernon had locked them in.[5] Presumably this was the same car that the Dursleys, along with Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle, used to depart from 4 Privet Drive for the last time on 27 July 1997.[6]
Behind the scenes[]
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, all of the cars on Privet Drive, including the one owned by the Dursley's in 1991, are the same model, a circa-2000 Vauxhall Vectra estate. During the short scene in 1981, every car on the street appears to be a 1990 Vauxhall Cavalier.
- In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, the car is a 2007 Vauxhall Vectra saloon.
- In all three instances, the cars are taken from a timeline which considers the film's release date as the present day. This means that using the original timeline, they are all anachronisms, as none would have been available at the actual date. They are also all produced by Vauxhall.
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
- Pottermore
- Harry Potter (website)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Writing by J. K. Rowling: "Vernon and Petunia Dursley" at Harry Potter (website)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 1 (The Boy Who Lived)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Chapter 2 (The Vanishing Glass)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 1 (The Worst Birthday)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Chapter 1 (Owl Post)
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 3 (The Dursleys Departing)