Ian Fleming decided to write Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1961, during a period of illness and reflection. There were three main reasons behind this surprising shift from James Bond to a children’s book:

A Gift for His Son

Fleming wrote Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a bedtime story for his young son, Caspar. Caspar had been asking for something more child-friendly than his father's thrilling spy novels. The story grew out of tales Fleming told him at night.

A Desire to Leave a Different Legacy

Fleming had long been associated with espionage and adult fiction, but after suffering a major heart attack in 1961, he reportedly wanted to leave behind something lighter and more wholesome. Writing a magical, imaginative children’s book seemed like the perfect contrast.

Still a Car Guy at Heart

Even though it was for children, the story still reflected Fleming’s passions—cars, gadgets, and adventure. The magical car, Chitty, was loosely inspired by a series of real-life high-performance cars built by Count Louis Zborowski in the 1920s, also nicknamed “Chitty Bang Bang.”

Fleming finished the manuscript in 1963, and it was published posthumously in 1964, with illustrations by John Burningham. Despite its departure from Bond, the story still had flair, danger, and a love of gadgets—just more family-friendly.