The motorbike and sidecar belonging to Hagrid, Harry Potter’s loyal friend and Hogwart’s gamekeeper, goes on display at the Museum of Liverpool from 16 May to 9 June 2016.
The quirky vehicle, which was originally owned by Harry’s godfather Sirius Black, has a starring role in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. Its big moment comes in a particularly hair-raising scene as Harry and Hagrid embark on a dangerous chase through an underground road tunnel, which was actually filmed in the Birkenhead Queensway tunnel.
The poster for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 features in the Museum’s popular exhibition Reel Stories: Liverpool and the Silver Screen (on display until September 2017), a celebration of Liverpool’s starring role in films from the past 60 years through original film posters and memorabilia.
Paul Gallagher, Acting Senior Curator of Urban History, said: “We are delighted to be able to show Hagrid’s bike during the run of our Reel Stories exhibition, which, among other things, examines Liverpool’s remarkable ability to be a backdrop for filmmakers.
“We are very grateful to Warner Bros. for loaning us the vehicle, which we hope will be a hit with Harry Potter fans and film buffs, as well as our regular visitors.”
Liverpool Film Office manager, Lynn Saunders, said: “It’s testament to the excellent relationship we developed with Warner Bros. that this exciting piece is now going on display in the city.
“I’m delighted the Museum will incorporate it in their impressive Reel Stories exhibition and I hope it encourages even more visitors to visit and discover more about Liverpool’s fantastic filming credentials.”
The bike is a Royal Enfield, Bullet 500 with a 499cc petrol engine. It was registered in 2009 and modified for the film in the same year, including having its sidecar fitted.
The bike is on loan to the Museum of Liverpool by Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden Limited