LOVING THE 'ALIEN'! INTRODUCING THE 'WHOMOBILE'...

Jon Pertwee on location with the 'Whomobile' during London filming of Invasion of the Dinosaurs in 1973.

Created at Jon Pertwee's own expense, the actor, who loved all forms of speed and adrenaline-based excitement, used his considerable charm to win producer Barry Letts over into the using the vehicle, which he originally called the 'alien' (literally driving it up outside the rehearsal rooms for all to see, apparently), primarily as part of the publicity for the Doctor Who series during and post it's Tenth Anniversary, but also to further cement his star status at related publicity/media events. 

Retro Thing: The Fate Of The Whomobile

Arrived at the Blue Peter studios, and inspected by former Who companion actor Peter Purves.

Soon unofficially named by Pertwee as the 'Whomobile' (though never given any official title onscreen), Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks were able to effectively slot the futuristic vehicle into the actor's final season tales that were Earthbound and related to UNIT- Invasion of the Dinosaurs (impressively driving around deserted London streets) and Planet of the Spiders (where we also see it fly, via the wonders of 1970's CSO) during its Part Three pursuit of the gyrocopter flying villain, Lupton). It made an impressive first appearance driving into the BBC TV studios for the children's magazine programme, Blue Peter, happily inspected over by the series former companion actor Peter Purves with Pertwee.

With Pertwee departing the series by 1974, so too did the Whomobile, though the actor would continue to use it on and off for the next two decades related to significant Who outdoor events, as well as a lovely appearance of both actor and vehicle for the excellent documentary Thirty Years in the TARDIS, outside the National Film Theatre location (used in 1972 for filming on Frontier in Space), which aired to acclaim in November 1993.

The Whomobile and friends, currently a part of the prestigious Beaulieu motor museum collection.

The Whomobile still exists as of 2023 (its number plate registered with the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), of which we can perhaps one day hope it might see the light again in a Doctor Who related production or media tie-in..

A posed publicity image for Invasion of the Dinosaurs, as Season Eleven of the series resumes filming in London, October 1973.

Pertwee and vehicle enjoy a Who-related appearance in the UK.

Posed publicity shot of Pertwee and Elisabeth Sladen in the vehicle for Planet of the Spiders. Apparently, Pertwee used to pick a mildly embarrassed Sladen up in the vehicle whilst en route to the BBC rehearsal rooms!

In action during Episode Three of Planet of the Spiders.

At a special Who-related open air event in the mid-eighties. Image: Stephen James Walker.