A COVENTRY collector and dealer spread his lifelong love of Jaguars ahead of the King’s birthday by driving his replica of the Austin Powers ‘union flag’ car down to the British Motor Museum to place it next to the real thing.
Ex-soldier Mike Barnett originally bought and transformed a Jaguar XK8 into the classic vehicle, seen in the 2002 film ‘Austin Powers in Goldmember’, for the King’s coronation last month.
Following the coronation, Mike in touch with the motor museum, which has the press car used for Austin Powers, and asked if he could bring his vehicle down.
Mike took the car down to the motor museum last Thursday, where his replica was united with the venues version of the classic car.
King Charles had his official birthday on Saturday.
Mike said: “As soon as I was able to buy a Jaguar I thought ‘I have to turn it into the Austin Powers car’- I’ve always wanted one since I was a child.
“I took the car down to London for King Charles III’s coronation and people absolutely loved it.
“When I called the motor museum they were so keen for me to bring it down- although Mike Myers had actually been down to see the publicity car not long before so it was a shame he wasn’t able to see my version.
“I want to use this car to bring people together, it really has the ability to bring a smile to people’s faces.”
Mike said he hit rock bottom after leaving the army around four years ago but found success selling items on eBay.
He’s gone on to sell items including movie props and memorabilia, opening his own shop in Rowley Regis, and will be on Channel 4’s ‘The Greatest Auction’ next week, where he will be selling parts of Ayrton Senna’s car.
He has also started a lifestyle YouTube channel, Bay 6 life, and has taken part in plenty of charity work over the years, with plans to use some of the cars he has collected to take disadvantaged children to prom free of charge.
