Does the name “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”–the eponymous car in Ian Fleming’s final novel, and AFAIK his only children’s novel–have any connection to James Bond’s Japanese nickname, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”? Is “chitty” a Japanese term for “kiss”?
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is a barely altered reference to the “Chitty Bang Bang” series of British racing cars built in the 1920s. In both cases it’s a reference to the noise the car’s engine makes.
Also, just by the way, as far as I can tell, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” isn’t James Bond’s “Japanese nickname”. It’s a term used in Japan and Europe to refer to Bond-style spy movies (it’s a pretty succinct summation of the typical plot). It’s been the title of a few spoofs of the genre.
The theme for Thunderball does refer to Bond as “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”. It’s certainly possible that some Japanese refer to Bond the same way, and in that sense maybe it is a nickname. But as far as I can tell, it has nothing to do with “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
I heard, long ago, that the 1920’s Chittys were named after a ribald song originating in the Royal Flying Corps (forerunner of the RAF). The chorus of the song went “And the cheeks of her arse went chitty-chitty-bang-bang”.
Much research by cleverer people than me (of whom there are multitudes) has failed to find the rest of the song. I can give cites to anyone who wants to go down that rabbit-hole.
One reference I found also insisted that Dick Van Dyke was oniginally named Penis Van Lesbian. So it must be true!
Merry Christmas!
This is where I point out that the Navajo word for “automobile” is “chidí”, which is also reference to the noise made by early cars. So the word form close “chitty” or “chiddi” or some variant was pretty common reference to early cars in multiple places and seems a more plausible origin of the novel/movie title and titular car’s name than a cross pollination of the James Bond franchise, even if both had the same creator/author.
The fictional flying car was indeed named after the racing cars.
There is a rumour about how the racing cars got their name. Some say they were not named for the sound they made. It allegedly comes from a World War I song about getting a permission slip to leave barracks to visit a brothel.
I’m honestly not sure whether to believe it or not. Although this is presented as fact by 10,000 websites, I can’t find any details about the alleged song.
Since nobody else has pointed it out, I will note that the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang happens to be one Ian Fleming.
The OP did too.
FWIW, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was published before the song, “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang, Bang”. Both entered pop culture during a time when comic book sound effects had a “moment” of cool.
True, I somehow misread that but it’s right there.
That made me wonder how “chitty” would be pronounced in Japanese, given that it doesn’t fit into standard Japanese syllables…
I live in South Korea, and prior to the age of covid, local chorus groups used to show up on public squares singing stuff that I had no idea was popular here, like the entire oeuvre of ABBA, and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” There are also popular TV shows where ordinary people sing karaoke-type versions of western songs, and this one is surprisingly high in the rotataion.