Author: Harlo

Categories
Classic Sportscar Video

Who Wouldn’t Sell McQueen the Original Bullitt Mustang?

Answer: The guy who still has it today.

Imagine yourself flipping through the newspaper classifieds in 1972 when you happen upon the deal of a lifetime: the original Bullitt Mustang, and cheap. That is exactly the scenario that happened to an unidentified (by choice) 24-year-old man who bought up the car—complete with reams of documentation verifying its authenticity—and owns it to this day.

I say THE Bullitt Mustang, although there were really 2 1968 Mustang 390 GTs puchased by Warner Brothers for the Steve McQueen production. One of these was heavily modified with chassis re-enforcement and uprated suspension for the dramatic jumps and crashes that punctuate the legendary Bullitt chase sequence. The other car was left largely stock, aside from the aesthetic enhancements of stripping the driving lights, grille emblem, and most of the trim and badging and replacing the wheels with customs from American Racing. This second car is the one that our lucky buyer picked up in ’72.

Steve’s Letter

Five years later Steve was fresh off his divorce from Allie McGraw and must have been feeling nostalgic. He contacted the owner of the Fastback and attempted to purchase her (letter above). Shockingly, he was denied. I suppose it might be for the best, however, as the current owner has no plans to sell nor restore the car. What’s more, by carefully remaining anonymous he has helped ensure that the car doesn’t become more incendiary McQueen fuel at auction houses. Unfortunately, that means that the Bullitt Mustang sits in a garage, hidden away. I don’t know which fate is worse.

Don’t let that get you down too much though, there’s a vibrant community that have exhaustively studied the film frame-by-frame to identify the parts and mods to make a replica of the Mustang. Here’s Motor Trend Classic’s take on it from their Sept. 06 issue.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t watch the chase scene itself again to compare notes. While I actually come in on the Ronin tunnel sequence side of the “Greatest Car Chase of All-Time” debate, it’s hard to deny the greatness of this bit of film.

I wonder if whatever collector has the Charger today still has all 8 hub caps.
More on the Bullitt Fastback at Mustang Specs. More ‘make your own’ tips at PonySite.de.

Categories
Porsche Video

Let’s Ride Along with Walter Röhrl in a Porsche 904GTS

I can think of worse ways to spend the next few minutes than riding shotgun with Walter Röhrl in the Porsche Museum’s 6-cylinder 904 GTS. Love the heel-toe cam!
via Top Gear

Categories
Vintage Racing Advertising

Relying on Lucas

Grand Prix Drivers & Manufacturers 1962 World Championship
Won by B.R.M. and Graham Hill
Relying on Lucas

Electronic Ignition

Petrol Injection

Alternator

Starter

Batteries

Results subject to official confirmation
United States Factory Branches
Lucas Electrical Services, Inc.
501-509 West 42nd Street, New York 36, N.Y.

Apparently Graham had to do it without the official replacement smoke.

Categories
Grand Prix Video

Midwest Monaco. Detroit Grand Prix 1982

“So much of this racetrack in some way resembles Monaco” says Jackie Stewart in his narration of the pace lap in this broadcast of the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix. I can’t think of much higher praise for a racing course.

This wasn’t just the first Formula 1 race on the city streets of Detroit. It wasn’t just the first F1 race in America’s Mid-West. It was my first Formula 1 race. I’ve written before about the impact the Detroit Grand Prix had on me as a young boy, but finding the entirety of the race on YouTube was an opportunity I couldn’t overlook.

I’m eager to see the return of the USGP, and the Austin facility looks like it will be a good one, but after seeing this video, I can’t help but wish it was being run down Austin’s famous 6th Street than in a purpose-built facility.

Categories
Racing Ephemera

Return of the Double Bubble

I don’t love the styling, but I’m glad to see that the newly debuted Fiat 500 Coupé Zagato features the signature Zagato design detail: The double bubble roof.
More at Luxury Addicted

Categories
Video

The First Minute of 12 Hours. Sebring, 1965


The 12 Hours of Sebring is just 2 weeks away. While the running LeMans style start we see here in the 1965 race is sadly a thing of the past, I feel obliged to take notice of it each year on the racing calendar. The Sebring 12-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance has always been America’s greatest toehold into international sportscar racing and—despite the changes that continue to plague contemporary motorsport—will always have a place in my heart each year alongside Monaco and LeMans.
This video, like our last look at Sebring, comes courtesy of Nigel Smuckatelli’s Flickr stream. Regarding the tremendous start Delmo Johnson’s Corvette had, Nigel says, “According to my research Delmo Johnson had the car in gear so when he hit the starter he took off. Also he didn’t bother buckling his seat belt or close his door. Not sure if you could tell but when he pulled out of his space and made a right to go down the track the door flew open. For more than a full lap he had to hold tightly onto the steering wheel because, on that rough track, he almost got thrown out of his seat. By the second lap he had managed to get buckled in.” Yipe! Nigel wrote an article about the ’65 race for Sports Car Digest last year. Check it out.
I forgot how much I like the old-style Goodyear Blimp.
Update: Much more footage from the ’65 12 Hours of Endurance here.

Categories
Racing Ephemera Video

Race Commentary from Sir Stirling on the Slot Track

Quite the prize for the slot car championships of 1964. A new Ford Mustang and a $2000 scholarship is enough to make anyone’s slot controller trigger finger itchy.

Categories
Classic Sportscar Ferrari

Art Appreciation: Ferrari “Pontoon Fender” 250 Testa Rossa

Categories
Classic Sportscar

Google Spotting

I’m a bit ashamed to admit I can’t identify this car that was captured on the road by the Google Street View camera. The lines of the rear fender seem Italian to me, but the right-hand drive suggests British. Maybe a Morgan? Do you know this one? Drop some knowledge in the comments.

Unfortunately, whoever found it didn’t include a link. 9-eyes via Kottke.

Categories
Classic Cycle Historic Racing Photos Video

The Baby-Vanderbilt, 1915


There seems to be very little information out there about the Baby-Vanderbilt; presumably a support race for the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup; held that year in San Francisco as part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Unlike the Vanderbilt, which ran as a longer road race throughout the area, the Baby-Vanderbilt seems to have been run entirely within the grandstand area as a sort of miniature circle-track race. This image is from a stereoscope of the start of the race, and provides a rare opportunity to see an early 3D(ish) image of a cyclecar race. I’ve animated it here to approximate the 3D view the stereoscope provides.

In my searches for more information, I came across a marvelous post at The Garage Blog telling the story of motorcyclist Bob Mibach pausing to dig through the chicken coop at a farm with a “motorcycles for sale” sign. In a moment of barn-find perfection, he came upon one of the Baby Vanderbilt racers: an Indian twin powered and very restorable little pile of smiles. Could it have been the Indian-powered machine that propelled Harry Hartz to victory in 1915?

Restored Baby-Vanderbilt Racer

There seems to be precious little information out there on the Baby-Vanderbilt. Here’s a thread on the Nostalgia Forum, that mentions film of the event that doesn’t seem to be online any longer. Please pass along any more info if you come across it.