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TOP 12 BRITISH CINEMATIC CAR CHASES

I’ve excluded The Italian Job as this will be the subject of a special feature next year - and so here is my not-at-all biased list:

12) Dateline Diamonds 1965 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paefdUKhVPQ

A Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Roadster is no match for the long arm of the law in their Wolseley 6/99. Trivia note; Dateline Diamonds is also one of the first films to feature a Ford Transit.

11) Hell Drivers 1957 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8qFD2s0Fwg

You don’t need high-powered supercars to create a world-class chase sequence – often all that is needed is a fleet of 1955 Dodge 100 Series “Parrot Nose” tippers, one of the most incredible casts of any British picture and an undercranked camera…

10) Universal Soldier 1971 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhP-xPlaqYw

George Lazenby sporting a hippy hairstyle, groovy music, a police Jaguar S-Type and a Reliant Scimitar GTE – what is there not to like?

9) 11 Harrowhouse 1974 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIItyV6hXA

A thriller that is mainly notable for the performance of James Mason and the set piece pursuit involving no less a car than a Lotus Europa Special. Warning – all fans of the Jaguar S-Type should not watch this film.

8) Psychomania 1971 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa8zcFMRwxo

Mere words cannot describe the sheer magnificence of this unique biker movie concerning zombies in Shepperton with a hatred of all supermarkets and Ford Thames Traders. N.B. Several members of the cast are out-acted by the CID Rover 2000 TC.

7) Dr. No 1962 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3O0eQzl4ZU

Ah, the delights of the first 007 film; footage shot in Jamaica blended with a Pinewood-based Sunbeam Alpine and some first-rate back projection. Not to mention the La Salle hearse suddenly transforming into a Humber at the end of the chase.

6) Go to Blazes 1962 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYVZ9hSN21k

A Citroen DS (actually two of them as a 1957 and a 1960 model were used in the opening scene) makes for a splendid getaway car in a delightful comedy that also guest-stars a Ford Zephyr-Zodiac Mk. I and even a Facel Vega HK 500.

5) Robbery 1967 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrfdeIuMDu8

Car and film enthusiasts will continue to debate whether Bullitt or Robbery was the greatest film to be directed by Peter Yates. I tend to opt for the latter– the London locations captured in pin-sharp colour cinematography, the sounds of the Moss gearbox and the XK engines, the near-miss with that Vauxhall Viva and that scene with the crossing patrol.

4) Checkpoint 1956 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVzXDxXUje0

I shall be writing more about this epic next year, but this clip should give a flavour of the epic that includes extensive footage of the 1956 Mille Miglia.

3) The Man Who Haunted Himself - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i_zZ_mtEY0

A Lamborghini Islero S, a Rover P5B 3.5 Litre saloon and a career-best performance from the late, great Sir Roger Moore.

2) The Fast Lady 1962 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttobHrNMxBM

Vintage Bentleys, MGAs, police Wolseley, Morris Mini Coopers, James Robertson Justice informing various chaps that they were ‘nincompoops!’, Leslie Phillips, Stanley Baxter, Julie Christie plus guest appearances from Graham Hill and John Surtees. It will forever remain a mystery why The Fast Lady did not win at least twenty Oscars on the ground of sheer brilliance.

1) Genevieve 1953 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgiv_I2TkNc


Of course, the winner had to be Genevieve, for this is the picture that continues to inspire countless motoring enthusiasts cars from around the world.  And one reason for its continued popularity is its very accurate portrayal of certain typoes of old car owner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BdlRqo64ZU

 Fast Lady

 

 

 

 

 

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