More motoring history DVDs
Approximately 128 minutes
This extremely informative DVD brings together all five parts of BP’s magnificent documentary series detailing the development of the motor car. It begins at the dawn of motoring, when pioneers hunted for a way to replace horse power with horsepower. The journey continues through to the arrival of such famous names as Daimler, Renault and Rolls-Royce. We follow the development of the mass market, the reinvention of the industry following WW1, the important role of motor racing, the stunning craftsmanship of Bugatti and Alfa Romeo, and then the horrendous impact of the Depression. We then see how car production evolved after WW2, with many new more advanced models produced, culminating with the world-beating Mini of the late 1950s.
Approximately 86 minutes
Enjoy a wonderful trip down memory lane with this highly entertaining DVD (mostly in colour) which features all the British motor shows of the last decade when Britain was still one of the world’s leading car makers. These shows were still the principal place where the average motorist went to see the latest models, as well as the concept cars of the future. The cars featured here include the latest Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ford Zephyr, Zodiac, Triumph Spitfire, the new Morris 1100, the Hillman Imp, the MGB, Jensen, the new Vauxhalls, Rover’s experimental gas turbine car and many others. Additional bonus features include 1960s motor shows from Tokyo, Geneva and Amsterdam, as well as the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Commercial Motor Show.
Rarely seen films from around the world from the earliest days of motoring when both cars and the movie camera were being developed, up to the end of the 1930s.
This excellent DVD is a must for anyone interested in the origins of the motor car and includes some of the earliest ever film footage of cars on the road, early car manufacturing, new car launches, the early impact of the car in society, early motor racing, the start of mass production, daring early car stunt drivers, early road safety films, major motor shows, novel and experimental cars and much more.
Approximately 110 minutes
It also features a hugely revealing documentary of Ford operations on every Continent during the post war era showing car production and car factories at the time.
Double DVD. 175 minutes. Disc 1 (75 minutes) features the Heights of Danger drama. This is a fictional 1950s story of an unpleasant profiteer who seeks to sabotage an Alpine motor rally. The film's main actors are Basil Appleby and Freda Bamford, but the real star is the MG TD which manages to tackle some of Europe's most twisting and mountainous roads with great ability. Other shorter films included are: Safety Fast, an MG Sports Car promotional film from 1948 featuring American and English amateur racing car drivers zooming around a course in Florida; Goldie Gardner on a German autobahn at Dessau breaking the International kilometre record; a fascinating insight into the MG production line at the Abingdon workshops and a look at the new 1958 Twin-Cam MGA production car.
Disc 2 (100 minutes) is the MGs Across America documentary made in the late 1990s and featuring the extraordinary love affair Americans had for MG cars since the end of World War 2. The DVD includes rare archive footage, exclusive interviews with some of the early US MG racing drivers, pristine, rust-free and highly modified MGs, a tour of a huge private MG museum, exclusive US MG marketing, a vast MG model collection, footage from a huge MG gathering on the Indianapolis race track, a rare MGF in America and more.
Approximately 38 minutes
A great selection of Ford advertising films, from black and white information films to stylish colour advertisements. All the popular post-war models are featured including the Capri, Escort, Mustang, Prefect, Anglia, Edsel, XR3i, as well as the Three Graces (Zodiac, Zephyr and Consul). Sir Jackie Stewart and touring car legend Andy Rouse also make guest appearances as the Stewart clan try out the Ford Taunus for size. Drawing from Ford’s advertising in the US, UK and France, this extraordinary collection adverts is a must for anyone interesting in car marketing and will evoke many fond memories amongst Ford owners, enthusiasts and historians.
Approximately 54 minutes
This breathtaking collection of extraordinary archive film is a unique insight into a golden era of motorsport, on both sides of the Atlantic. Lotus in the Sixties includes a rare glimpse of footage from the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix, incredible trackside film from the legendary Indianapolis 500 and the rookie appearance of superstar of speed Mario Andretti. Another film included is "First Time Out" which marks the birth of a legend as stunning archive footage captures the beautiful sights and sounds of the Formula One debut of the iconic Lotus 49, and its record-breaking Ford DFV engine, at Zandvoort in 1967. This spectacular sequence shows Clark and Graham Hill using the car’s extraordinary performance to challenge other greats of the day. Last, but definitely not least, is exclusive footage from the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix, Hill’s fifth and final victory at the principality.
