(July 12, 2010) LONDON — The British have never had the weather, the space or the car culture necessary for drive-in movies. But they've all seen "Grease," and the romance of the drive-in is firmly implanted in the popular psyche.

Enter Damian Barr, a journalist and cultural entrepreneur, who, with the help of Volvo, has invented the Starlite Urban Drive-In, in which would-be Sandy Olssons and Danny Zukos can watch films while settled comfortably in one of a range of shiny new Volvos in East London, Advertising Age reported.

The cars are pre-parked, so you don't even need a drivers' license, and the $40 ticket buys you a drink and some popcorn as well as a seat. The film's soundtrack is broadcast through the car's radio while waitresses on roller skates take food and drink orders.

Just like real American drive-ins, there is plenty of food available to make a mess of those gleaming new Volvos. The nearby Brickhouse restaurant has produced a special Starlite menu of burgers, meatloaf and sweet potato pie, followed by ice cream sundaes or chocolate brownies and cream. And there are no rules against heavy petting.

Two initial screenings (of "Grease" and "Dirty Dancing") sold out online in 30 seconds. The location is an outdoor patch of land owned by The Truman Brewery — a cool venue which can accommodate only 25 cars at a time — and due to Starlite's success, more dates are lined up for the fall with a European tour planned for next summer.