The best car movies of all time?
11/24/2010
In addition to the now numerous documentaries on the subject of classic cars and historic motor racing, there is also a whole series of feature films in which cars play an important role. From this variety, here is a summary of what I consider to be the best and most worthwhile films .
However, the list is probably not complete, for example the Disney film "Herby in toller Fahrt" from 1969 is missing, which not only focuses on the VW Beetle, but also shows many impressive racing scenes with (now) historic racing cars and brings one of the rare Apollo to the screen.
Probably one of the most undeniably impressive car films is Steve McQueen's"Le Mans". Never before or since has there been so little talking and so much racing in a movie.
"The Italian Job" is worth seeing both in the original and in the second edition, but the modern version does not come close to the work from the 1960s in terms of vehicle selection(Aston Martin, Jaguar E, Mini Cooper, Lamborghini Miura, Fiat Dino, etc.) or its specific charm. The opening scene with the Lamborghini Miura is unique and has often been copied.
"Bullit" should not be missing from the list, the chase scenes with the 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390 CID Fastback and the 1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum are legendary.
Rarely shown is the film "Vanishing Point", which centers on a drive halfway across the United States in a 1970 Dodge Challenger.
"Grand Prix" is a masterpiece when it comes to depicting the world of Formula 1. The racing scenes are breathtaking and show a great deal of flair on the part of the director.
A very special movie is "C'était un Rendezvous". The movie lasts as long as a film cassette could record, namely about 10 minutes, and shows the breathtaking drive in a Ferrari through Paris. Speeds of over 140 km/h and a great soundscape make this short film a real treat. The fact that, according to insiders, the scenes were shot in a Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9 and the soundtrack was added by a Ferrari 275 GTB hardly detracts from the enjoyment.
La Passione" is not really convincing from a cinematic point of view, but it is worth seeing for the choice of vehicles. Chris Rea had the Sharknose Ferrari Formula 1 rebuilt especially for this movie.
If I had to choose just one movie, then "Le Mans" would probably be the ultimate car movie from my point of view.