Approximately 187 minutes
Detailed histories of four British motoring classics: Rolls-Royce, Morgan, Austin Healey and the e-type Jaguar. Made for TV’s History Channel, these thoroughly researched documentaries contain great archive footage of the different cars being built, tested and raced, revealing interviews with many of the key personnel from the different factories and great footage of the cars on the road in the past, as well as in recent times. From the birth of the famous Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, to the supreme design of the e-type Jaguar and from the quintessentially British Morgan to the highly desirable Austin Healey, this DVD provides an extremely informative insight into some of the greatest ever names in motoring history and is essential viewing for all serious British motoring historians.
Approximately 60 minutes
In 1985, the BL group spent a huge amount of resources on challenging for the World Rally Championships and the car which was specially created for the purpose was the incredibly powerful and impressive Metro 6R4. which made its debut at the Lombard RAC Rally.
Following a multi-million pound development programme, the Patrick Head-designed 410 BHP rear-engined V6, capable of 0 - 100 in 4 seconds, carried the company's hopes and some of the leading rally drivers of the era, such as Tony Pond, David Llewellyn and Colin McRae were charged with trying to win the prize. This fact action DVD tells the story of that time with some brilliant on-board footage, spectacular crash action and many great locations, reliving a great period for one of the motorsport's more challenging competitions.
Approximately 77 minutes
When industrialist Sir David Brown bought Aston Martin he began a 25-year programme of development which would see the marque established as a prestige brand, and become dominant on the racetrack. This nostalgic film fully explores this period, from Sir David's acquisition in 1947 to his decision to sell the firm in 1972. A feast of magnificent archive footage charts the racing history of Aston Martin, from the DB1 to the DP214, including the exploits of such legendary names as Stirling Moss, Carroll Shelby, Tony Brooks, Roy Salvadori and others. We are treated to rare film of Aston Martin's great racing machines in action at the Mille Miglia, Silverstone, Goodwood, Sebring, the Nurburgring, Oulton Park, Dundrod and, of course, Le Mans. It concludes with a look at the post-DB years, right up to the iconic DB7 of the 1990s, which continued the David Brown legacy into a new generation.
Approximately 94 minutes
Explore the history of some of the finest sports cars ever built on the continent of Europe. Enzo Ferrari was so passionate about building sleek race cars and sports cars for the road and track that he created a dynasty which has never been matched. This documentary charts how the company evolved and how it enjoyed phenomenal success, with fans and admirers around the world.
Similarly, Ferdinand Porsche was equally passionate about building sports cars which everyone would appreciate and after the war his son Ferry took his father's ideas much further. He created the Porsche 911, one of the most recognisable and iconic sports cars ever produced, which has lasted for decades. The background to the success of the car is told here and includes much great archive footage.
Approximately 70 minutes
SInce the end of WW2, Jaguar has been one of the most revered names in the sports and luxury car market in America. The love affair began when the incredibly beautiful XK120 was launched at the end of the 1940s. Hollywood legend Clark Gable bought one of the first cars to arrive and then it seemed every other serious motoring enthusiast was keen to follow. The love affair continued with the subsequent launches of the faster XK140 and XK150 in the mid 50s and reached an even greater level of adulation when the XKE (E type) was first shown in the US at the 1961 New York Auto Show. Many of the company's other models have enjoyed similar success, and to this day, Jaguar is still one of the most sought after cars in the country. Filmed from coast to coast, this documentary uses a feast of fascinating archive footage, as well as a considerable amount of original video, to tell the story of this extraordinary affection for the Jaguar name across the US.
Approximately 80 minutes
The USA was the Morris Minor's second biggest export market and this DVD includes Morris Minors on the East coast, West coast and Hawaii; US Morris Minor advertising, including a rarely heard American Morris Minor radio commercial; highly modified and gloriously restored US Minors; the last Morris Traveller in New York City, original rust-free Morris Minors along California's Pacific coast; unusual US working Minors; a racing US Morris Minor, including exhilarating in-car footage, the biggest American Morris Minor parts suppliers and much more. This is a fascinating look at the history of Morris Minors in the world's most important car market. "A must see movie" Minor Monthly
A wonderful collection of revealing films from the official Austin film archives from the 1950s and 60s. It starts with a motoring manufacturing success story, "I Am A Car", which was made in 1954. There is a further documentary about the Austin Cambrige A40 & A50 - a documentary about Austin Cars, another called "Making the Most of It" which shows the testing of new Austin cars, following a long-distance endurance route from London, via Salisbury, Dorchester, Lyme Regis, Swindon, Leicester, Lincoln and then back to London again. There is also a promotional documentary showing the joys of driving an Austin A95 Westminster car and featuring a ex-pat who returns to England for the first time since the war and takes his new family around England, driving an Austin. Another film is called "The Incredible Seven", which is an excellent documentary about the design, building and testing of the Austin 7 (original Mini). This is a great DVD for both Austin enthusiasts and anyone interested in British motoring history in the post-war era.
