- from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. You have an eccentric British gentleman flying cheerfully through the air in a tiny box, on his way to a dangerous situation where he'll have to help defeat the monster of the day*. He was also (albiet, wrongfully) given a title - "The Inventor". ...sounds like a Time Lord to me! http://thediggerer.com/funnies-more/i-went-there Photo here. *Granted he doesn't do MUCH, but still...
I jokingly thought the same thing some years after becoming a Whovian. Watch Lionel Jeffries as Cavor in "The First Men in the Moon" (with effects by Harryhausen) and one can also see mannerisms that would work well for the Doctor. Sincerely, Bill
The more I think about it... He DOES jump into that little box and emerge telling tales of meeting powerful, interesting people and going on great adventures. Yup... it's a TARDIS.