Below is a list of 10 classic stars of the big screen that supercar spotters should look out for at the 2016 Silverstone Classic
The Italian Job (1969) – 1968 Lamborghini Miura
The Miura, named by Top Gear magazine as ‘the coolest car in the world’, features during the opening credits of the original Italian Job film featuring Michael Caine.
Powering through the Alps to a soundtrack of Matt Monro’s On Days Like These the Miura fatefully enters a tunnel and crashes in a fireball before the wreckage is unceremoniously pushed down the mountainside.
Lamborghini Club UK celebrates two important milestones at the Silverstone Classic – 100 years since the birth of Feruccio Lamborghini, and the 50th anniversary of the iconic Miura.
Bullitt (1968) – 1968 Ford Mustang GT
The dramatic thriller stars legendary actor Steve McQueen as the film’s eponymous hero Frank Bullitt. In what is now considered a classic piece of cinema, the film’s famous chase scene through the streets of San Francisco features a showdown between two classic American muscle cars, with a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T eventually being outrun by McQueen’s Ford Mustang GT.
The Mustang’s 50th anniversary was celebrated at the Silverstone Classic in 2014 and an homage to Bullitt was created in celebration of this. The car will feature heavily again with the returning Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain displaying a variety of models as well as racing in Sunday’s Big Engine Touring Cars race.
There’s also a chance to buy one as a 1966 FIA Ford Mustang is up for auction in the Silverstone Classic Race Car Sale with Silverstone Auctions.
Goldfinger (1964) – 1964 Aston Martin DB5
No list of famous movie cars is complete without James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger.
In 007’s world, no car would leave the Quartermaster’s workshop without impressive gadgetry installed as standard and Sean Connery’s ‘Bond’ is introduced to his DB5 by Desmond Llewelyn’s ‘Q’ who reels of the modifications as including bulletproof glass, revolving number plates, smoke screen, oil slick, left-and-right front machine guns and famously, a passenger ejector seat.
Aston Martin celebrated its centenary at Silverstone Classic 2013 and fans will have the opportunity to see an array of Aston Martins displayed on the infield.
Risky Business (1983) – 1979 Porsche 928
In the Tom Cruise hit, Risky Business, the 1979 Porsche 928 plays a major role in what is now considered a classic chase scene as Cruise is chased (in the Porsche) by a Cadillac. After getting away, the diminutive actor utters the immortal line, “Porsche…there is no substitute.”
This year, the Silverstone Classic welcomes two car clubs that will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the similarly configured Porsche 924 – Porsche Club GB and the Porsche 924 Owners Club.
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000) – 1967 Shelby Mustang GT 500
In the heist movie starring Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Christopher Ecclestone and Vinnie Jones as well as an all-star line-up of classic and modern cars, the ’67 Shelby Mustang is affectionately referred to as ‘Eleanor’ – the one car Cage’s character ‘Memphis Raines’ has always struggled to steal. “Eleanor” is the only Ford Mustang in history to receive star title credit in a movie.
Italian Job (1969) – 1968 Mk1 Austin Mini Cooper S
Perhaps the most famous car chase in film history, leading the greatest cliff-hanger, features the red, white and blue Mini Coopers used as getaway vehicles in the original Italian Job.
The racing prowess of the Austin Mini Cooper Swill be in action in the Under 2-Litre Touring Cars (U2TC) race at Silverstone Classic 2016, plus, there’s likely to be a few battles with the big guns in the Big Engine Touring Car race. There are also two Minis for sale in the Silverstone Auctions Sale during the event.
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) – 1961 Jaguar E-Type
The E-type driven by Austin Powers in the spoof spy series is dubbed the ‘Shaguar’ by the British spy played by Mike Myers and is resplendent in full union jack livery.
The 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster was once described by Ferrari co-founder, Enzo Ferrari as “The most beautiful car ever made”. More than 750 Jaguar E-types took part in a 50th-anniversary parade at Silverstone Classic 2011 setting a Guinness World Record. Fans of the iconic British sports car can see them in action in the Tourist Trophy for Historic Cars (Pre-63 GT) at Silverstone Classic 2016. There’s also a chance to buy one as a 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster is up for sale in the Silverstone Auctions Sale during the event.
Miami Vice (TV series) – 1986 Ferrari Testarossa
One of the debonair protagonists of the US TV drama Miami Vice, James ‘Sonny’ Crockett, played by Don Johnson, famously drove a Ferrari Daytona Spyder in the first two seasons, however, to keep filming costs down, genuine Ferraris weren’t used in production until the Italian sportscar company donated two 1986 Testarossa’s to replace the fakes.
Members of the Ferrari Owner’s Club of Great Britain will be bringing the genuine article to the Silverstone Classic and there’s a chance to buy a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa that’s up for sale in the auction.
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) – 1976 Lotus Esprit S1
The Lotus Esprit S1 featured in The Spy Who Loved Me (Roger Moore’s third outing as James Bond), was fondly referred to as ‘Wet Nellie’ in reference to its unique feature of converting into a submarine.
As well as being amphibious, the highly armed car has cannons that spray cement on to pursuing vehicles. It also has wheel arches that turn into fins, a small periscope on the roof enabling 007 to navigate at speed underwater and its other weaponry includes a missile launched from its rear deck, mines, sprayed black dye, and torpedoes shot from the front grille.
While nothing quite so dynamic will be at the Classic this year, the Lotus Club is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Esprit and there’s a chance to buy a 1979 Lotus Esprit in the Silverstone Auctions sale.
The Love Bug (1968) – ‘Herbie’ – 1963 VW Beetle
Featured first in Disney’s The Love Bug the 1963 VW Beetle better known as ‘Herbie’, has gained notoriety for its role in a series of films with classic racing in their DNA. Keen festival goers may spy a handful of these much-loved classic at this year’s event.
Silverstone Classic – Where and how
To learn more about the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival and to book tickets to the Silverstone Classic before the event gets underway next Friday (only advance tickets are available), visit: www.silverstoneclassic.com
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