Approximately 178 minutes
A comprehensive documentary which celebrates many of the greatest sports cars ever produced -from the race winners at Le Mans and elsewhere in the pre war era to the modern supercars of the 21st Century. Primarily focusing on the great cars from Britain, Germany and Italy, along with Ford's celebrated GT40, the DVD uses an outstanding selection of archive film, as well as contemporary footage and factory films, to show the cars in detail, as well as in action. For anyone interested in the history of sports cars, this is a must-see production.
A very informative documentary DVD which chronicles the history of all the Triumph sports cars which enjoyed great success in America after WW2. It includes early history, very rare cars, archive films, Triumphs racing in the US from the 1950s to the 1990s, a feature on John Buffum, who won the US National Rally Championship in a TR7, national Triumph shows, TV advertising and other marketing material, a feature on the US designed TR250, Triumph cars at New York auto shows, one of America's largest Triumph parts suppliers, devoted owners and much more
Approximately 75 minutes (Total lenghth)
A revealing selection of rarely seen films from the official Ford archives, complete with wonderful period commentary. The films shows the evolution of the Ford Motor Company in Britain from the early years of the 20th Century to the start of World War 2. They include rarely seen film from inside the original Trafford Park factory; a Model A being driven up Ben Nevis; nationwide endurance rallies; the building of the huge Dagenham factory (the biggest car plant in Europe at the time); the launch of the new Ford V8 at the Royal Albert Hall, testing new cars along some of Britain's toughest roads, precision testing of vital components, slow motion analysis of new cars, period marketing films and much more
Bonus
In addition to the archive films, there is also a 20 minutes documentary following a rally of original Model T cars on a visit to Trafford Park and other places of interest to celebrate 100 years of Ford in Britain in 2011.
Double DVD 135 minutes
A must for any serious motoring history or early Ford enthusiast. This comprehensive production contains an excellent selection of films from Ford's US archives from the beginning of the 1900s to the start of the 1940s.
It includes everything from the development of the legendary Model T and the impact it had on transportation in America during the early to mid 20th Century; the start of the mass production; early marketing films; the Ford company view of the world in the 1920s; highlights of the 10 millionth Model T being driven across America; "at home" with Henry Ford, the development and launch of the "modern" Ford V-8", Ford-made 1930s cinema newsreels, early Ford racing cars, a national Ford sponsored young drivers competition, entertaining marketing films, pre-war cars being built and tested, "Ford Day" at the 1940 New York World Fair, a profile of the new Ford Mercury, 1940s cinema commercials and much more.
Approximately 61 minutes
After an absence of 15 years, the mighty Silver Arrows of Mercedes-Benz returned to Grand Prix in 1954 with one of the fastest and most technologically-advanced racing cars ever seen. The stunning film Pioneers of Progress charts the story of the German giant’s glorious return to Formula One, with unique access to the team and manufacturer’s factories. The evocative black and white footage provides a rare chance to see the 2½-litre, 260 horsepower W196 in action on the great racetracks of the era. Mercedes returned to GP racing at the fourth round of the 1954 season, the French Grand Prix at Reims, and immediately dominated. We enjoy thrilling archive footage from that event, and the remaining five races including Silverstone, Monza and the Nurburgring. We see Mercedes stars Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling, Hans Hermann and Herman Lang battling with the Ferraris of Jose Froilan Gonzales and Mike Hawthorn, the Maserati of Stirling Moss and Alberto Ascari in both the Ferrari and Lancia racing machines. Plus, there’s the record-breaking 1954 race from the Avus circuit in Berlin, and a fascinating look at how the Mercedes-Benz 220 was built.
