At first, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is just a sports car, but as the book progresses, the car surprises the family by beginning to exhibit independent actions. This first happens while the family is caught in a traffic jam on their way to the beach for a picnic. The car suddenly instructs Commander Pott to pull a switch, which causes Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to sprout wings and take flight over the stopped cars on the motorway. Chitty flies them to Goodwin Sands in the English Channel, where the family picnic, swim, and sleep. While the family naps, the tide comes in, threatening to drown them and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chitty wakes the family just in time by honking, and instructs Commander Pott to pull another switch, which causes the car to transform into a boat. They make for the French coast and land on a beach near Calais. They explore along the beach coast in the car, and find a cave boobytrapped with some devices intended to scare off intruders. At the back of the cave is a store of armaments and explosives. The family detonate the cache of explosives and flee the cave.
The gangsters/gun-runners who own the ammunition arrive and block the road in front of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The gangsters threaten the family, but Commander Pott throws the switch which transforms the car into an airplane and they take off, leaving the gangsters in helpless fury. The Potts decide to stay overnight in a hotel in Calais. While the family sleeps, the gangsters break into the children's room and kidnap them, driving off towards Paris. Chitty tracks the gangsters' route and wakes Commander and Mrs. Pott, driving in pursuit. One must purchase Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tickets to find out how this crazy tale unfolds.
