Matt Bacon Posted June 6, 2015 Posted June 6, 2015 ...I've been looking for this on DVD for a while. I'd obviously missed the fact that a kind someone has uploaded it to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEEC587278736BB88 Written and directed by Nick Mason's Dad, which (partly) explains why the Pink Floydian spent a chunk of his change on classic racing cars...! Footage is rough early on, but you'd expect it to be in the 1905-era... Apologies if this is "old hat" but it is a goldie, even if it's an oldie... bestest, M.
unclescott58 Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Great stuff. Watched up through Titans II so far. Will finish the rest tomarrow. Scott
Greg Myers Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 I thought it was going to be this one : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89J3_p34qN0
Helix Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 I can relate to these having worked for Shell for nearly 20 years, a lot of R&D goes into the fuels and lubricants and of course Advertising
Greg Myers Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) Shell did a series of "cutaway" drawings back in the sixties. Edited June 7, 2015 by Greg Myers
unclescott58 Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 In the cutaway drawing above, what is the top car? Scott
Helix Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 In the cutaway drawing above, what is the top car? Scott Ferrari 330 P4 written on the door panel Scott
bbowser Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Those cutaways are cool. Is the bottom one a Ford GT?
unclescott58 Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 Those cutaways are cool. Is the bottom one a Ford GT? As Greg shows above its the GT Mk IV. My next question is what year Shell put these films out? And are they available on DVD? They're great. Other than they end with 1951. Scott
Matt Bacon Posted June 7, 2015 Author Posted June 7, 2015 (edited) It was made by Shell in the early 50s, so the latest footage is more or less "contemporary". It's certainly one of the best motor racing documentaries ever made, and I wish it was available on DVD, but as far as I can see, it was only ever re-released on (now horrendously expensive) VHS cassettes. That's why I'm so glad that someone has put it on YouTube... The footage might be better if it had been assembled and scanned for DVD rather than going via VHS, but 90% of it is period material anyway, which probably looks as good as it gets. Problem is, for this kind of "niche" material, no one wants to spend the time on digital transfer, even if the raw material is still accessible. My Blu-Ray copy of "Wings", from 1928, shows how good original footage, even of that vintage, can look if someone's prepared to put the effort in... Bill Mason (father of Pink Floyd's Nick Mason) did another series for BP, instead of Shell, called The History of the Motor Car. Those films are available on DVD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Motor-Car-DVD/dp/B0042FXI58 bestest, M. Edited June 7, 2015 by Matt Bacon
keyser Posted June 7, 2015 Posted June 7, 2015 The cutaways are by James Allington. There's a book full of them, I have it. The original Shell prints are getting scarce, but are worth it. Shell does nice videos, and has great series of various 1/43 and Lego cars usually available in Asia/Malaysia. https://www.google.com/search?q=allington+cutaway+book&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=713&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mct0VbWdLMWisAW2p4DwCA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAjgK I just looked for pic of the allington book, and none found with couple quick searches. The above has pics of his work, some from the book. I've had the book for decades, collect his prints and Turner racing posters. His 275 GTB/4 is awesome, as is the Duesy and the 250F
kitbash1 Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I thought it was going to be this one : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89J3_p34qN0 I never can get enough of this video. The early cars bring back childhood memories.
Art Anderson Posted June 10, 2015 Posted June 10, 2015 I've got several DVD's of early racing--my favorite being one filmed in 1946 at Indianapolis, for Firestone (for decades the only US tire maker doing racing tires). It's all in color, professionally filmed and produced, complete with a lengthy conversation between Wilbur Shaw (winner at Indianapolis in 1937, 1939 and 1940) and the winner of the very first 500, Ray Harroun, who was sitting in the very Marmon Model 12 "Wasp" race car he drove to victory in 1911 (The Marmon Wasp was owned by Howard Marmon all the way from 1911 until his passing in 1943, and the car eventually passed into the hands of Anton Hulman Jr--owner of IMS from 1945 until he died in 1977), becoming the linchpin of the Speedway's fabulous collection of historic race cars. And for those who question the color of the Marmon Wasp--it was, and always has been, painted a bright yellow!. Anyway, that video is just too neat for words: Art
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